Review of Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) by Mark J — 02 May 2015

There's quite a bit to like in this - notably the 70s-style conspiracy and paranoia, the keep-your-friends-close-but-enemies-closer feel simmering behind SHIELD, the World Security Council and HYDRA, and the commentary on how Everything is Weaponised (cf Alien, Terminator et al). Chris Evans is solid in more ways than one, and I was glad of both Anthony Mackie as Falcon and Scarlett Johanson for adding some depth to the proceedings.

But I just can't get that bothered about the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I can't care about how this sets up whatever's coming next. Why can't I just enjoy the film for its own sake? But of course I'm not allowed to do this, and so characters come and go, plot lines are started and not resolved, or simply abandoned because we'll get back to them in 2018. Whatever...

And once again they want to have their cake and eat it, railing against sinister undemocratic forces developing immensely powerful weapons, the military-industrial complex and so on, then spending 40 minutes showing us how AMAZING it is for those weapons to BLOW THE SHIT OUT OF A WHOLE CITY, killing thousands. HOW COOL IS THAT?!