Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

My latest visit to the Marvel Cinematic Universe involves Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) a World War 2 veteran who was given an experimental serum to enhance his physical strength, frozen in suspended animation and revived to be part of modern day S.H.I.E.L.D, The Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) a former Russian spy that defected to the United States to become an agent for S.H.I.E.L.D and a new ally The Falcon/Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) the first mainstream comic African-American superhero who was a former pararescueman trained by the military in aerial combat using a specially designed wing pack. All of which face an unexpected enemy as they ‘struggle to expose a far-reaching conspiracy that puts the world at risk’. Also in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) we have the emergence of an all-powerful villain who was originally Steve Rogers’s best friend Bucky Barnes before he was thought to have been killed in action during World War 2.  Rescued by the Russians and taken to Moscow he is programmed to be a Soviet assassin under the code name of The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan).

 

The Black Widow

The Falcon.

Directed by the Russo brothers, Anthony and Joe, who manage to lay on the action thick and fast in this attempt at a hi-tech political conspiracy thriller involving the Marvel characters. To a great extent they succeed in producing a character driven, suspenseful, modern day politically astute drama that certainly does not lack what a die hard fan would expect from their superhero movie. Also involved in the very enjoyable nonsense are Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury director of the international force, Robert Redford as Alexander Pierce a member of the Worlds Security Council and a cameo from both Toby Jones as Dr Armin Zola’s ‘face on the computer’ and Jenny Agutter who scene where she morphs from a Security Council member into the Black Widow is hilarious. An entertaining and worthwhile follow up to Captain America: The First Avenger (2011).

The Winter Soldier.

Guardians of the Galaxy.

It’s rare to experience a film that offers you pure entertainment from beginning to end as well as an exciting action packed story involving ‘out of this world characters’ that you can completely empathies with - including a raccoon!  Based on the 2008 relaunch of the Marvel comic, Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) is a live action movie directed by James Gunn, who also assisted Nicole Perlman with the screenplay. Perlman had been enrolled in Marvels screenwriting program in 2008 and it was her wish to bring this particular story to the screen.

 

Peter Quill 'Starlord'

Gamora.

Not as well known as some of the other members of the Avengers Assemble included in the Marvel Cinematic Universe like The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man or Captain America but these more galactic-based characters are nonetheless welcome. Firstly we have Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) who we first see being abducted from earth by an alien spaceship when he was just a young boy in 1988. Taken under the wing of Yondu Udonta (Michael Rooker), a space pirate and leader of the Ravagers, we meet Quill again 26 years later on the planet Morag where as Star Lord he is in the process of stealing an orb, an object of great power and very much in demand none more so than by Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace) whose race, the Kree has just signed a peace treaty with Xandar, home of the Nova Corps Galactic Police Force. With the power of the orb Ronan can destroy Xandar along with its world peace treaty. Someone needs to stop him and to this end the space pirate Star Lord teams up with the genetically engineered raccoon Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) and his bounty hunter partner Groot a tree like humanoid (voiced by Vin Diesel), powerful Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) and Gamora (Zoe Saldana) a female assassin with special powers and adopted daughter of supervillian Thanos.

 

Rocket the Raccoon

I am Groot!

A great part of the ingenious soundtrack is provided by a collection of pop songs recorded before Peter Quills mother died of cancer and given to him on a cassette tape on her deathbed, which along with his beloved Walkman accompany him on his travels. Although full of great space battles and thrilling set pieces the best thing about this movie is the extremely well drawn and engaging characters and its humour. The cast may not be very well known but with a sequel due in the summer of 2017 this could change. Highly recommended for fans of the Marvel franchise, and even if your not it’s a good place to start.   

Drax the Destroyer.......

Avengers Assemble.

All credit to Joss Whedon’s writing and direction on what amounts to his first Hollywood blockbuster, a sequel to the proceeding five Marvel Cinematic Universe movies Iron Man (2008),  The Incredible Hulk (2008)  Iron Man 2 (2010) Thor (2011) and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). Avengers Assemble (2012) is an absolute dynamite adaptation of a comic book action adventure and one certainly worthy of the description of ‘action movie’ with CGI that is more than impressive with its post 9/11 imagery and references. It also includes, in abundance, one of the most important ingredients of any comic book movie: humour.

Natasha Romanoff AKA The Black Widow.

Hawkeye.

The plot involves our collective superheroes, Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor, Captain America and the lesser known Hawkeye and the ultra sexy Black Widow, battling a supervillain, well actually a Norse God, who has stolen an energy source resembling a blue translucent cube called a Tesseract, which is powerful enough to destroy earth.

The Norse God Loki.

One of the great strengths of this movie is its villain Loki, played brilliantly by Tom Hiddleston, who you will remember from Thor as the crown prince of Asgard’s adopted renegade brother. The cast’s commitment to their particular character’s help to conjure up a totally realistic Marvel world, Robert Downey Jr as the heir to the Stark dynasty giving the role the eccentricity it deserves, all American hero Captain America is again portrayed by Chris Evans, with Chris Hemsworth reprising his role as Thor and Mark Ruffalo finally giving the kudos that the role of Bruce Banner deserves. Jeremy Renner plays Hawkeye a S.H.l.E.L.D agent whose skill with a bow and arrow gives him the title of the world’s greatest marksman. Scarlett Johansson brings superspy Natasha Romanoff, better known by her code name Black Widow, to life. Also involved is Samuel L. Jackson who plays the director of S.H.l.E.L.D Nick Fury responsible for bringing the superheroes together to help fight world domination by the evil fascistic Loki. To all Marvel Cinematic Universe virgins I challenge you to watch this film and not fall in love with the whole comic book concept.

Commander Nick Fury.

Will the Hulk save the day?

The Incredible Hulk.

Someones upset him?

After my boyish enthusiasm for Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) thought I’d catch up with the second in the series of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe The Incredible Hulk (2008). Directed by French born Louis Leterrier, who is best known for a couple of Transporter movies and 2005’s Unleashed. This Marvel creation involves a scientist, a Dr Bruce Banner who is working on a way to use gamma radiation to increase healing time in combat soldiers.  When the experiment goes wrong Banner is accidentally exposed to gamma rays that transforms the scientist into a giant green superhumanly powerful creature. In the commotion that follows the accident, the laboratory is wreaked and his co- worker Betty Ross is injured. Banner escapes and resurfaces two years later in Brazil where he is attempting to control his temper, which when riled turns him back into his emotional and impulsive alter ego: the Hulk. After discovering his whereabouts General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, Betty’s father, sends a team of soldiers led by the crazy Emil Blonsky, who wants to exploit the powers of the Hulk for his own ends. All this leads to extreme complications for the normally withdrawn and reserved Bruce Banner.

Perhaps it was Blonsky?

Although it lacks the humour of Captain America its still another good attempt at transposing a comic book character to the big screen. It has some incredible set pieces that are not only a feast for the eyes but certainly on Blu-Ray, an attack on the senses. My only quibble is that the two lead characters come across as a little lightweight.  Edward Norton, an actor I normally admire, plays the scientist Dr Bruce Banner with Liv Tyler playing his love interest Dr Elizabeth “Betty” Rose, neither Norton in his Banner mode or Tyler are totally convincing. William Hurt as General Ross, who has dedicated himself to capturing the Hulk and Tim Roth who plays the Russian-born officer Emil Blonsky loaned to the General from the United Kingdoms Royal Marine Commandos are both totally credible in their roles. Can’t wait to see Thor (2011).

Captain America: The First Avenger.

Captain America.

Timely Publications started in 1939 and was one of the earliest publishers of comic books, by 1961 it had evolved into its modern incarnation: Marvel Comics. It was at this time that they created various superhero characters with the help of the legendary trio Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko. Most of their fictional characters operated in a single reality known as the Marvel Universe, set in real-life American cities. Correspondingly Marvel Studios developed the Marvel Cinematic Universe based on characters in the comics but sharing plot elements, settings, cast and characters. To date there have been four movies set in this collective, Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk in 2008, Iron Man 2 (2010) the Kenneth Branagh vehicle Thor (2011) and the latest addition Captain America: The First Avenger (2011).

Our story starts during World War Two with the Americans entering the war. Young Steve Rogers is deemed unfit for military service and is persistently turned down when he tries to volunteer. One day at the recruitment office he meets scientist Dr Abraham Erskine who nominates the undersized Rogers to be part of his “super soldier” programme, an experiment that is said to enhance human potential. He is injected with a serum and subjected to an electric treatment by Iron Mans father Howard Stark. He emerges from the experimentation twice his original size and with superior reflexes, ready to do battle with Adolf Hitler’s head of advanced weaponry Johann Schmidt, who as the Red Scull and commander of the terrorist organisation HYDRA has his own plan for world domination.

Red Scull.

Directed by Joe Johnston, whose last two films were the disappointing Wolfman (2010) and the rather better Hidalgo (2004) a film based on the legend of the American distance rider Frank Hopkins and his horse Hidalgo. He also won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for his work on Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Chris Evans, who previously worked with Marvel as the Human Touch in the Fantastic Four films, plays Captain America with just the right amount of irony. English actress Hayley Atwell plays an officer with the Strategic Scientific Reserve and the love interest of our hero. A scary Hugo Weaving portrays Red Skull very convincingly, with man of the moment Dominic Cooper as Howard Stark. Two other roles are worth a mention Stanley Tucci as the German refugee Dr Erskine and Tommy Lee Jones as Col Chester Philips, Steve Jones commanding officer.

Peggy Carter with Captain America.

As usual with the super hero genre the film is slightly corny and certainly camp especially in the scenes which involve Steve Rogers as a US propaganda tool appearing at war-bond rallies dressed in his Captain America garb and resplendent with shield. Like the afore mentioned Raiders of the Lost Ark it’s a good old-fashioned blockbuster. Its story, and in particular its ending set things up nicely for the forthcoming modern day sequel. At times it did feel like we had entered the realms of Inglourious Basterds (2009) but that’s no bad thing. Great fun and very entertaining, for comic book lovers of all ages. Use this and Iron Man as a template for further Marvel Universe films and I for one won’t complain.

Marvel Cinematic Universe