Movie Review - Captain America : The Winter Soldier

     I know that it's been a while since I've done a movie review but we all know how life gets in the way. I'm not going to bore you with that. Let's get to the #1 movie in the world! By now, all of my readers know that I am a major fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and how much it has organically grown over the last couple of years and it's only getting started. More Marvel characters are ready to leap from the comic book pages and onto the silver screen.

     This past weekend, I made two treks to the theaters to join The First Avenger on his second solo mission in a post-Avengers world.

     Captain America: The Winter Soldier picked up two years after the events of The Avengers, finding Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) finding his place in the modern world while working missions for S.H.I.E.L.D. This is where we find Cap at the beginning of the film, leading a team of commandos and partnering with the Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson). By the end of the film, we find out secrets in our favorite spy organization that shake the Marvel Cinematic Universe to its core but I'm not going to spoil that for all of you. 

     I have to give credit to the Russo Brothers (Arrested Development) for what they provided to this film. They gave die-hard fans and newcomers a smart and excellent political thriller action movie. The Winter Soldier is full of car chases, hand-to-hand combat, and action scenes that don't bring down the dominating story line. The completion of the film occurred with a fearsome, ski-mask wearing villain played excellently by Sebastian Stan. The theme of living in a post-9/11 world and how the line between national security and civil rights is blurred in the grey world we live in is executed well in this film. It's certainly a theme that Americans can relate to right now. 

     If you are not a devoted fan of the Marvel films, this movie just passes as another superhero film. The general superhero template is still the undercurrent of this film with senior S.H.I.E.L.D. official Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford) plans to kill potential threats in America, willing to take down anyone in his way, even director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). To do this, Captain America and Black Widow must go rogue against their agency and seek help from Sam Wilson (Marvel newcomer Anthony Mackie) in order to save the world. But, the movie is so much more than that (once again, no spoilers!)

     Chris Evans once again delivers as Captain America, playing the patriotic soldier out of time and staying true to his moral compass even among the shades of grey that surround him. Even though he is constrained by Cap's straight-arrow character, Evans owns the role of Captain America. Scarlett Johansson plays the Black Widow for the third time and helps provide a little more depth in a character we don't know much about. Not nearly as manipulative or cunning as her previous outings, we see a more human soul from the S.H.I.E.L.D. assassin. While it might not agree with Black Widow fans, I loved the growth, no matter how small. Robert Redford was a great casting choice for the role of Pierce, adding years of credibility and acting experience and making the role his own. 

     All in all, I can see why Marvel was excited about this movie and the job that the Russo Brothers brought to The First Avenger was so good, they deserved to return for Captain America's third outing that is set for release in 2016. I did my best not to spoil the movie and I hope that you all will go out and see this excellent films and how the events will affect the Marvel Universe forever. 

     

     

Movie Preview: X-men: Days of Future Past, 2nd Trailer

     So in case I didn't mention it before, I am a huge X-Men fan. Since the famous 90's animated X-Men television series of my childhood to the big-budget film franchise that has brought more fans to join the mutants fight for their right to exist, I have loved the story of the X-Men, the theme of equality, and each character's separate story and how it affects them and using their abilities.

     One of the best stories in X-Men history is the Days of Future Past. All of you can imagine how excited I was about this story being adapted to the universe of the X-Men film franchise. I put up the first trailer a few posts ago and now, the new preview has made its way onto the internet and, whether you have seen it or not, I would love to share it with my viewers right here!

   
     From this new preview, we get a better glimpse at the dark future of the original X-Men cast and the mission to send Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) back into the past to stop the war from being triggered by uniting the younger but weary Charles Xavier (James McAvoy), the dangerous Eric Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender), and the other members from the prequel X-Men: First Class.

     The new preview gives audiences the first glimpse of the Sentinel robots that threaten the Mutant race, created by Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage). What will really catch everyone's attention is the end of trailer, seeing the scene of Charles Xavier face-to-face with his future self, Professor X (Patrick Stewart). Considering what we have heard that Wolverine would be the only X-man to interact with the heroes of the past and future, this scene was a great surprise to fans of both the movies and long-standing X-Men fans.

     We can be guaranteed that X-Men: Days of Future Past will take us on an incredible ride as an audience.

     X-Men: Days of Future Past will enter theaters on May 23.

Movie Preview : Transformers: Age of Extinction

     Now that the bitterness of winter is starting to finally melt away, spring is here but we all know summer is not too far away. When it comes to the summer in the box office, every moviegoer knows that summer blockbuster and popcorn flicks will dominate theaters. For some films and directors, their films are tailor-made for the summer money-makers.

     Michael Bay is one of those directors whose films are targeted for a summer release. His films are meant for the coolness of air-conditioned theaters where the action keeps everything hot for audiences. After summer hits like Bad Boys II, The Island, and, most recently, the Transformers trilogy. This summer, Bay is returning to the world of larger-than-life machines that are set to make our world their battlefield once again.

     In the fourth film of the Transformers film series, set four years after the events of Transformers: Dark of the Moon, a struggling inventor (Mark Wahlberg) and  his daughter (Nicola Peltz) uncover a discovery that brings about the return of the Autobots, the Decepticons, and the government on them. From the trailer, it seems that the Transformers have all been forgotten with the government seeking to remain in control after the events of the war between the Autobots and Decepticons. 

     It seems as though two of our favorite Autobots, Bumblebee and Optimus Prime, are getting an upgrade as they go into battle again against more treacherous villains. Overall, you should expect to see the same destruction and action to come from a Michael Bay film. 

     Transformers: Age of Extinction is scheduled to be released on June 27, 2014.

Movie Preview: Sin City: A Dame to Kill For

     Hello, everyone! I'm sorry that I haven't been around for a while. I should have made a post about the Oscars (Don't worry, it's coming soon!) but there have been some good new previews surging through the internet over the past few days. 

     One preview I have been waiting for finally surfaced. It only took close to nine years but who is counting. 

     To refresh everyone's memory, in 2005, an ensemble cast brought Frank Miller's neo-noir graphic novel to the silver screen in Sin City. The brilliant and visually stunning film gained critical and commercial success with audiences, pleasing fans of the original graphic novels and gaining new fans of Miller's work. 

     After languishing in Hollywood's pre-production hell, this sequel was finally completed and audiences can look to reunite with Miller's dark and unique characters that we met in 2005. Primarily based on the second book of the Sin City series under the same name along with a short story and two new original stories by Miller, the film stars another ensemble cast including returning cast members Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Mickey Rourke, Powers Boothe, and Bruce Willis. New cast members include Eva Green, Josh Brolin, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. 

     Sin City: A Dame to Kill For will burst into theaters August 22. 

Movie Preview - Guardians of the Galaxy

     Good evening, all! I'm back again with a new movie preview from our favorite superhero movie studio. Marvel Studios, as the whole world knows, has had some of the highest grossing movies in recent years. Now that Phase Two has began for the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reports of Phase Three has started to surface for the role of Ant-Man, Marvel is starting to delve into their lesser known heroes.

     One of those heroes will be an intergalactic band of misfits that will expand the universe for Marvel's fans.

     Ladies and Gentleman, I introduce you to the Guardians of the Galaxy!!

      This superhero film takes place in the deep reaches of space where an American pilot named Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) finds himself as the primary target in a manhunt after stealing an orb from the villainous Ronan (Lee Pace). In order to evade him, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a group of intergalactic misfits that include Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), Drax the Destroyer (wrestler-turned-actor Dave Bautista), and Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel). When Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must rally his team for a last stand - with the galaxy's fate in the balance.

     There has been news that we might see the big bad boss, Thanos, who was last seen during the post-credits scene of The Avengers. One can only hope that we will see the Mad God again during this film and how this bunch of misfits will blend into the world established by Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and The Incredible Hulk. This will be a huge risk for Walt Disney Studios and Marvel Studios because little is known about these heroes but considering the risk and success of Iron Man, this might be worth the chance.

     Guardians of the Galaxy will be in theaters on August 1st.

Philip Seymour Hoffman - Tragedy of one of Hollywood's brightest stars

   

     I'm sure by now that everyone knows about the untimely death of Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967-2014). During Super Bowl Sunday, Hollywood was stunned to find out about his passing. This actor won a Best Actor Academy Award in 2005 for his portrayal of Truman Capote.

     Hoffman had spoken openly about his past drug addiction battles, beginning when he graduated from New York University but he "got sober" at the age of 22 and continued sobriety for twenty years. Throughout his illustrious career, Hoffman had roles in movies like Mission Impossible: III, Twister, and Moneyball. He was also nominated for Academy Awards for his roles in Doubt, Charlie Wilson's War, and The Master. Hoffman was recently seen in last year's The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and was scheduled to reprise his role for the two-part finale of The Hunger Games film series, Mockingjay.

     Despite his success, his demons always seemed to be lurking in the corners and that became more apparent as the details of his death become public. He checked himself into rehab in May 2013, showing that he didn't want his past demons to rise again. Unfortunately, he seemed to succumb to his addiction again, this time costing him his life. 

     I won't sit here and criticize him for his past demons because we all have them, whether we are movie stars or not. I will say that he was a great actor who passed away too soon, captivating audiences with his quiet but powerful tone in each of his characters and revealing the depth of who he was portraying. 

     Mr. Hoffman, you will be missed. 

Movie Spots during a Super Bowl Blowout

     Good evening, everyone! I hope everyone enjoyed that debacle of a football game this past Sunday. Even the commercials weren't that good. Only a few of them were able to catch my attention and entertain me but you all know what I was looking forward to. The summer blockbusters all love to bring new footage to the masses while households are all watching the biggest football game of the year.

     In case you all didn't get a chance to see them, I'm here to bring them all to you.

     First...Captain America: The Winter Soldier

   
     Next...The Amazing Spider-Man 2

     Disney's continuing resurrection of childhood classics with The Muppets: Most Wanted

     We were also given our first look at Transformers: Age of Extinction. Might I add that I'm excited to see Optimus Prime on a dragon with a sword? Hopefully, we'll find out more that will make audiences see this film.

     Our look at the video game-turned-attempted movie franchise, Need for Speed

     I hope everyone loved seeing these previews and added some of these movies to your must watch list for this year. 

     As an added bonus, here is the final preview for March's Divergent

     Stay warm, everyone!