Film: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

GENRE: Action/Adventure

RATING: PG for violence
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 16 minutes

STARRING: Chris Evans (Fantastic Four, Sunshine)

Scarlett Johansson (Iron Man 2), Robert Redford (Spy Game)

DIRECTOR: Anthony & Joe Russo (Community, You, Me & Dupree)

WRITERS: Chris Markus & Stephen McFeely (Thor 2, Narnia series)

PLOT: Steve Rogers and Black Widow second guess the power of S.H.I.E.L.D. and become fugitives when something happens to Fury.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 A great action movie. Of the post-Avenger films (Iron Man, Thor), I found this one to be the best sequel. Great hand-to-hand combat and nice car chase sequences. Nice humour mixed in too.

2 As I am also watching Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., I was very interested in the running of this organization.

3 I wish The Winter Soldier talked more. I never read the comics but it would be nice if there was some more dialogue.

4 The first after-credit sequence is worth it and sets up new characters for the eagerly anticipated Avengers 2. The second sequence isn’t worth it.

5 Loved the Community cameo and the Pulp Fiction reference.

RECOMMENDATION: See in the theatre. Fun stuff.

UPCOMING REVIEWS: The Amazing Spiderman 2

Film: Noah

GENRE: Action/Adventure

RATING: PG for violence and some disturbing images
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 18 minutes

STARRING: Russell Crowe (Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind )

Jennifer Connelly (A Beautiful Mind), Emma Watson (Harry Potter)

DIRECTOR: Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, The Wrestler)

WRITERS: Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain)

Ari Handel (The Fountain)

PLOT: The Genesis story of a man who builds an ark to rescue animals and his family from an apocalyptic flood.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 The movie made me want to re-read the beginning of Genesis again. Gotta brush up not only on the Noah story but of the Cain aftermath. They did a pretty good job using the original source with the exception of their depiction of the Nephilim. The first half of the film dragged for me, I was far more interested once the rains came down and the floods came up.

2 Speaking of the Nephilim, I didn’t know there were Neverending Story Rockbiters during Noah’s time.

3 Some great intense acting from Crowe and Watson. They are always great to watch on the screen.

4 On the flip side, Ray Winstone (Beowulf) and Logan Lerman (Lightning Thief) are annoying to watch on screen. I just don’t like their acting or choices.

5 The clothing looked pretty well tailored.

RECOMMENDATION: Wait for Netflix

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Captain America: Winter Soldier

Spring Television Preview

Wondering when the spring shows premiere? Here’s when my shows are returning, as well as a bunch of new shows to check out this spring. Enjoy.

Friends With Better Lives premieres Mar.31 on CBS

Kind of like How I Met Your Mother without non-linear storytelling

Game of Thrones: Season 4 begins (Apr.6)

Veep: Season 3 begins (Apr.6)

Silicon Valley premieres Apr.6 on HBO

Office Space with computer geeks

Turn premieres Apr.6 on AMC

Jamie Bell is the first spy in the revolutionary war

Mad Men: Season 7.1 begins (Apr.13)

Fargo premieres Apr.15 on FX

Martin Freeman & Billy Bob Thorton in the cold

Writer’s Room: Season 2 begins (Apr.18)

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver premieres Apr.27 on HBO

A weekly Daily Show hosted by Jon Stewart’s replacement

Louie: Season 4 begins (May.5)

24:Live Another Day: Season 9 begins (May.5)

Penny Dreadful premieres May.11 on Showtime

Classic horror monsters unite for an adult drama

Masterchef: Season 5 begins (May.19)

Last Coming Standing: Season 8 begins (May.22)

Orange is the New Black: Season 2 begins (Jun.6)

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Noah, Captain America 2