Captain America: The Winter Soldier

As published in issue #51 of F*** Magazine

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER

Director: Anthony & Joe Russo
Cast: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Redford, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan
Genre: Action, Thriller
Run Time: 136 mins
Opens: 27 March 2014
Rating: PG (Violence)

He’s the star-spangled man, the embodiment of “the best generation”, the scrawny lad-turned brawny superhero, and he’s back to face the complicated modern age head on. Steve Rogers/Captain America (Evans) assimilates to the 21st Century, keeping up with S.H.I.E.L.D. missions, making new allies and naturally, new enemies. Chief of these new enemies is the Winter Soldier, a shadowy, ruthless killing machine with ties to Rogers’ personal history. Chief of these new friends is Sam Wilson/the Falcon (Mackie), an ex-military paratrooper, therapist in the Veterans’ hospital and an expert in aerial combat, aided by a set of high-tech mechanical wings. S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury (Jackson) and member of the World Security Council Alexander Pierce (Redford) are putting a surveillance program into place that Rogers feels violates the personal liberties of the populous. Soon, Captain America, Black Widow (Johansson) and the Falcon find themselves embroiled in a massive, far-reaching conspiracy within S.H.I.E.L.D.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been carefully plotted and it’s been put together in the canniest of ways, now well into its second phase. Producer Kevin Feige and the executives at Marvel Studios have picked some out-of-left-field choices to direct their films, from Jon Favreau to Shane Black. The brothers Joe and Anthony Russo, best known for directing episodes of TV comedies Arrested Development and  Community, acquit themselves remarkably, handling the big-budget blockbuster spectacle with impressive aplomb. They’ve found an adequate balance between reminiscing about Cap’s glory days and putting him into action in a landscape of government surveillance and covert policing. Thankfully, the social commentary doesn’t feel too clumsy or heavy-handed. They’ve also injected an appropriate amount of humour into the proceedings – one of the items on Rogers’ list of things to catch up on is “Berlin Wall (up + down)”.



Captain America: The Winter Soldier has been touted as taking its cue from 70s political thrillers, classics such as All the President’s Men and Three Days of the Condor (make that Falcon). Indeed, most of the film is set in Washington, D.C. and if one were to break it down, the plot contains familiar tropes from this genre: the protagonist is kept in the dark, he’s made out to be a fugitive, there’s treachery at the highest levels and it’s up to “our man” and his closest associates to stop a dastardly scheme from unfolding. The way it’s constructed in Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely’s screenplay though, it doesn’t feel like we’re going through the motions. As is the MCU trademark, a strong sense of continuity is maintained, so viewers are advised to have seen Captain America: The First Avenger and The Avengers beforehand. There is also a whole bunch of exposition just in case, but it is cleverly done, the main example being a well-designed exhibit at the Smithsonian National Air and Space museum (it probably should be in the National Museum of American History, but okay) on the life and career of Captain America which serves as a visually engaging “re-cap”, if you will.

Chris Evans plays Steve Rogers so well that it’s hard to imagine time when all of us went “really? The Human Torch?!” on hearing of his casting. This film has a character who is idealism incarnate up against a shifting, cynical new world. Captain America is also a character who lends himself well to some sentimentality, so we do get several scenes that shamelessly (and quite effectively) tug at the heartstrings. We also get a run through the 101 ways Cap can use his shield. Rogers has to re-evaluate who he trusts and how he fits in, and the relationship between him and Black Widow is explored, their diametrically opposite approaches to saving the day ultimately complementing each other. Johansson’s role in this film is larger than in Iron Man 2 or The Avengers, and we get to see Black Widow’s friendlier, softer side in addition to seeing her kicking as much ass as ever and busting some very impressive fighting moves.

To comic book fans, the Winter Soldier’s identity is no secret, but some might consider it a spoiler nevertheless. Sebastian Stan isn’t the best actor out there, but he manages to project the brainwashed steeliness of the guy with the cybernetic arm and the character pulls off myriad feats of badassery, never looking un-cool while at it. Anthony Mackie’s Falcon provides Captain America with both support in the battlefield and a welcoming link to the modern world; the film opens with them jogging along the Potomac together. Since Captain America can’t fly himself, teaming him up with a character who can does give action sequences more of a dimension.

         Robert Redford’s authoritative presence undoubtedly strengthens the 70s political thriller vibe and even at 77, he cuts a great figure in a waistcoat. Seeing him alongside Scarlett Johansson conjures up thoughts that this might just be a really out there Horse Whisperer sequel. Fans of the comics will be pleased at the introduction of characters such as Batroc the Leaper (real-life MMA fighter Georges St-Pierre), Sharon Carter/Agent 13 (VanCamp) and Brock Rumlow/Crossbones (Grillo). Samuel L. Jackson and Cobie Smulders return as Nick Fury and Maria Hill respectively, Fury getting an action sequence all to himself. In addition to the obligatory Stan Lee cameo, there’s also a small surprise for Community fans. And Singaporeans, prepare to feel a twinge of national pride whenever Chin Han’s onscreen.

One of the criteria on which a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie can be judged is “has the status quo changed?” At the end of Winter Soldier, you can bet it has. There’s a colossal upheaval and the stage is set for further adventures. As is de rigueur for these flicks, there are two stinger scenes during/after the credits dovetailing right into The Avengers: Age of Ultron, and particularly tantalising ones at that. While there is a tendency for the film to go into shaky cam mode during the close-quarters fight scenes, the sheer scale of a Death Star-like hangar housing three next-generation helicarriers is quite astounding. However, the 3D effects aren’t exactly noticeable until the Falcon’s mid-air action sequence. As a conspiracy thriller superhero flick, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is entertaining, engaging, exhilarating stuff, delivering character dynamics, wit, thrills and expertly incorporating further elements from the source material, propelling the MCU ever further ahead.

SUMMARY: Hoist the red white and blue because The Winter Soldier is a winner.

RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Jedd Jong

Earth Hour Singapore - Spider-Man at the Float@Marina Bay

For F*** Magazine

EARTH HOUR SINGAPORE – SPIDER-MAN AT THE FLOAT@MARINA BAY 

The Spider-Man musical was named Turn off the Dark but on the evening of 29 March, the cast and crew of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 helped turn off the lights on the Singapore skyline. In the culmination of a three-day tour of Singapore, stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Jamie Foxx as well as director Marc Webb and producers Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach helped commemorate Earth Hour, observed from 8:30 to 9:30 pm. Organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Singapore, this year sees Spider-Man become the first superhero ambassador for the environmental event, a costumed Spidey himself also making an appearance. Radio deejays including Maddy Barber, John Klass, Charmaine Yee and Rich Herrera hosted.

Words and photos by Jedd Jong

“This is cool!” Emma Stone enthused. “It is amazing to be in Singapore, I think we’re all having a really really great time. We’ve been at the food stalls, I went on the Singapore flyer, it’s been pretty special. Thank you for having us and for giving us such a warm welcome.”

“I think it is a great honour for us,” Marc Webb said on Spider-Man being chosen as superhero ambassador for Earth Hour. “It’s about one person making a difference, it’s about a kid who everybody underestimates who brings change in the world…it’s a great way to start off a global event…it’s a really fantastic opportunity for all of us.”

“Wow!” Andrew Garfield exclaimed. “To be here right now with everyone here is steady lah!” Garfield said to wild screams from fans in the audience, using a colloquial exhortation. “Singapore lah is cool lah.” That’s not quite how you do it, but points for trying, Spidey. “We went to the Commonwealth School with Jamie and they were showing how much hard work they were doing with sustainability and to protect the earth…they’re doing really beautiful work and the Commonwealth School are an inspiration to all of us.” Garfield and Foxx made a surprise visit to the school on Friday, much to the delight of its students.

Foxx was accompanied on stage by his five year old daughter Annalise. “We got fans from two years old to 90 years old because of these guys and I’m just happy to be here in Singapore,” he said to more cheers.

Before and after the cast made their appearance, the crowd at the Float was entertained by a myriad of home-grown acts, including Masia One and Inverse Proportions, the Superfly Monkey Dragons parkour troupe, singer Roze Kasmani, the Invincible Cheerleading squad, the LuMen Dancers with their light-up suits, percussion group Samba Masala and soul funk group What Is Hip? The event was also graced by ambassador Burhan Gafoor, Chief Negotiator for Climate Change, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Elaine Tan, CEO of WWF-Singapore, Andy Ridley, CEO and co-founder of Earth Hour and Dr. Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International.

Now, DANCE!

Chilling out and signing off.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Singapore Red Carpet and Press Conference

For F*** Magazine

The stars, director and producers of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 swept into Singapore on 27th March, greeting a throng of excited webheads at the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands (MBS). Actors Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Jamie Foxx were joined by director Marc Webb and producers Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach. Bringing a little slice of Hollywood hype and glamour to our shores, the celebrities will participate in the Earth Hour "lights out" ceremony to be held this Saturday.

By Jedd Jong
Photos by Tedd and Jedd Jong

At MBS, they graciously posed for photographs, signed autographs and took lots and lots of selfies with some lucky fans. There was also an appearance made by Spider-Man himself, leaping through the red carpet area, in addition to some fans who turned up in costume as Spider-Man, Electro and Gwen Stacy as radio deejays Justin Ang and Vernon A hosted the proceedings.

Speaking briefly to F*** on the red carpet, producer Avi Arad promised a big action film that will also include Spider-Man's trademark wise-cracking humour.

Director Webb described building a replica of Times Square on Long Island to stage the film's central set-piece in which the villainous Electro, played by Foxx, causes a violent power outage in the middle of New York City.

Emma Stone revealed that she enjoyed performing the high-flying wire work stunts for when Gwen Stacy gets to swing on Spider-Man's arm.

Andrew Garfield said that the group was taken to Maxwell Food Centre (he called it "Maxwell Courtyard") to partake in some famous chicken rice, and that they had been chilling in the Infinity Pool atop the MBS hotel earlier that day.

Jamie Foxx also entertained the crowd with a spot of beatboxing.

Once in the MasterCard theatre for the press conference, we were treated to a small, sweet display of affection when Garfield playfully stroked Stone's cheek.

When asked by a reporter about playing a character who is white in the comics, Jamie Foxx emphasized the craft of acting and how today's world should look beyond race as a boundary. Garfield jokingly added that in his next project, he will play Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

F***'s coverage of Spidey's trip to the Lion City will continue, so stay tuned. Enjoy a bunch of photos from the red carpet and the press conference (showcasing many adorable Emma Stone expressions) below!

Shout-out to my brother Tedd, who was the photographer for the day. Off to do some heavy-duty interview transcription and will be headed to the Floating Platform tonight! 

The Wind Rises (Kaze Tachinu)

For F*** Magazine

THE WIND RISES (KAZE TACHINU)

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast:  Hideaki Anno, Miori Takimoto, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Masahiko Nishimura, Steve Alpert, Morio Kazama, Keiko Takeshita, Mirai Shida, Jun Kunimura, Shinobu Otake, Nomura Mansai
Genre: Animation
Run Time: 126 mins
Opens: 20 March 2014
Rating: PG

Revered Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film, The Wind Rises, has long been anticipated by the legions of admirers he has deservedly earned over his storied career. This addition to a filmography consisting of fantastical adventures is something different, an animated (and fictionalised) biopic of sorts. The film’s subject is Dr. Jiro Horikoshi, aviation engineer and designer of World War II-era Japanese fighter planes, including the infamous Mitsubishi A6M Zero.



Jiro (Anno) is an idealistic dreamer, harbouring a fascination with aviation he has had since childhood. Chief among his inspirations is Italian plane designer Giovanni Caproni (Mansai); Jiro often has dreams in which he meets his idol. Years later, while travelling home from university on the train, Jiro meets Naoko Satomi (Takimoto) and rescues her maid from the train when they get caught in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. He embarks on his dream career of designing planes, becoming close friends with his colleague Honjo (Nishijima) and eventually running into Naoko again, pursuing a romance with her. Jiro continues to cling to his boyhood passion for airplanes, but as the vision of Caproni has told him, “the dream is cursed”, his creations destined to become tools of slaughter and destruction.



The Wind Rises has been billed as Miyazaki’s last bow, and though he has apparently “retired” six times, the 73-year-old has assured fans that he is quite serious this time. If The Wind Rises really is the last Miyazaki-directed animated feature, it makes for an even more bittersweet viewing experience than it already is. It is a given that the film is gorgeous to behold, from the watercolour backgrounds to visuals of airplane wings warping and buckling, from engines huffing and puffing like beasts of burden to the inevitable vistas of planes soaring triumphantly through the sky, some of the finest visual representations of man’s ancient dream of flight yet. All this is supplemented by a capable voice cast and a typically gorgeous musical score by oft-collaborator Joe Hisaishi. We saw the original Japanese version, though the American dub voice cast (including names such as Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci and Werner Herzog) does hold our curiosity.

The subject of The Wind Rises has understandably attracted a degree of controversy, some accusing Miyazaki of lionising someone who “built killing machines”. Miyazaki makes a point out of establishing Jiro as a kind, idealistic, chivalrous man, who even suggests about the design of a warplane that “If we leave out the guns, we should be okay.” Miyazaki has covered similar ground in his interwar period-set fantasy adventure Porco Rosso, which was also an ode to the joy and wonder of powered flight, but The Wind Rises deals in a weightier subject matter and this has its pros and cons. Miyazaki’s gift lies in capturing fantasy and whimsy imbued with philosophical undertones. The Wind Rises consciously decides to never confront the horrors of war head-on (the Zero itself is not depicted in the film), intent on distancing Jiro Horikoshi’s ostensibly innocent aspirations from the carnage that they ultimately wrought. Miyazaki has said that he has “very complex feelings” about the war and these are not articulated in full here.



Still, Miyazaki has managed an adequate tonal balance, capturing moments such as Jiro noticing the elegant curvature of a mackerel bone during lunch and how that influences his designs. The latter half of the film puts the focus on the romance between Jiro and Naoko, taking on more of a traditional tearjerker feel with some melodramatic instances, but it's still effective in that regard. Other clichés are employed, such as that of the boyhood idol/imaginary friend, a role fulfilled by Caproni as he dispenses chestnuts such as “Inspiration unlocks the future. Technology will catch up.” Taking on a heavier tone than is typical of a Studio Ghibli production, The Wind Rises is still very worth watching, although it does not fully address the thought-provoking questions inherent in Jiro Horikoshi’s life and work.

SUMMARY: The film that may well be Miyazaki’s last is expectedly a visual feast, moving and entrancing even if it is sometimes troubling.

RATING: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

Jedd Jong