Captain America

From A to Z – The Top Ten Movies of 2012

2012 turned out to be a pretty darn good year at the movies. There were two films which I gave perfect scores to this year, one of which the majority of the country won’t be seeing until early next year. I’m breaking my own rule of including it on the list, but we’ll get to that in a moment. Between these two films, which naturally open and close the list (as it’s presented alphabetically), are eight other films rounding out the class of 2012.

Cutting down my list to ten means I need to speak for a moment on films that barely missed the cut. John Carter was the year’s most under-appreciated film, The Cabin in the Woods turned the horror genre on its ear, Ang Lee delivered an amazing journey with Life of Pi, Wreck-It Ralph was this year’s best animated feature, Safety Not Guaranteed was a terrific little sci-fi flick almost no one saw, and Moonrise Kingdom was director Wes Anderson‘s best film since The Royal Tenenbaums.

Enough with what didn’t make the list, let’s get down to discussing what did:

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Captain America #1

captain-america-marvel-now-1-coverAfter growing disinterested in the end of Ed Brubaker‘s run on the character I was ready for a new writer to breathe life into Captain America. The first issue of the new series written by Rick Remender is a bit of a mixed blessing as Cap contemplates marriage to Sharon Carter and take on an old enemy in Armin Zola.

Yes, Remender takes the character in a new direction, but he also gives us a questionable introduction of Steve Rogers abusive father and a message (hamfistedly delivered at least three times over the course of the issue) that has been Cap’s guiding philosophy since childhood. I understand what Remender’s going for, but to start out a new series with a gross oversimplification of a character’s origins isn’t the best way to begin.

Although I don’t hate the art, I’m not sure John Romita Jr. is the right choice for the comic if, as Remender states in the afterward, the point is to take the series into the weird sci-fi stories the character enjoyed under Jack Kirby‘s run in the 1970’s. Hit-and-Miss.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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News and Notes – Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Variety is reporting that Frank Grillo has signed on to play Captain America villain Crossbones in the upcoming Captain America: The First Avenger sequel Captain America: The Winter Soldier starring Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Scarlett Johansson, and Anthony Mackie as The Falcon

Express.co.UK is reporting that Captain America: The Winter Soldier will also soon have a Sharon Carter as well, (the S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent who is Captain America’s current love interst) as Downton Abbey‘s Jessica Brown Findlay is now the frontrunner for the role

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News and Notes

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting Marvel Studios is now talking exclusively with James Gunn (Slither, Super) to direct 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy about a ragtag team of interstellar heroes that includes a talking tree and a mercenary raccoon

The New York Post is reporting that Marvel Studios is considering Anna Kendrick, Felicity Jones, and Imogen Poots for the female lead in Captain America: The Winter Soldier

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Captain America #15

captain-america-15-coverCaptain America and the Falcon deal with the new threat of the Discordians, the latest weapon pointed at Cap and his friends by the triumverate of Codename: Bravo, Baron Zemo, and Queen Hydra.

Although the Discordians cause quite a bit of damage in a small amount of time they’re stopped relatively easily. Sure, the Falcon gets thrown around a little, but then again, he is the Falcon.

The best parts of this issue are the small glances and unsaid words between Captain America and Diamondback and later between Diamondback and Sharon Carter whose “stay the hell away from my man” vibe couldn’t be any stronger if she was shouting it at Cap’s ex.

Captain America #15 isn’t a bad issue, but the Discordians aren’t really that impressive and I’ve already grown tired of Bravo and Queen Hydra’s (failed) attempts to fuck with Cap far from the battlefield. It’s worth a look but not an issue you’ll miss much if you decide not to pick it up.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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