Captain America: The Winter Solider Movie Review

When the original Captain America hurled an armor-plated shield across the screen in 2011 it boasted an interesting World War Two setting. The sequel now moves into the present day in what is undeniably one of Marvel’s best efforts into the superhero genre.

The plot of ‘’The Winter Solider’’ is a sequel to both the original Captain America film from 2011 as well as 2012’s The Avengers and focuses on the exploits of S.H.I.E.L.D. The Captain (Chris Evans) is attempting to adjust to modern life when he, along with his allies Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and newcomer Falcon (Anthony Mackie) come under attack from a man known as The Winter Soldier. They soon realize that treachery is afoot in S.H.I.E.L.D itself and set out to put a stop to their deadly plans. TWS unfolds mainly from the perspective of the heroes across Washington and beyond, with a few cuts for the villains placed in-between. It’s typical superhero fare but it also employs solid action, conspiracy that possesses a few nods to the political, heart, and intriguing espionage in a well-balanced measure, weaving them all together into a highly unpredictable narrative that not only sets itself apart from the original but also manages to follow up previous films brilliantly in the process. There’s plenty of action here, but ‘’The Winter Solider’’ doesn’t forget the more quiet and subdued moments, resulting in a film which is not only varied but well-paced as well.

Like many sequels The Winter Solider brings in new characters whilst continuing the threads of old ones. Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson are again great as Captain America and Black Widow, delivering in both emotion and the action sequences. Evans in particular is akin to the older Superman movies in the way he wanders and calmly reflects on his own from time to time. The Winter Solider is a bit lacking though; he certainly looks threatening enough and is more than a match for the Cap but given the twist that comes around halfway through the film I wished he would have interacted more with the characters to give more impact to his presence. Likewise Falcon is a likeable character who contributes a fair slice to the plot but if we’re going to see him in Avengers 2 next year, a little more screen time would have really benefitted his character leading up to that film. Samuel L. Jackson gets much more to do this time around, including an incredibly tense car chase in-between his attempts to keep S.H.E.I.L.D in line throughout the film. The movie also goes into greater detail on the board members seen in The Avengers, giving some interesting insight into the conspiracy filled undertones of the film. All told, the cast of ‘’The Winter Solider’’ pulls together quite nicely, which (fingers crossed!) should lead into the upcoming Avengers 2 quite well come next year.

Cap’s 2011 debut benefitted from some brilliant editing through all of its action scenes and The Winter Solider does manage to keep this standard three years on. The fight choreography is again stellar with the Captain and Black Widow trading blows with many a foe throughout the movie although the editing seems to stepped back slightly from the previous film. When the action heats up, it brings a fair bit of shaky-cam which does obscure things a little during the more extravagant moments. With that said TWS has easily the best action scenes since ‘’The Avengers’’; car chases, hand-to-hand-combat and an enormous aerial battle all have a place in the movie, which will no doubt thrill action fans from beginning to end. The music carries over the main theme while also replacing the World War Two themes with common tracks suited to a modern film; a fitting change given the near seventy year gap between TWS and its predecessor.

With its intriguing plot and extravagant action, ‘’Captain America: The Winter Solider’’ is another great effort in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is a sequel that really does go above and beyond the first in every way that matters in addition to proving that Marvel is still the best when it comes to superhero movies.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

2014: The year of the comeback in film

The year of film in 2014 has gotten off to a solid start so far; we’ve seen Oscar winners like 12 Years a Slave dazzle movie-goers in addition to other flicks such as The Lego Movie making their mark even though they seem lacklustre at first glance. But the year is also shaping up to return many franchises to the silver screen, some of which haven’t been heard from in years. Don’t know what they are? This guide should jog your memory a bit.

March

The Raid 2: Berandal (March 28^th)

Perhaps the least well-known film on the list, Berandal is the sequel to the 2012 Malaysian film ‘’The Raid: Redemption. A thunderous, brutal and all around excellent film; it had some of the best and most realistic hand-to-hand combat ever put to film in recent memory. Berandal aims to feature a more in-depth story featuring protagonist Rama’s attempts to keep his family safe from the ruthless criminal underworld he wronged in the original film. Add to this the director Gareth Evans returning and you have a recipe for even more incredibly tense moments.

April-June

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (4th April)

Three years after ‘’Captain America: The First Avenger’’ and two years after ‘’The Avengers’’ another popular Marvel superhero makes his return to the big screen with ‘’The Winter Soldier and already it seems to rival The Avengers in terms of extravagance. New characters such as the Falcon and even more special effects than the original film all seek to make ‘’The Winter Soldier’’ better than the first in every way possible.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (May 2^nd)

The Amazing Spider-Man rebooted the famous superhero with great success two years ago, being more in line with the comics rather than the realistic tone seen in the Sam Raimi films. The sequel wants to go bigger in every way; there are more villains this time with Jamie Fox playing Electro and Paul Giamatti as the Rhino in the cinematic debuts of both villains. Last time a Spider-Man film tried to handle multiple villains, the reactions were mixed with many agreeing that Venom (Topher Grace) didn’t have nearly enough time to develop in Spider-Man 3. Can The Amazing Spider-Man make good on its promises?

Godzilla (16^th May)

Aside from the constant stream of Japanese flicks created by Tohp, Godzilla hasn’t been in a western movie since 1998; directed by Roland Emmerich, the flick was supposed to introduce the famous monster to western audiences but instead it fell flat both critically and commercially, often missing the mark completely when it came to fitting Godzilla’s main characteristics. Now Legendary Pictures and director Gareth Edwards are rebooting the series, hoping that lightning won’t strike a second time. Things seem quite good from the looks of the trailers with Aaron-Taylor Johnson and Bryan Cranston filling out the main roles. But even with these top tier actors, the most important priority is to get the titular monster right this time around.

X-Men: Days of Future Past (23^rd May)

It’s been a very long time since the last proper X-Men film; since 2006’s ‘’The Last Stand’’ we’ve seen a few spin-offs focused on characters like Wolverine, but never a film that brings together all the characters to continue the story. That is what makes Days of Future Past one of the biggest films of the year, not only is every single actor returning to reprise their roles in the previous three main entries but so is Bryan Singer, director of Superman Returns and X-Men 2 which many argue is the best of the series. DOFP seems to have greatness written all over it and comic book fans should be in for a treat when the film releases in May.

22 Jump Street (13^th June)

Similar to 300, 21 Jump Street also achieved a solid fan following; the buddy cop duo of Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill, combined with some witty writing, resulted in a successful comedy which did well enough to spawn a sequel. 22 Jump Street will be bringing the duo back together, this time to crack a crime ring inside a fraternity. Comedy lovers will no doubt get their due when the film launches in the summer.

How to train your Dragon 2 (13^th June)

Seeing as the original 2010 film was one the best users of 3D besides Avatar, How to train your dragon 2 from Dreamworks has received a great deal of anticipation stretching over four years. The original was a well-loved animated film but it was snubbed at the Oscars by the likes of Toy Story 3 and The Social Network. With those films out of the way, 2014 is ample time for HTTYD2 to make a more long-lasting impression on both critics and movie-going masses alike.

Transformers: Age of Extinction (27^th June)

Michael Bay’s bug budget adaptations of the popular toys have upset many a critic yet thrilled many an audience and the series returns this year with the fourth film titled ‘’Age of Extinction’’. Gone are Shia Lebeouf and Megan Fox and in comes Mark Wahlberg along with many new Transformers of both the Autobot and Decepticon varieties. Given the huge financial success of the previous films, ‘’Age of Extinction’’ is sure to give action fans everything they want to see from a summer blockbuster.

July-September

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (11^th July)

After an original series, remake and reboot in 2011, the Planet of the Apes series returns with ‘’Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’’. Directed by Matt Reeves and taking actors like Gary Oldman and Jason Clarke on board, DPOA is set to continue the story of Caesar and his band of super intelligent apes while also covering the ethical and scientific questions raised in ‘’Rise of the Planet of the Apes’’. Overly long titles aside DPOA looks to continue the original’s success this summer.

Sin City: A Dame to kill for (22^nd August)

With a nearly ten year gap between it and it’s predecessor, Sin City: A Dame to kill for has some huge expectations to meet. The film is another partnership between Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller to bring the popular comic book to the silver screen once again. The ante is definitely being upped for the sequel with actors such as Joesph-Gordon-Levitt, Eva Green and Lady Gaga joining the roster, but the film will also stay true to what made the original so memorable including a non-linear narrative, fully digitised sets and of course a gritty and blood-soaked story fuelled to entertain. With luck, Rodriguez and company will pull through and deliver the sequel fans have been wanting for so many years.

October-December

Night at the Museum 3 (19^th December): Conspicuously slipping in for Christmas, Night at the Museum 3 marks the latest in the comedic series after a four year gap. Very little is known about the plot but both director Shawn Levy and Ben Stiller as security guard Larry Daley will be returning for perhaps the final instalment in the series. Trailers and images are sure to pop up on the web later on in the year.

So there you have it, all the film franchises which are making their return this year. What are your most anticipated films for the remainder of 2014?

Need for Speed Movie Review

Since it’s breakthrough in 1994, the Need for Speed series has stood tall as the most successful racing game of all time, selling over 140 million copies worldwide. The series now moves into mass media, but seems to have arrived late however, and as such, faces some very difficult competition with its film debut.

Need for Speed follows Tobey Marshall (Aaron Paul) and his pals as they race to get their own back on rogue racer Dino Brewster (Dominic Cooper). Dino baited Tobey into a race, leading to the death of his friend Pete (Harrison Gilbertson) and landing him in jail. To reach his rival turned arch-nemesis, Tobey must drive across the US in a bid to enter a supercar race ran by a man known as Monarch (Michael Keaton). If the plot sounds familiar, that’s exactly what it is; if you’ve played the Need for Speed games or watched the many Fast and Furious films then you’ll see the cameos and twists coming from a mile away, whether it’s the bantering characters out of Fast Five or the final chase scene which practically mirrors Need for Speed Hot Pursuit exactly. To say the plot of Need for Speed is uninspired puts it too lightly; the film’s plot, despite being easy to follow and proceeding at a reasonable pace, doesn’t have a lick of innovation under the hood, making it difficult to take seriously.

There are a few big names attached to Need for Speed but ironically only Aaron Paul comes close to turning in a worthy performance in the film. He brings a much needed layer of emotion, however brief it may be to an otherwise blank cast; but even then his performance falls far below the legendary Jesse Pinkman. It’s ultimately a step back for the young actor. Unfortunately every other character is just as clichéd as the plot they inhabit. Tobey’s so-called friends are extremely under-developed and some of them are really annoying too; they’re simply too over-the-top to be memorable. Imogen Poots as Tobey’s love interest Julia reminded me a lot of Rosie-Huntington-Whitley in 2011’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon in that she really doesn’t say or do anything but instead merely fills in a place and looks pretty throughout the film. Dino is woefully similar to the character of antagonist DK found in ‘’Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift’’ and regretfully Michael Keaton has been subjected to the same fate as Samuel L. Jackson in Robocop; tacked on to serve as a soulless commentator on the action rather than a direct participant. Like so many game adaptations before it, Need for Speed’s characterisation is as basic as it comes, chucking development out the window to place a primary focus on the action.

Need for Speed may suffer from a derivative plot and minuscule character development but where it does redeem itself a little is through its action and cinematography; the car stunts, races and other set-piece moments are all fully practical with not a single computer generated effect in sight. The helicopter lift and police escape sequences are particular highlights which really capture the feel of the game series the movie is based on. The film also boasts some great cinematography with a variety of wide, short and point of view shots which keep the action visible whilst rarely devolving into shaky territory. With that said, the action sequences fall short of being the best in the genre as its competitors have continued to push the envelope over the years. The music is fairly basic, not really complimenting the film very well so instead the film’s audio is mainly comprised of various car engines and skids along the tarmac, enough to satisfy the film’s target audience and little more. The technical presentation of Need for Speed is generally well done but all told it cannot save the overall package.

Need for Speed probably would have been the best film of its kind had it been released fourteen years ago, but as it stands the film comes off as yet another shameless cash-in riddled with clichés and derivative production choices. Speed demons and car lovers will get some enjoyment from the practical stunts but overall you’ll get much more entertainment value by playing the games themselves. The search for a solid game-to-movie tie-in goes on…

Rating: 2/5 Stars

300: Rise of an Empire Movie Review

In 2007 director Zack Snyder brought Frank Miller’s popular comic to the big screen, gaining a cult following in the process with its slow-motion cinematography and epic fight scenes. Now Noam Murro has picked up the series for the long awaited sequel, ‘’Rise of an Empire’’ which stays true to the original whilst not quite topping it.

Based on the Frank Miller comic Xerxes, ‘’Rise of an Empire’’ utilises a non-linear narrative to take place before, during and after the original film. Where Leonidas and the brave 300 hold back Xerxes’s land forces, newcomer General Themistocles (Sullivan Stapleton) leads his legion of free Greeks to battle Xerxes’s gargantuan naval fleet led by the vengeful Artemisia (Eva Green). The story unfolds from the perspective of these two main characters as battle ensues and several events cross paths with those from the original film; it’s a tricky thing to do for a film of this style but ‘’Rise of an Empire’’ pulls it off. From simple character interactions to full-scale plans being set into motion the film follows up the first very well. With that said, newcomers to the series may feel a little lost; even with a flashback here and there, elements and characters of the narrative that played a large part in the original seem to be brushed over here; the powerful and heavily fortified Spartan army that made the original so beloved have a much smaller role here as Rise of an Empire focuses more on the Greeks collectively coming together to stop the Persians by any means necessary. Aside from these gripes 300: Rise of an Empire delivers just what you’d look for in a historical fantasy film; gripping action, epic speeches and lustful romance set against the backdrop of real world events.

The likes of Gerard Butler and Michael Fassbender in the original did a fantastic job of conveying the over-the-top mood of the comics and the sequel does manage to continue that trend to a certain degree. Sullivan Stapleton is nowhere near as memorable as his predecessor but he is nonetheless a decent lead in the way he cares deeply for his people and will not stop until the forces of Xerxes are stopped. And then there’s Eva Green as Artemisia; by far the best character in the film, she lights up the screen with a ruthless yet sensual presence that makes God-King Xerxes seem weak by comparison. She’s a great villain who always makes her presence known throughout the film. But on the other hand, most of the other characters are either under-developed or under-used; Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) and narrator Dillos (David Wenham) really don’t do anything until the final moments; a shame considering the larger roles they had in the previous film. Likewise the newer characters are more filler than a reasonable part of the film Scyllias (Callen Mulvey) and his son Callisto (Jack O’Connel) come the closest to being developed properly but only seem to fill in for the previous duo of Artemis and Astinos rather than bringing anything refreshing to the table. Unfortunately these problems make it much more difficult to root for the heroes this time around, a step back from the superior original.

Rise of an Empire continues to embrace the same gritty and slow-mo induced combat but this time a greater level of tension is employed; rather than being an unbreakable defence like Leonidas’s 300, Themistocles’s naval fleet is hopelessly outnumbered and outmatched by the might of Artemisia and are instead forced to use non-conventional techniques to emerge victorious. The action benefits from some mostly solid choreography and framing, although there are several moments where the camera will shake a little too much and the shots clearly catered to 3D splatters of blood can be distracting. The gore effects are well done as well, with blood spraying much more than it did in the first film in addition to the usual decapitations and dismemberment of many soldiers. Once again, the settings and vistas look incredible, especially when Xerxes stands atop a palace and greets the Persian masses below; setting the film at sea also allows some great looking water and storm effects to transport the viewer into the world of Ancient Greece. The music is sweeping and epic, just as it was before with thunderous war cries and rumbling drums, which really put across the gritty nature of the combat. Rise of an Empire sticks to the tried and true when it comes to presentation; it will please those who loved the first film but likely won’t sway those who disliked Snyder’s original vision.

Rise of an Empire doesn’t possess the same epic scale or memorable moments as its predecessor but thanks to a stand-out performance from Eva Green and a greater level of tension in the battle scenes, the film still lives up to its pedigree.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Top 10 Favorite Music Artists

After receiving the majority of votes on my poll (again, just one vote!) this list is a little something to commemorate 1000 views of my blog. As you can probably tell by glancing through the list, my tastes in music fall more into the mellow varieties; the more calm and sombre tunes which I find very relaxing. Some of the artists you may not even recognise but nonetheless I hope you enjoy reading.

10. Coldplay

Coldplay have been around for a while now and stand as one of the best and most well-known British pop groups in modern times and with their latest album, Ghost Stories coming out this year, there’s no better time to be a fan. Their music has become immensely popular, making its way into films, such as the recent ‘’Hunger Games: Catching Fire’’, not to mention the band winning numerous awards over their nearly eighteen year career. I’ve always been particularly fond of their vibrant styles as well as their more subdued tracks.

Personal Favourites: 1^st Paradise, 2^nd The Scientist, 3^rd Atlas

9. Bastille

You may be surprised to learn that I only recently got into Bastille towards the end of 2013 when I listened to some of my flat mate’s playlists, which eventually convinced me to download their singles. In a similar way to James Blunt, lead singer Dan Smith has a very specific, more gravelly voice which really sells the songs and sets Bastille apart from other modern alternative rock bands. Bastille are another one of those upcoming bands that have real potential to have a long and successful career. No doubt we’ll be seeing a new album from them at some point.

Personal Favourites: 1^st Of the Night, 2^nd Things we lost in the fire, 3^rd Pompeii

8. Daniel Powter

I first caught wind of Canadian singer Daniel Powter in 2006 with ‘’Bad Day’’, a single that sky-rocketed up the chart and was well loved by all of my family when it came out. After this, Powter never managed to reach the same high as he did with his original single but he still finds time to get some singles out into the world. Recently I downloaded some tracks from 2010’s ‘’Best of Me’’ and similar to Keane it boasts some solid piano work and heartfelt lyrics.

Personal Favourites: 1^st Love you lately, 2^nd Free Loop, 3^rd Bad Day

7. Del Amitri

The oldest band to hit my list, Del Amitri are a Scottish band who were very popular through the 80s and 90s; I first heard of them when my dad introduced me to ‘’Just like a man’’ many years ago. Their music is made up of catchy lyrics and some brilliant solos on guitar and bass. Although they’re much less prominent nowadays, they’re still in the music business, having done a recent tour along with the lead singer, Justin Currie setting out on a solo career. In my view they’re one of the most underrated bands around.

Personal Favourites: 1^st Always the last to know, 2^nd Be my downfall, 3^rd Just like a man

6. Embrace

Embrace are a band who seem fairly conspicuous in the music world; I would often compare them to Coldplay and Keane when it comes to using a wide variety of instruments and a projection of voice. After their best known album ‘’Out of nothing’’ in 2004 and ‘’This new day’’ in 2006 the band vanished for seven long years but have finally returned in 2014 with a new album and tour on the way. It’s great to have them back and I’m certain that their newest album simply titled ‘’Embrace’’ will put them back in the spotlight when it launches at the end of April.

Personal Favourites: 1^st Nature’s Law, 2^nd A Glorious Day, 3^rd Ashes

5. James Blunt

James Blunt’s many songs have delighted many an audience over the years and I am no exception. He has endured because of his distinctive voice and a near perfect balance of emotional songs such as ‘’Carry you home’’, mixed with more cheerful, upbeat tunes such as the recent ‘’Bonfire Heart’’. 2014’s Moon Landing proved that Blunt is still going strong more than ten years after he made his debut.

Personal Favourites: 1^st So far gone, 2^nd 1973, 3^rd I’ll be your man

4. Gabrielle Aplin

With some beautiful lyrics, wondrous music videos and an all-around soothing voice, Gabrielle Aplin is the perfect artist to relax to; since her breakthrough with a lovely rendition of ‘’The Power of Love’’ for Christmas 2012, she has since released her first album, English Rain and gone on tour with it. This tour also housed my first ever music concert down at the O2 Academy in Bournemouth last year. I’m looking forward to seeing more from Gabby in the future.

Personal Favourites: 1^st Salvation, 2^nd Alive, 3^rd The Power of Love

3. John Newman

As the newest artist on my list, John Newman makes the list for one simple thing; the piano solos that have complimented a majority of his tracks so far. Whenever those solos start playing, you just know that things are in business and as such, his songs simply never get old and many others think that too. He was praised throughout 2013 by numerous publications and has recently been nominated for two Brit Awards this year. Newman shows no signs of slowing down and his tracks will no doubt continue to chart in the years to come.

Personal Favourites: 1^st Losing Sleep, 2^nd Cheating, 3^rd Love me Again

2. Tom Odell

Another new artist making a name for himself, Tom Odell boasts a powerful voice and some incredible skill in creating killer piano beats for his songs. Another Love, I Know, Till I lost, the list goes on; each song is fantastic in the way Odell melds his piano with his voice to create some unforgettable tracks. Most recently I bought his debut album ‘’Long Way Down’’ which will likely soon be followed with even more singles. Tom Odell came pretty close to taking the number one spot, but ultimately settled at number 2.

Personal Favourites: 1^st I know, 2^nd Another Love, 3^rd Till I lost

1. Keane

Come on, you all knew this was coming! They may be on a break now but Keane unquestionably remains my all-time favourite band. Ever since I first listened to the fantastic ‘’somewhere only we know’’ in 2004 I’ve never stopped following the band in the years that have followed. Their most recent albums ‘’Strangeland’’ and ‘’The Best of Keane’’ were released in 2012 and 2013 respectively and even with all the newer bands on the list, they continue to be the band I listen to the most and I will undoubtedly continue to do so whilst eagerly awaiting their eventual return.

Personal Favourites: 1^st Crystal Ball, 2^nd My Shadow, 3^rd Silenced by the Night

Honorable mentions include Owl City for ‘’Fireflies’’, ‘’Kamikaze’’ and ‘’When can I see you again?’’ and The Fray for ‘’How to save a life’’ and ‘’Look after you’’.