Captain America: The Winter Soldier - a Review

I am pretty much the worst person to have with you in a movie theater when the film in question is an action/adventure type. It has to do with learning styles.

Let me explain...

Because I'm a visual learner and have a vivid imagination, I see things and feel them viscerally and then I react audibly. (Of course, you could chalk this up to the fact that I'm Cuban, but that's not important right now.)

Anyway, the "reacting audibly" (in a movie theater) part is where it becomes problematic for someone trying to quietly enjoy the film in question.

My daughter, Lucy came with me to the pre-screening of Captain America: The Winter Soldier a few weeks ago. Lucy is the type of learner who takes in all the information and digests it and then later discusses the conclusions she has come to.

Me? Not so much. I see it. I feel it. I. AM. RIGHT. THERE.

Although I enjoyed the first Captain America film and am a big über-nerdy fan of the entire Marvel Universe, I was not prepared for how awesome this film was. Again, I'm a big fan of the franchise anyway.

I'd have to say that unless you've seen the original Captain America: The First Avenger and also The Avengers, you won't appreciate this film as much as we Marvel über-nerds will. You totally need Steve Rogers' back story, particularly when they do the reveal of The Winter Soldier. I may or may not have yelled loudly, "No way!" at that point in the film, but that's not important right now. Lucky for us, we happened to have seen it with a theaterful of equally über-nerdy Marvel fanboys, so there was no call for my removal from the theater. Also, everyone was thinking the same thing.

The Winter Solder is slightly different than the other films in that it has an element of being a political thriller, which I appreciated. And one of the best, most jaw-dropping, did-they-just-do-that car chases in any film ever. (I'm talking all the way back to The French Connection. Wait. Did I just date myself?)

What I appreciate most about Captain America is that Steve Rogers (played by Chris Evans - *sigh*) is a true conservative hero. The old-school, moral, fight-for-what-is-right type.

"You hold a gun on everyone on Earth and call it protection," he says. "This isn't freedom, this is fear." I can't think of another film where they've ever discussed the moral implications of trading in freedom for security. I was impressed. Also, I may or may not have loudly yelled, "YES!" at that point, but again, that's not important right now.

Did I mention that I tend to react audibly when I get engrossed in a film? And believe me, I was completely engrossed in this film.

I don't want to spoil anything, but for all my fellow Marvel über-fans (and you know who you are), I just have three words for you:

The. Elevator. Scene.

I'm not going to give any more away. I'll just say that Lucy and I both enjoyed the film tremendously.

Also, her arm is healing quite nicely from the bruises incurred while sitting next to her mother who enjoyed the film so much that she provided both action and adventure. Learning styles, people.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier opens in theaters everywhere on Friday, April 4th, 2014.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier *sigh*

I got to attend another press junket a few weeks ago.

Also, it's just recently that I've started actually using the word, "junket" with regularity in coherent sentences. Mostly because I finally looked it up.

jun•ket noun

1. a sweet, custardlike food of flavored milk curdled with rennet.
2. a pleasure excursion, as a picnic or outing.
3. a trip, as by an official or legislative committee, paid out of public funds and ostensibly to obtain information.

verb (used without object)
4. to go on a junket.

verb (used with object)
5. to entertain; feast; regale.

So, there's that.

This time it was for the upcoming Marvel Studios release, 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' (win) and it was in Beverly Hills (double-win).

Of course, you know that we are all super-über-nerdy Marvel fans around here. So, getting invited to the press junket for Captain America and pre-screening put my Mom Points way off the scoreboard. (Thanks for that, Disney and Marvel!)

Cast of Captain America: The Winter Soldier -Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, and Samuel L. Jackson

I managed once again to get a front row seat to the awesome. (Charmed life, you know.) So already this junket was pretty much shaping up to be 2. a pleasure excursion, as a picnic or outing.

The thing that impressed me the most about the Q & A with the directors and cast was how much they love the franchise. Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios and producer of the film is wonderfully committed to staying true to the comic book stories and heroes, which is truly a beautiful thing.

And speaking of beautiful things, ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to - The Winners of the Genetic Lotto...

From left to right, Anthony Mackie (Falcon - by far my favorite character, but that's not important right now), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier), and Chris Evans (Captain America).

I'll post a review of the film in delicious detail in a few days, but right now I'm still reeling from being in the same room with all this beauty. Oh, yeah, and Scarlett Johansson was there, too.

My favorite quote of the day came from Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury).

It’s a dream come true. You sit there and read comic books when you’re a kid and you wonder if there’s a world like that. You grow up as an actor and they start making movies like that and you wonder, “How can I get in that movie?” and the next thing you know you’re inside it going, “Yeah!”  So, it’s all plus there.

I know. I feel the same way about getting invited to this junket, Sam.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier opens Friday, April 4th, 2014.

Marvel's The Avengers (A Winner)

Thanks to all of you who entered the giveaway for the Very Uber-Cool and Uber-nerdy Avengers gift pack from Marvel.

I love that you guys are as caught up in Avenger Madness as we are.

And because I personally can't get enough of Thor, here's yet another photo from the film.

Isn't that just beautiful....umm.....lighting? (I know. Shut up.)

Congratulations to the winner of the Marvel The Avengers Gift pack:

Congratulations, Shelby! Please send me an email with your snail mail address and your preferred tshirt size and "Hey, Marta! I won stuff on your blog!" in the subject line. I'll forward to the good folks at Marvel so that they can get your goodies out to you ASAP.

This is what you won:

Marvel's The Avengers T-shirt.

The Avengers pins.

The Avengers 3-D glasses.

We're almost finished with our movie countdown. Thor (be still my heart) is on tonight and Captain America is up on Wednesday.

Speaking of Thor and Captain America, I almost wept when I saw this clip. Watch. And love.

The Awesomeness is in theaters everywhere on Friday, May 4th. And yes, we're seeing it in IMAX 3D.

That's just how we uber-nerds roll.

Tony Stark: "Doctor Banner, your work is unparalleled. And I'm a huge fan of the way you lose control and turn into an enormous green rage monster."

Bruce Banner/The Hulk: ..."Thanks."

Friday can't come quickly enough.

Calling All Uber-nerds! Marvel's The Avengers (A very cool giveaway)

If you remember from this post a few weeks ago, you know that we are all suffering uber-nerdy anticipation for the release of The Avengers (the movie) in theaters on May 4th.

Read the comments on that post and you'll see reader Lourdes M's genius suggestion of watching all the Marvel super hero movies beforehand. We have been doing exactly that for the past few weeks.

Our movie line-up has been as follows:

• Week 1 - The Incredible Hulk
• Week 2 - Ironman
• Week 3 - Ironman 2

We are saving Captain America and Thor for next week.

And then....on May 4th.....

I can barely wait for the awesome.

My friends at MARVEL (<--click on this link and be prepared to lose hours of your life) asked if I wanted to host a giveaway while we're waiting for the movie to be released. You can guess how quickly I responded with a great big YES, PLEASE!

I am greatly, greatly pleased to offer the following MARVEL Avenger coolness to one lucky winner.

- MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS t-shirt in adult  sizes of S, M, L, XL

- MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS set of 6 buttons

- MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS one pair of limited edition 3D glasses

 To enter the drawing for this cool MARVEL Avengers Giveaway of Awesome, please answer one or all of the following questions:

• Which one of the Avengers is your favorite?
• If you were an Avenger, what would they call you?

Remember that if you want to enter the drawing for the MARVEL Avengers gift pack, you must leave a comment on this post and I'll choose a winner on Sunday, April 29th, 2012 at 7pm PST. 

If you don't already, go "like " The Avengers on Facebook. Sooo worth it for the fun facts (and eye-candy, but that's not important right now).

My answers?

• My favorite Avenger starts with "Th" and ends with "or."
• You could call me Cubanasa. Porque si. ;-)

My (Super) Hero

A few months ago, my son, Jonathan (16) breathlessly runs in.

"Mom, you've got to see this!" He then proceeds to show me the following movie trailer:

Explosions! People in peril! ! MARVEL SUPERHEROES ! ! (Win.Win.WIN!)

He knows (because I've told him repeatedly, as I have all four of my kids) that I was a nerdy comic-book-loving kid. That's right. Little known fun fact.

{WARNING: Over-sharing-Uber-nerd Alert!}

My dad used to take me to the local drugstore on weekends and let me pick out 3 or 4 comic books every week. It's how I learned to read in English. This probably flies in the face of all kinds of English as a second language research, but, whatever....

I would very carefully choose a variety of comic books, from the Harvey classics, like Richie Rich to the "teen" comedy, Archie (for the record, I was always very pro-Betty, but that's not important right now). I also really loved the action/adventure Marvel comics.

Thor was my favorite of the Avengers. Mostly because he said cool things like:  

"WE'LL NEVER BE BEATEN! FOR WE ARE...THE AVENGERS!"

(By the way, the only time you should EVER use the Comic Sans font is in a comic book. There. I said it.)

Back to the Avengers. And specifically to Thor. The Mighty Thor. I loved Thor. He had the hammer. The cool Viking vibe. When I was in high school we were The Mighty Vikings. It like one big cosmic Thor Love-fest.

In fact, when Adam was three, I dressed him as Thor for Halloween. I did. I swear. (Excuse me while I go dig up some proof.....)

Ta-da!

Hey! Superheroes come in all sizes (and my son has since forgiven me). But that's not important right now.

As I got older, my comic book consumption diminished, but my love of all things Marvel did not. In the late 70's, I religiously watched Bill Bixby/Dr. Bruce Banner turn into Lou Ferrigno/The Incredible Hulk . (Who didn't?)

So back to Jonathan and The Avengers Movie Trailer....

1. I am thrilled that my 16 year old and I have such awesome common ground.
2. We are out-of-our-skin excited to see the film. In theaters everywhere on May 4th.

Were doubly excited that the makers of LEGO are also aboard the Avengers-train. Embrace the awesomeness:

And so is Target. This is seriously the cutest ad ever. Watch. And love.

We are definitely going to be following the Awesomeness that is The Avengers on Facebook. And counting down to May 4th. (Thanks, Disney Pictures!)

I don't know about you, but in our family, nerdiness does not skip a generation.

So, any other uber-nerds out there? I know there are. Come on. Talk to me.