Up & Coming Weekly

May 06, 2014

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

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24 UCW MAY 7-13, 2014 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM I promised not to complain about how the writers brought Hayley Atwell back in. I am a woman of my word, so not a peep about it. With that out of the way, I feel pretty comfortable saying that Captain America: The Winter Soldier (136 minutes) is a nearly perfect example of how a superhero movie should be. It has a nice balance of character development and action, the mythology is there, there's a satisfying villain complete with interesting sub-villain, the theme is both topical and important — I wasn't completely sold on the casting of Robert Redford but I can't think of a better choice, either. The ninth film in the Marvel Universe begins about two years after the Avengers film ended. Captain America, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is living in Washington and working for S.H.I.E.L.D. He meets Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and they engage in some witty repartee before being interrupted by Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson). Aside: screenwriters Markus and McFeely did a pretty good job writing for Hayley Atwell in the first film. But maybe I misread that situation and it was First Avenger Director Johnson and/or Atwell's stellar acting skills that brought realism to the part. Here, the characterization of Black Widow grated on me. Why is she so obsessed with getting Captain America a date? I don't remember her like that in the comics. I understand the need for character-establishing chit-chat; I just wish they hadn't gone so stereotypically femme with it. End Aside. Rogers and Romanoff are tasked with a rescue mission, but it turns out that Romanoff has her own agenda. Banter ensues, everyone escapes, end scene. Once safely home they are debriefed (giggle) by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). Fury consults with Director Shaw (Robert Redford), and the next day, Fury is ambushed. During a half-decent chase scene he shows off gobs of S.H.I. E.L.D tech, then faces off with the super-secret, super-powered assassin, the Winter Soldier (I can't tell you the name of the actor. It's a secret). Here the action shifts. Captain America, officially under suspicion, teams up with the only remaining Avenger who deserves, but has not gotten, a stand- alone origin film. Yes, I just busted on Hawkeye. Deal with it. The team of two makes their way to a secret bunker on a New Jersey army base, which just happens to be the army base where Steve Rogers did his Basic Training before becoming Captain America. It also just happens to contain the seeds of the organization that would eventually become S.H.I.E.L.D, complete with Peggy Carter's (Hayley Atwell) picture on the wall. They explore the secret bunker until they find the even more secret sublevel. There, rows and rows of computer banks covered in dust take up most of the space. Although, the glass covers on the nearest data reels are suspiciously spotless. We might be dealing with an obsessive compulsive villain that cleans and polishes glass even if they can't be bothered to dust of anything else. Anyway, another surprise cameo is followed by the heroes' inevitable escape. They hook up with Sam Wilson from the first scene and band together as the climax approaches. Overall, I think I'll buy a copy of this one. I have never been a huge Captain America fan so perhaps some of the subtleties were lost on me, but I was entertained. At the end of the day, that's all I ask. Well, almost all. I also ask for good after-credits scenes. Luckily, Winter Soldier had a great one, followed by an okay one. I don't want to post spoilers, but it looks like a set-up for the next Avengers movie might have some X-Men crossover appeal. Those Who Sacrificed Freedom for Security Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Rated PG-13) by HEATHER GRIFFITHS HEATHER GRIFFITHS, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upand- comingweekly.com. 910.484.6200. 910.867.8700 1400 Walter Reed Road, Suite 130 (All American Expressway & Owen Drive) HOURS: M-S 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. • Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. pizzeria & restaurant L i t t l e I t a l y Authentic Italian Cuisine MAMA MIA DINE IN ITALY THIS WEEKEND! Appetizers: Brushetta • Stuffed Shrimp Entrees: Veal Parmigiana • Eggplant Rollatini Chicken Mediterranean Fresh Seafood Specials Daily • Casual Atmosphere • Impressive Wine List • Parties & Catering • Carry Home Service

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