Marvel Universe — Cuban-American Lifestyle & Food Blog — My Big Fat Cuban Family: A Cuban-American Blog

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.

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.