A PInoy At The Movies: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

(The offiicial Korean poster. 

Whose image do you think

is so photoshopped?)

Having seen the actual shoot of Avengers 2, Age of Ultron, here in Seoul, I was encouraged to watch this film, which is part of Marvel Studio's superhero series of films. Chris Evans was here in Seoul to film his scenes in Avengers 2, by the way. But lucky were his fans who saw him.

As a superhero film, Captain America: The Winter Soldier was expected to be super. And it was! Even on the early minutes of the movie, anyone can see that Captain American isn't somebody you mess with. Chris Evans, with all his bulked-up muscles, could still be Captain America even without his shield. 

And looking at the official poster above, although we all know that Scarlett Johansson has the body, I don't think her waistline is that small. Can we at least be realistic with her built since she's a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, which means she needs to eat her carbs and pizza to fight off bad guys in hand-to-hand combat? And her red hair in the film isn't that long. Natasha Romanoff's cut was just above her shoulder. Oh, well. So Photoshopped.

If you saw the first of the series, Captain American: The First Avenger, it would be easier for you to understand the beginnings of this superhero. In this film, his early years from being drafted as a soldier in World War II were told in dialogues and a few visits to the Smithsonian.

Even though this was more than two hours long, the fast pacing of the film and the action scenes made sure everyone in the audience were kept awake and eager to enjoy the next action scene.

And speaking of action scenes, the ambush of Nick Fury in the middle of Washington D.C. was especially amazing. As he was being shot at, chased and bumped at, I was thinking what it would have felt like to see such explosive and violent stunts involving dozens of cars in Gangnam. Instead of those fiery mash-up, what I saw, along with hundreds of spectators that day in Gangnam, were slow-moving cars in front of shops and cafes. It wasn't even a chase; it looked more like a parade. Ha-ha-ha! (Watch the video here.)

And being a superhero action film, that wasn't the only action I enjoyed. There were more, and you should watch it.

Perhaps, the only disappointment for me was Robert Redford playing a S.H.I.E.L.D. senior official, Alexander Pierce. Although he turned out to be a bad guy, Redford looked more like a professor in his role in Lions For Lambs, a film with Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise released in 2007. (That's also where I first saw Andrew Garfield in a film before he went 'Social' and 'Spidey'). Here, Redford looked so bland, monotonous and preachy. With white hair and a few wrinkles, I could play his role! Ha-ha-ha! 

What surprised me in the movie was the sudden appearance of Emily VanCamp of the drama series, Revenge, who was Chris Evan's neighbor and turned out to be an agent. She definitely could use the martial arts skills she learned from the drama series in this film. (But I wondered why she hasn't used those in breaking Victoria Grayson's neck as part of her revenge). 

I love watching superhero films because the superhero always wins in the end. But Captain America is different in a way. He was an exemplary soldier before he became a superhero. He's a gentleman, respectful and ready to do anything for his country, with or without a shield. 

In the meantime, can Marvel Studios please hurry up the next Marvel comics movie?

Avengers Age of Ultron Goes....Gangnam Style!

Maybe Joss Whedon, the director of Avengers: Age of Ultron is a fan of Psy's Gangnam Style. Why? Because he included Gangnam in the select locations for his movie. I wonder if the Avengers superheroes are fans, too.

I like Gangnam. If you like to people-watch or enjoy dinner and drinks with friends on a Friday night or weekend, this place has lots of restaurants, bars and cafes. 

           (Captain America shuts down Gangnam-daero.)

In 2013, I included this place as one of the stops my friend Maria had to see during her five-hour stopover in Seoul.  I made sure she set foot in the place Psy made famous worldwide. In case you don't know yet, at Exit 11 of Gangnam Station, Psy is there, or at least his silhouette, waiting for anyone to pose with him for picture doing that Gangnam Style pose.

But on April 6, 2014, a Sunday, there wasn't any posing with Psy at Exit 11. Everyone's attention was on the location shooting at the main Gangnam Avenue, or Gangnam-daero.  A week before that, when I ventured to take a peek at the location shooting on Mapo Bridge with my friend Andrew, we didn't see anything from the vantage of Yeouido Park. 

                          (Crowds waiting for the shoot)

           (If the chicken crossed the road, so did this crowd.)

This time, since it was in the middle of Gangnam, I was luckier and closer! I simply took the Blue Bus 241 from Hannam-dong, my neighborhood, crossed the river and got off at the Yeongdong Market bus stop, and just walked towards the Gangnam Station.

As they closed the northbound lane of the main street, it was weird finding the lane empty and without any car, taxi or bus on it. I would have wanted to take a selfie right there in the middle as it wasn't every day the whole place get to be empty, but I wondered whether the Incredible Hulk was just down the road and would slam anyone ruining his shot. Ha-ha-ha!

                 (The silver gray jeep stars in the scene!)

                      (Followed by a black van with a jib.)

(Looking forward to watching this scene in the movie.)

As expected, people were walking towards the middle of the block and I could see that crowds were already there watching whatever was going down, and even the bus stop in the middle of the road was full, mostly of curious onlookers and people who seemed to work in the area and were just waiting to cross. 

When I got to a spot on a sidewalk, right in front where I thought the scene would be shot, I joined the crowd and waited. I chatted with Ja-Yeon, a store manager for a sportswear brand, who was standing there and taking photos as well. He told me that they were already shooting scenes a few times already; so, I stood and waited, too.

And a few minutes later, it started. Silver, white and gray cars, an orange taxi, a few vans started rolling slowly, followed by a silver-gray jeep, which was trailed by a black van with a mounted jib or camera boom. "So, this is Hollywood," I said to myself, "right in the middle of Gangnam". But I wondered, why were the vehicles running slow? This is Seoul, where even the delivery guy from the Chinese restaurant riding the motorbike runs 60 KPH on the sidewalk! Ha-ha-ha! 

                   (Cars and drivers waiting for their cue)

                (Cameras and crew on a Gangnam alley)

After watching the shoot at the main street, instead of going back home, I was tempted to walk around the inner alleys. And I was happy I did! There was another scene being shot! Right on the alley where, at its corner, there usually was a dakko-yaki stand that sells my favorite street food at night. And here, there were more fans watching! 

This scene was even more interesting than the one with cars on the other side of the block. This one has extras!  The movie production hired a few Korean background actors, who were required to walk up and down the sidewalk during the scene, which made me wonder again. Why on the sidewalk? In these Gangnam alleys, nobody walks on the sidewalk; everyone walks in the middle of the road! Ha-ha-ha! Mr. Whedon should have hired me as assistant director; I was free that day.

                      (A thicker crowd watching here)

(Background actors on the sidewalk waiting for their cue)

 

So, there. I was able to finally take a peek into one of the location shootings of Avengers 2 while it was shot in Seoul. 

I am looking forward to watching the movie, especially these scenes shot in Gangnam. Would there be any Gangnam Style dancing inserted in the film? Or would that song end up in the soundtrack? 

I guess, we'll all just have to wait until next year. Its scheduled release is May 2015. By then, we can all be sure that all the Avengers superheroes will fly into town for the premiere. 

Paging Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures! Can I score a movie premiere ticket, please?

                                        *  *  *  *  *

Today, November 12, 2018, Stan Lee, the man behind Marvel Comics and the creator of the superheroes on this film that was shot in Gangnam, died.

Rest in peace, Mr. Lee. All your fans and superheroes will miss you. :-(