Movie Review

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

The last movie I saw in theaters was Captain America: The Winter Soldier. I've been a fan of all the latest Marvel Comic movies that have been made the last 6 years. Starting with Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Captain American: The First Avenger and The Avengers which brings each main character from those movies together. These movies have really interested me with how action packed and high grade technology they are. They aren't animation so to be able to instill all the imagination of things that were in a comic into a movie is just amazing. Like there’s a scene with these huge ships that are being built, ships that would never be built in real life but they are in the movie and the look so realistic.

This movie is directed by the Russo brothers Joe and Anthony. Their most noteworthy film they directed is You, Me, and Dupree in 2006, staring Owen Wilson and Kate Hudson. They also have directed several television series including Happy Endings, Up All Night, Community, and Arrested Development in which they won an Emmy for. They are from Cleveland, Ohio and attended Case Western Reserve University where they directed, wrote and produced their first feature, Pieces. Which they financed the film through student loans and credit cards. They didn't direct the first Captain America but are already signed on to direct the third which is due out in May 2016. This movie is quiet different for the brothers for both television and movies they mostly did comedy and drama. So to change drastically to a extremely action packed and high special effects was amazing.

The plot of the movie is you have Steve Rogers who is Captain America and is basically indestructible and extremely strong. And he struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and has to battle a new threat from old history, the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier. I would say the target audience for this movie is mainly guys ages 15-35 and young females 18-25. The reason I say that is because for guys those age action packed movies draws them in. And the females that age go with those guys to the movies but also to see not in my words but my sisters, the “extremely attractive” Chris Evan who plays Steve Rogers.

Overall as a 23 year old male I’m right in the middle of the target audience and I absolutely loved the movie. The story line was awesome; you never knew what was really going to happen next. The action was the amazing and so realistic, and it wasn't overboard like some movies have gone lately. The actors in the movie were just fantastic; it has a loaded cast with Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, and Samuel L. Jackson. In my opinion out of all the Marvel Comic movies that have come out recently this is right up there with the first Iron Man which is the best of them all. You are continually on the edge of you seat waiting to see what happens next. Some of the other Marvel’s like Thor draws out their action scenes too long. This movie will be around for a while and I can’t wait till the next one comes out in two years. After being in theaters for several months it will go to DVD which for people like me I will rent it to watch it again at a cheaper price, and then after being on DVD for a while television channels will start showing over and over, and after that process it will be time for the second one to be released.

On Rotten Tomatoes it is given a 89% rating. There are two comments on here I found really great. The first by Christopher Orr of The Atlantic says “A movie that is, in the best sense of the word, a Marvel.” The movie truly was a marvel. The next review comes from Rafer Guzman who says "The First Avenger" was a work of art, while "The Winter Soldier" is serviceable entertainment." I love it because that's what movies are supposed to do; they are to entertain you.

I really enjoyed writing on the movie Captain American: The Winter Soldier because I absolutely loved the movie and what others to love it also. Through writing about the movie I got to learn more about Marvel Studios and Comics and researched what movies they have planned next. Along with learning about the Russo brothers who went from a comedy background in TV series to an action packed movie and did an incredible job. Now that I've seen the movie I recommend it to my family and friends whenever they are looking for a movie to see, and I haven’t heard anyone say they didn't enjoy it yet. So if you haven’t seen the Captain American: The Winter Soldier I HIGHLY recommend you do. I promise it won’t be a waste of your time of money. 

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/captain_america_the_winter_soldier_2014/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1843866/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Studios

Today's families of Television

This term I’m taking a online journalism class that is required for my minor at the University of Oregon. And we had to pick a TV show to watch and write about it. I watched “Modern Family” on Wednesday, April 23^rd at 9pm on ABC. The show is considered a sitcom. The family travels to Australia as Phil tries to fulfill his mother’s wish for him to visit the country where he was conceived. Unfortunately, Phil’s attempts to embrace his native land are met by a lot of rejection, while Jay and Claire let work into vacation time, and Mitch and Cam get reacquainted with an old friend. The main guy Jay is played by Ed O’Neill and he was known for being Al Bundy in “Married with Children”. Jay’s wife Gloria is played by Sofia Vergara who was well known in the Spanish language television networks. Jay’s son is Mitch played by Jesse Tyler Ferguson his claim to fame before “Modern Family” is being in the TV show “The Class”. Jay’s daughter in Claire who’s played by Julie Brown and her husband Phil is played by Ty Burrell.

The style of the show is very modern with family dealing with everyday drama between each other and problems they are faced with. They don’t dress over the top or under dress, they show them in a nice house it’s not small but it’s not huge. The mom Claire drives a minivan and works at her dads (Jay) business. The show is presented in mockumentary style where the characters frequently talk directly into the camera to connect with the audience. They film at locations around Los Angeles using actual neighborhoods, schools, and known places. It’s similar to a show called “The middle” where as it depicts daily problems faced with in family and played on TV and in mockumentary style. What makes this show unique though is it doesn’t just focus on one intermediate family but three families that are all related to each other. You have Jay, his wife, and their kids, then you have the Jays daughter Claire and her family, and Jay’s son Mitch and his family.

Jay and Gloria doing one of their confessional interviews

The show depicts three different family lifestyles. You have the traditional between Claire and Phil. A younger and older couple marriage with Jay and his wife Gloria. Then you have the homosexual marriage between Mitch and Cameron. In the traditional family Phil is the breadwinner of the family, and Claire is the family manager. Then with Jay and Gloria it’s a little different with it being an interracial marriage and being an age difference. Jay is much like Phil with being the bread winner and then Gloria is a stay at home mom who cooks, cleans and serves the family. But they also add on to her Hispanic stereotypes by having a ditzy persona, misusing phrases and words. Then with Mitch and Cam being a same sex couple dealing with the adoption of baby girl. They have the stereotypical masculine and feminine traits because they are a gay couple. But each one captures each trait; there isn’t one that’s the masculine persona, and one that’s feminine.

Cam & Mitchell

According to an article I read on http://splitsider.com/2013/11/people-who-watch-modern-family-make-more-than-those-who-watch-bobs-burgers/. Modern Family’s demographic is age 18-49 and the median income is $81,100 which signifies that the show draws affluent and educated viewers. With the commercials being 7UP, Orbit, L’Oreal, Magnum Chocolate, iPhone 5s, Target, Verizon, Pronamel, Pizza Hut, You Tube, Garnier, Lipton Ice Tea, Mutual of Ohama, Quantas Airlines. You can see that it’s trying to reach a wide range of people but not necessarily just towards people of wealth and education. I personally feel that the commercials are random. The only one that I feel directed towards the audience was that Quantas Airlines because that’s an Australian based company and in the last scene it shows the family flying back to Los Angeles on it. Other than that I’m a student and I don’t have much income but each of those products interests me except maybe the more girly ones like Garnier and L’Oreal.

If I were a visitor to the US I would say this show paints a chaotic and disrespectful culture. The parents Phil and Claire are both kind of portrayed as ditzy and weird. The kids don’t show much respect for them and kind of act smarter than their parents. And are rude to one another and always fighting with each other. It doesn’t really paint a great picture of an American family.

Clair, Hayley, Phil, Alex, and Luke

I really enjoy the show, I think it’s hilarious and there are parts I can connect to my family. But sometimes it goes over the top on reflecting real life. The show is very much a parody and is just trying to entertain its audience with lots of humor with a little touch of sensitivity. Like this last show with the family going to Australia because of Phil wanting to go on a spiritual journal to connect with his mom. But during the trip he gets bite by a jelly fish, hit by kangaroo which is all humor, and then he realizes that’s Australia’s way of connecting with him spiritually.

Phil getting stung by Jelly Fish in Australia episode with Gloria 

Overall this is a great comedic show that goes a little over the top for some laughs. The only part I don’t like is how the kids act towards their parents being snotty and rude. If I did that to my parents I would be punished. I love how they all offer confessional interviews directly to an unidentified camera person. Jay may say he pretends to love his daughter’s blueberry pie, but in his confessional interview he says he really hates it. It really makes the audience feel like they are a part of the family.

 

Critic Evan Mantel for the right wing, anti-gay Media Research Center states that “Modern family relies on feelings which mislead” and that “there is no logical argument in favor of gay marriage, but the sweetness of Cam and Mitch is touching.” And I would totally agree. I’ve grown up in a very conservative Christian family and was always taught marriage is to only be between a man and women. But  as times are changing and shows like Modern Family are showing great stories it makes gay marriage feel not so awe shocking as it used to be.

I watch this show regularly with my family. I follow a couple of the actors on Twitter and Instagram. Claire’s husband Phil is played by Ty Burrell who is from Oregon and went to Southern Oregon University in Ashland and is avid Oregon Duck fan. Also the actor that plays Hayley Claire and Phil’s daughter, Sarah Hyland had a kidney transplant to me that’s interesting because I’m getting ready to have my third transplant at the end of June.

Ty Burrell huge Duck fan at Fiesta Bowl in 2013

I learned that the show is very modern stereotypical. With having a stay at home mom, interracial marriage between a younger and older person, along with have a same sex couple. I was surprised at some of the reviews that people give the show. I understand they don’t like stereotypes but it is just a show for entertainment. Overall I think the kind of culture TV is reflecting back at us today is a chaotic one where everyone does there own thing but eventually finds their way after several trials and tribulations. And that you can't accomplish everything on your own that sometimes you need you family when you least expect it. 

Watch this episode here: http://abc.go.com/shows/modern-family/episode-guide/season-05/520-australia

Links
http://national.deseretnews.com/article/810/Do-families-seen-on-the-small-screen-reflect-the-families-of-today.html

http://tvcriticism2013.blogspot.com/2013/09/modern-family-gender-roles-and.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/23/fashion/23THISLIFE.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

http://splitsider.com/2013/11/people-who-watch-modern-family-make-more-than-those-who-watch-bobs-burgers/

http://dot429.com/articles/3135-right-wing-tv-critic-evan-mantel-modern-family-relies-on-feelings-which-mislead-and-are-dangerous