Captain America is another great Marvel film!!!

The start of summer can mean only one thing when it comes to the local cinema:  A new Marvel movie will come out and attempt to wreck all previous box office records.  And right on time, here comes Captain America: Civil War after the blasé Batman vs. Superman film.  To be quite clear, the new Captain America is excellent, and quite possible, the best “Avengers” film. It certainly deals with more “grown up” themes, whereas past films dealt mainly with “The End of the World.”   Like the previous Marvel films, it has the perfect cast, tone and script, while poking fun at itself, though not to the extent of the recent Deadpool.

The plot revolves around the Avengers (minus Hulk and Thor) discussing and potentially being forced into "accountability" by the United Nations and other governments after a chase goes sideways in east Africa.  It goes without saying that the words "accountability" and government should never be uttered in the same sentence, but i digress. Of course, this entire U.N. “accountability” has been completely set up and manipulated by someone controlling Captain America’s good friend “Bucky” the Winter Solider.  In this sense, the film feels like an extension of the “Winter Solider” film, but completely surpasses the previous films because of the jaw dropping truths that are revealed throughout the film.  

Most of the characters initially agree that they should be held in check, because without that accountability than we are “no better than the bad guys,” according to Tony Stark.  His legacy, idiosyncrasies and pride are completely believable and brought to an excellent denouement by Robert Downey Jr.  In the previous films, he had a charisma that would put off many people because it always followed an arrogance that drove people, and his teammates crazy; but you knew he was brilliant, so you just kind of went with it.  In this film, he is so different from the previous films, many may be upset that his personality has undergone a huge transformation, but we believe it (for those who have seen the other films) because we know he wants to leave a legacy that matters, one that is based on saving people and even teammates from making the same mistakes that he has made.  The film is commendable when it comes to this theme, as well as the idea that actions, right or wrong, are ultimately what people are remembered for.  For Captain America, it has always been about integrity and serving others, in whatever capacity the country needed him. Contrast that with Stark, who has been a billionaire wiz kid, seen first hand the destruction of his devices, lost a close relationship, and yet, still believes he can change his legacy and that of his family.

The idea of family is an excellent theme, one that is constantly brought into the film, as these characters make stands that impact all those involved, as well as future films.  The side plot involves family and an evil character that brilliantly plays the Avengers off of each other, and is a great tribute to the old Hitchcock films where a giant “Truth bomb” levels everyone near the end:  “I knew i couldn’t kill them.  Better men than me have tried.  But if i could turn them against each other, that would be…”   Vengeance becomes the driving force of this character and the movie, and one that our world always argues and discusses.  This movie pushes the idea of vengeance to its breaking point, as all the characters that seek vengeance end up struggling, as if they can see something powerful, but can’t grasp it.  There is a character that chooses to forgive and instead of sounding cliched or dumb, is very powerful in setting up the future Avenger films.

Spider Man and Black Panther make their debuts into the Marvel canon and they are excellent in every capacity.  They are perfectly cast and highlight their skills without being overbearing.  Tom Holland really does look like a teenage Peter Parker, one who is in awe of all the Avengers, while Black Panther has an identity and power that has its own secret.

The movie is great in every area and while the length of the movie may seem long, nothing ever stalls or lingers, unlike Batman vs. Superman.  In fact, i would say the most intriguing aspect of the film is the idea of leadership and who is really “in charge” of the Avengers.  Hint: it will never be the government.  Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. own their respective characters, and their scenes together are truly magical and the reason we go to the movies:  to see characters we care about struggling with ideals and identity.   Throughout the Marvel films, we have known Captain America not only is the leader of the Avengers, but he is symbolic of heroes in general:  they fight for the weak and sacrifice their lives for others.  That’s what we all want, need and even wish we could be.  Tony Stark, in this film, truly becomes a leader, but cannot usurp Captain America, and it is because he cannot over come the character and man, Steve Rogers.  Iron Man knows he is responsible for casualties, weapons and a dysfunctional family heritage, but wants to take responsibility and be accountable.  But Steve Rogers has always had character and leadership qualities that make him a man people want to follow; they know he is willing to sacrifice for something he believes in, whereas Stark, even though he yearns for accountability, has to manufacture it or hire someone for them to follow him.  The fight these men go through against each other is both personal, as well as symbolic of who they are and wish to become, ideas that the Batman vs. Superman could not even scratch.
As the film closes, the “bad guy” is told that his plot has failed, and with a wink, he asks the best question, one audiences will be asking as future films are released: “Did I [fail]?”  Knowing the team is split, hurt and completely at odds means that only a fight against the all mighty Thanos can bring them all back together.

Batman vs. Superman...it's a long one

Batman vs. Superman Review

So…all the hype…and the movie has now come and gone.  If we bottom line this, i think everyone is asking, is the movie any good?  Well, in my humble opinion, it is an average film that wants and tries to do more.  For what its worth, no, it is not the Avengers.  The Avengers seemed to have fun.  This film is not sure what it is, who the main focus should be on, and what it is trying to say.  With the Avengers, Joss Whedon kept things simple:  Have a solid bad guy, but just enjoy watching these classic characters fight together.  With Batman vs. Superman, Zach Synder seems unsure as to what he wants the film to be about because he has so many “teasers” for future movies, as well as confusing motives that i’m unsure of what the film is trying to be.  If it is a film about Batman fighting Superman, there is very little of that after a lot of build up.  If it is a film that is setting up a huge battle against a foe casual moviegoers will not recognize, it does this, but is very vague, which leaves the original question:  what is this film?

The basic plot everyone will recognize from the trailers that show up on countless websites:  Batman does not trust the power of Superman, since he can wipe out all of humanity, so Bruce Wayne decides that the safest thing he can do is steal some Kryptonite and kill Superman.  What he doesn’t know, along with Superman, is that he is a pawn in the schemes of Lex Luther.  Eventually, these two powerful comic characters battle head to head, but ultimately team up to stop a weird alien known as Doomsday.  The actors are solid, but truly, the script doesn’t give any of them much meat.  Most movie-goers were very concerned about Ben Affleck taking on the role as Batman in light of the masterpieces that Christian Bale got to star in, but he does okay as an older, aging Bat.  Henry Cavil, i’m convinced, has the right body, look and feel for the “new generation” of Superman fans, but just doesn’t get to do much other than look forelorn, as if he is trying to make us feel the burden of being a superhero.  This kind of acting may be difficult, I don’t know, but Chris Evans, Christian Bale and even Robert Downey Jr. seem able to carry this weight more effectively.   The actor who is having fun, or trying to make the film fun is Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, who many know from the fun film “Now you See Me.”  Many critics have panned his performance and i’m confused as to why, as he is the only one that has any ideas about the world and is willing to try and speak about things.  What Lex is missing is motive.  Yes, comic book fans will know his motives, but in the film he just wants to destroy two hero’s and we don’t know why, other than veiled discussions about his father’s physical abuse towards him when he was a child.  That is pretty thin, but Jesse gives it his all, seems to know, wrestle with and argue about what or who is God;  and if there is a God, do we know if he can be all good and just?  As a casual fan, i find it interesting that as Lex wrestles with these complexities, unsure of what is truth, he heads more towards evil, sin or the “darkside,” the truly cool part about the film.  Darkseid will be the next villain in this film franchise, but for casual moviegoers, after the film you may expect the villain to be Satan himself, but that is part of the conundrum of this film:  Is it a fight between two great hero’s OR merely a vehicle that Warner Bros. is using to set up a parallel universe that will “marvel” Marvel?  Because Zach Synder is unsure or is trying to do too much, the film feels bloated and leaves the actors grasping at air in a lot of places.  All of them truly are wrestling with deep things, but they either don’t know where to go with them or aren’t sure what their role is.  Again, is this the fault of the actor, director, or the script they are given?

It is well known that Zach Synder is a comic book devotee and die-hard when it comes to bringing “visual flair” to his projects (no matter one’s thoughts on Watchmen, it had flair), but he truly seems unable to write decent dialogue in any capacity.  From “Dawn of the Dead,” to “300,” it’s as if all of his projects have dialogue that can only be used in the trailers.  After watching Batman vs. Superman, i truly felt that i had “seen” all the important conversations watching the trailer and not the actual movie.  And this isn’t a one time thing.  His other films have the same vibe to them: “This is Sparta!!!”  Under certain circumstances, this may not be a problem, just look at Michael Bay and all the money he can bring in with the Transformer films.  But he also brings in a ton of action and different style for the action, while Synder has yet to show any growth as a filmmaker, especially when it comes to dialogue and actual conversations.  When Superman meets up with Batman, it is slightly painful, instead of awe-inspiring:  “Next time your light shines, don’t go to it.”   “Tell me…do you bleed?”   Wow.  Real page turning stuff here.  (Sarcastic voice) I can’t understand why Leonardo got his Oscar for the Revenant.
Bottom line:  it is a long film that should have been edited by 10-15 minutes, and will leave many questioning what took place or where the franchise is headed.  The only thing that is certain with this movie is the fact that it made enough money  ($168 mil opening weekend) to justify the hype and ensure more films with these characters.  For some movie goers that’s enough and that’s what going to the movies is all about.  For others, “of all the words of paper and pen, the worst, what might have been.”
2.5 out of 5

2015 top 10 music picks

Notable that I couldn’t squeeze in: Beach House “Cherry Depression” AND “Thank your Lucky Stars”— Most people are grateful if their band releases 1 album every year, which is considered working hard, in addition to touring. This is certainly understandable. Until you run into the great Beach House. These Baltimore songwriters have dream pop down to an amazing science. But 2 albums?! Yes, they are good. Yes, you should buy them and let the music drip through your soul.

Oh yeah, their other albums are stunning too! You can’t go wrong.

 

10-Tenement “Predatory Highlights”—The first album i had listened to that was inspired by a Grantland article, the now canceled website that ESPN sponsored. I was drawn to their low profile and the lead singer openly stating that it did not matter if they went big or simply improved their sound; it was about the music and specifically, punk. What? Every band seems to want to go big, which is why you become a band. Not these boys, who hail from Wisconsin. This double disc concept album has some head scratching moments, but also has bona-fide style, skill and punk. They sound like Offspring paired with the Pixies, but who really cares when they sound this good. Check out all their albums on band camp and be impressed. They seem to put out music at an incredible rate.

 

9-Sleater Kinney “No Cities to Love"—Fellow Portland female punk/rockers simply dominate on their first album in 10 years. I had not heard of Sleater Kinnney, but instead, had encountered the members in a side project known as Wild Flag, which also rocked, but is several years old now. Anyway, these ladies may be extreme left-leaning feminists, but man, do they know how to rock! “It’s not the weather, it’s the cities we love” is a great anthem for every touring band that cares about their listeners. When you listen to the rest of their canon, you can’t help but be impressed by their passion, urgency and sheet talent. Keep it up ladies!

 

8-Dustin Kensrue—“Carry the Fire”--I must admit this: Out of all the albums on this list, i have listened to this one the most. Part of that is because i love Dustin Kenrsue and his main band—Thrice. However, he is the worship pastor at Mars Hill and his solo work is down right catchy. He has a way of writing about the sin and darkness in our hearts in such a powerful way that you can’t help but feel convicted as you sing along. I saw him in Portland for an amazing show, but what blew everyone away was his Encore rendition of Tom Waits “Down by the Train.” WOW! As for the album, “Gallows” is stunning, as are the other songs. “Back to Back” & “Carry the Fire” leave the listener feeling as if they have been carried along by the spirit of friends or God.

 

7-Lauren Daigle—If you want the literal Christian Adele, then you have Lauren Daigle. I had not heard Lauren until my wife went into labor, and she had made a “Pregnant Playlist.” Well, Lauren Daigle was on it…for all 12 hours of labor. Guess what? The songs never got old. In fact, they were inspiring and perfect for the pregnant moment. The nursing staff even made comments about her powerful voice and message, which was an inadvertent testimony to the glory of God. All the must be said about Lauren: Amazing voice! Buy the album.

 

6-Royal Headache “High"

This band needs no introduction. But know this: they may not get back together, which would be tragic, because Shogun, yes, Shogun, needs a band to plead his case to “Carolina.” This is punk that has heart, the perfect frontman and an urgency for the little things in life.

 

 

5-Wolf Alice “My Love is Cool"

I was excited when writing this, because about a day before i started writing, Wolf Alice was nominated for a Grammy, which is awesome because they simply rock. I am totally biased because i got to see them in Portland and meet them after the set, which is always great when you drive 3 hours to see a band perform But, their songs are catchy, fun and show a lot of variety in their craft. Many will compare or link them to the band Chvrches simply because they are both from across “the pond,” but this is misleading because Wolf Alice are very much about rock, whereas their counterparts Chvrches are more pop oriented. Check out what all the fuss is about before they take over the world.

 

4-Car Seat Headrest “Teens of Style"

I must admit: when i first heard this music (aka Will Toledo), i was not completely sure what i had encountered. I knew i didn’t hate it. It was certainly unlike anything i had ever experienced. If you were to combine the Strokes with vocals that sound like a walkie-talkie, then you would have 10% of Car Seat Headrest. What makes this discovery or album unique is the fact that Will Toledo has been releasing albums for years, despite only being in his early 20s. A look at Bandcamp will unlock other great albums that he wrote, played and produced all himself. It is great that he finally has a label (Matador) to back up his output and ambitions. I look forward to seeing him play in Eugene in a month.

 

My Top 3 could go in any direction…i can’t honestly make up my mind...

 

3-Titus Andronicus “The Most Lamentable Tragedy"

The underground knew of this brilliant, depressed, magical maniac, but it wasn’t until July of this year that I discovered Titus (aka Patrick Stickles). What makes this music top 3? Simple: his latest genius is 29 songs that compile a double album. In an age when all we hear is Coldplay or Adele and the latest “produced in a lab” sound, it is refreshing to encounter 29 songs that have urgency, tell a story AND actually say something about life. After listening to The Most Lamentable Tragedy, i researched the band and discovered this kind of musical brilliance had been expanded, since the band had already written an epic in the form of a civil war biography of sorts with their previous album The Monitor. Anyway…there is a total abandonment in search of honesty in regards to what Patrick struggles with in life, and that should help people in a musical form, which is refreshing.

 

2-Beach Slang “The Things We Do to Find People Like Us"

Speaking of urgency and life’s struggles, what if there were a band that worshiped rock and the experience one can have when listening to music? Oh wait, there is such a band. Beach Slang.

I read about this band right before the website Grantland was shut down by ESPN, thereby making it the last review the site ever did. Boy, did they go out with an amazing band. First, Beach Slang nail what rock (in its essence) must do: be catchy, urgent and life affirming (in a sense) because we are listening to ROCK. How can one be “down” when listening to rock? Beach Slang unequivcally say, “That is not possible!” Second, this band has some amazing lines: “The night is alive” “Sounds that are made are barely rehearsed,” “California is full of porno love” AND the best ever, “Good love is not SAFE"

 

Third: They just enjoy playing because they know you will enjoy listening, so just be enraptured by the beauty.

 

1-Hop Along “Painted Shut"

I saw this band on NPR and simply listened because their name is “different." I was hooked instantly. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the first song is “The Knock” and Frances Quinlan singing, “The witness just wants to TAAAALLLLKKKKK to you.” So catchy! But that’s just the beginning of this excellent record. Painted Shut whisks along with songs that just make sense, are in the perfect order and just hit new notes/ideas and visuals for stunning consistency. Many have commented on the singles, but my favorite song is “I Saw my Twin” which plays or pays homage to “West Virginiaaaaaaaa” and you can’t help but sing along to the urgency of the south.

 

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