Tuesday, April 8, 2014 • Page 12
ARTS & Life
Editor: Tatiana Tomich arts@wildcat.arizona.edu (520) 621-3106 twitter.com/dailywildcat
New ‘Captain America’ rockets to next level BY ALEX GUYTON
The Daily Wildcat
T
he familiarity and safety of the Marvel universe is flipped upside down in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” the best Marvel movie since “Iron Man.” Steve Rogers, also known by his superhero alias of Captain America and played by Chris Evans, is becoming acquainted with modernday life after being frozen since the 1940s. He keeps a notepad handy to jot down the fads and fashions of the present day. He still works for S.H.I.E.L.D., the global law enforcement initiative headed by the eye patch-wearing Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), whose special personnel include the likes of Iron Man, Hulk and Thor. It occurs to me, as I describe the background of the cinematic Marvel universe, that there is presently no movie franchise that needs as little expositional catch-up as Marvel does. The characters and events of these Marvel movies, from all the way back in 2008’s “Iron Man” to last November’s “Thor: The Dark World,” are common knowledge. What was once — and how it does seem like a long time ago — a comic book niche is now the franchise to end all franchises. These films are seminal events; the average moviegoer is more well-versed in what a Tesseract is than a Tesla. What makes “The Winter Soldier” one of the best Marvel films so far is that it deconstructs, in two hours, what has been established over the last six years. After a shady mission to stop terrorists on a boat, Captain America begins to question the legitimacy and loyalty of Nick and his appearances. Enter a mysterious, bionic-armed assassin known only as The Winter Soldier, a foe who can go blow-forblow with Captain America and his famous shield. The Winter Soldier shows up in Washington, D.C. just around the same time S.H.I.E.L.D. senior officer Alexander Pierce spearheads Project Insight, which uses the very considerable payload of three Helicarriers to preemptively take out potential threats. Think “Minority Report,” but with more militarization and death from above. Even S.H.I.E.L.D., the paragon of virtue and stability, may be compromised from within. Can Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) be trusted? All the talk of espionage and smoke and mirrors makes this Marvel installment something more conspiracy thriller than escapist
Who. What. Wear. Dakota Tudisco-Guntert, psychology senior What are you wearing today? I’m wearing shorts with a neon crop top and white high-top Converse. What spring trends are you excited to try this season? Sunflowers are in right now, and crop tops. What is your go-to when getting ready in the morning? I love cutoff jean shorts with band T-shirts. What is one thing every girl should have in their closet? A little black dress, definitely. Who or what inspires your style? I’m inspired by Swindlers, the place I work at, because all the clothes we sell are from Los Angeles and it’s a fashion-forward city.
Marvel Entertainment
superhero flick. It shares more of its DNA with “The Bourne Ultimatum” than “Iron Man 2.” Speaking of the “Bourne” franchise, the action sequences of “The Winter Soldier” are grounded more in realism than other Marvel fare. Iron Man’s suit, Hulk’s super strength and Thor’s Mjolnir hammer are substituted for a shield that almost always seems to boomerang back to its owner. The hand-to-hand combat showdowns are shot skillfully, in a way that allows the viewer to actually interpret and keep up with the flurry of motion on screen. Everyone delivers their roles well, and returning players (Evans, Jackson, Johansson) are able to explore greater depths and nuance. Newcomer Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), is a war vet who counsels the post-traumatic stress disorder-stricken at the VA, and who has a trick or two up his sleeve. That’s not to say that the movie
entirely avoids some of the lesser trappings of action blockbusters. There is one eye-rolling scene where a minor character from the past is resurrected via some Hollywood science, and the villain’s philosophy is slightly askew. Still, its multi-layered plot with action, intrigue and humor would have been enough to elevate “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” to the status of a high-quality, but safe, Marvel movie. The risks this film takes in destroying much of what has been established place it on an even higher level.
What are you wearing today? A maxi dress from Forever 21 and a jean jacket. Why are you wearing a maxi dress? Because they’re comfortable.
Grade: A-
What is your go-to outfit in the morning? A pair of jeans, a T-shirt and my Sperry’s.
— Follow Alex Guyton @FilmandEDM
Club brews up beers, careers
What is your morning routine like? I wake up, I wash my face, I brush my teeth, get ready and run out the door. Does anyone inspire your fashion? I really like Rachel Bilson because she has cute style.
BY KIANNA GARDNER
The Daily Wildcat
Beer: A word that cues nostalgic memories of times with friends and the familiar grip of a cool pint glass on a hot Arizona day. We admire the taste and all the good times a cold one can trigger, but to most, the art behind the creation of our favorite brews remains a mystery. Members of the UA Arizona Home Brew Club said a good beer always tastes better when it’s earned. The small club, consisting of about 20 students, mostly engineering majors, was created by Chris Mendoza nearly three years ago and is now headed by president and beer aficionado Matt Covington. Although the club is all about beer, underage members can legally participate in the purchasing of ingredients for the brews, just not the drinking. AHBC is dedicated to teaching both the scientific and creative methods needed for brewing the most delectable drafts. At first thought, a club with “brew” in the name may seem like it should be dedicated to fine-tuning your drinking tolerance and mastering a faultless beer chug — but AHBC is focused on more than consuming. “I always say it’s about quality over quantity, Covington said. “This is not a drinking club; we focus on the creating.” Some of the students involved are considering turning their craft into a career. “Professional brewing is definitely a viable career path for us, and home brewing is a great way to get your feet wet,” vice president Jeffrey Sander said. The club has successfully created both extract and allgrain beers, but creativity comes more into play with the latter. “With all-grain brewing, you extract the sugar yourself as opposed to having it pre-extracted; therefore, you are given more flexibility with other ingredients,” Covington said. According to Covington, varying ingredients and the timing with which you bitter, flavor and aroma the beer is what allows for creative wiggle room and endless possibilities. “In all honesty, imagination is the limit,” said Covington. From the hoppy flavor of Indian Pale Ales to the rich taste of brown ales and the lightness of a saison, each beer can be slightly altered to offer a completely different taste to savor. “Some of the members are highly experienced and craft their brews with the creativity and passion that any artist would put towards their music, painting or dance,” AHBC treasurer Ryan Dormond said. Once the beer has aligned with the inspiration of the brewer, the batches can take anywhere from two to three additional weeks to complete the aging process. After
Desiree Esquivel, sophomore studying public health and Spanish
Do you read any fashion magazines? I used to flip through the pages of Vogue.
Tara Mariles, psychology freshman What are you wearing today? The denim button down and the tank top are from Forever 21, and the shorts are from Abercrombie.
Courtesy of Matt Covington
Arizona Home Brew Club uses a brew system to create craft beers. The club consists of around 20 students who are interested in the science of brewery.
fermentation, the beer is ready to be consumed in all its is ready to be consumed. AHBC has brewed up a wide range of beers thus far, created by the gallon. The outcome of the most recent group brew session was tasty Scottish ale, Covington said. For Sander, his favorite brew was the Pilsner made through a process called decoction mesh. “We had four people trading off stirring a 15-gallon mesh for five minutes at a time, but the beer we had at the end was pretty amazing,” Sanders said. As for Dormond, he said the wort brew for football season was perfect. “It’s always a good time when you’re brewing with friends,” Dormond said. These group concoctions, as well as drafts made individually by Covington in his brew lab, are offered to other groups and clubs. “It’s not about consuming all of the beer we make. We drink for the enjoyment of tasting what is made,” Covington said.
— Follow Kianna Gardner @kiannagardner1
What are you excited to wear this spring? Dresses and flipflops. What’s your morning routine like? I shower, I put makeup on and then I put clothes on and change them until I get it right. Who or what inspires your style? I do really like the Kardashians’ makeup, and for clothes it’s whatever. I usually like what’s on mannequins. Do you read any fashion magazines? No. What is one thing every girl should have in her closet? A good pair of sweats. - Complied by Alicia Vega