8FFLFOE N MOVIETIMES
N MOVIEREVIEWS
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER --1/2
Give this to the films of the “Marvel Cinematic Universe”: they have a consistency of quality. Marvel may never produce a film as great as “The Dark Knight,” but it’ll never sink to a low like “Batman and Robin” either. And there we have “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” a perfectly creditable comic-book adventure that likewise feels naggingly rote. Sequel to both 2011’s “Captain America: The First Avenger” and 2012’s “The Avengers,” “The Winter Soldier” follows thawed-out WWII-era hero Steve Rogers (stalwart Chris Evans) as he deals with 21st-century breakdowns of all varieties. On the surface, this sequel — directed by franchise newcomers Anthony and Joe Russo — takes a bold approach by playing that old spy-movie game “Who Do You Trust?” with the players in espionage agency S.H.I.E.L.D. When (too-)mysterious assassin the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) targets S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Captain America finds himself a fugitive from his government masters, including World Security Council insider Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford). Somewhat reluctantly, Rogers teams up with kick-ass S.H.I.E.L.D. operative Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), aka Black Widow, and their new Army vet buddy Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie). Though “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” never strays far from preposterousness, the picture’s real-world implications give its high-flying action at least a tug of gravity. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, gunplay and action throughout. Two hours, sixteen minutes. — P.C.
THE RAID 2 --1/2
There’s a moment in “The Raid 2” when a goon begs, “Please have mercy,” and his assailant responds by raising his pickax. I’m half-joking when I say that if you gleefully identify with the assailant in that scene, this is the movie for you. Others may feel more like the goon. That’s because this stylish sequel to 2012’s “The Raid: Redemption” clocks in at 150 minutes, many of them devoted to orgiastic violence. The picture reunites writer-director Gareth Evans and his impressive Indonesian Martial Arts star Iko Uwais where they left off: having fought his way through and out of a fifteenstory apartment building full of gangsters, Jakarta cop Rama (Uwais) isn’t offered a vacation. Instead, he’s told, by the head of the department’s anti-corruption task force, “If we don’t act fast, you’ll be gone within a week. Your family too.” Rama commits to a deep-cover infiltration of a crime family’s organization, starting with a prison term that stretches to four years as he proves his bona fides to the family’s prodigal son Uco (Arifin Putra). Once on the outside, life doesn’t get any less dangerous for Rama as he lives a lie in pursuit of the truth about corrupt cops. “The Raid 2” has style to spare in its bone-crunching, close-up and at times close-quarter fights, and its highoctane urban demolition derbies. Rated R for crude and sexual content, language and brief nudity. Two hours, thirty minutes. — P.C.
N MOVIECRITICS S.T.- Susan Tavernetti, P.C. Peter Canavese, T.H.-Tyler Hanley
Bad Words (R) ((1/2 Century 16: 10:25 p.m. Century 20: 10:25 p.m. Palo Alto Square: Fri-Sat: 2 & 4:30 Ball of Fire (Not Rated) Stanford Theatre: Fri: 7:30 p.m. Sat-Sun: 3:30 & 7:30 p.m. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (PG-13) ((1/2 Century 16: 9, 10:40 a.m., 12:20, 2, 3:40, 5:20, 7, 8:40 & 10:15 p.m. In 3D at 9:50, 11:40 a.m., 1:10, 2:50, 4:25, 6:10, 7:50 & 9:30 p.m. Century 20: 10:20, 11:50 a.m., 1:35, 4:25, 4:50, 6:20, 7:40 & 8:05 p.m. In 3D at 11:05 a.m., 2:20, 5:35 & 8:50 p.m. In XD at 12:35, 3:55, 7:15 & 10:15 p.m. Cesar Chavez (PG-13) Century 20: 11:30 a.m., 2:15, 4:50 & 7:45 p.m.
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Christmas in Connecticut (Not Rated) Stanford Theatre: Fri 5:35 & 9:35 p.m. Sat 5:35 & 9:35 p.m. Sun 5:35 & 9:35 p.m. Cuban Fury (R) Century 16: 9, 11:30 a.m., 2, 4:35, 7:25 & 10:05 p.m. Divergent (PG-13) Century 16: 9:15 a.m., 12:25, 3:35, 7 & 10:10 p.m. Century 20: 12:40, 3:55, 7:10 & 10:25 p.m. Dom Hemingway (R) Century 16: 9:25 a.m., 12, 2:35, 5:05, 7:35 & 10 p.m. Draft Day (PG-13) Century 16: 9, 10:20, 11:40 a.m., 1, 2:20, 3:40, 5, 6:20, 7:40, 9:05 & 10:20 p.m. Century 20: Fri 11:15 a.m., 12:35, 2, 3:15, 4:45, 6, 7:30, 8:45 & 10:15 p.m. The Grand Budapest Hotel (R) ((( Aquarius Theatre: Fri: 3, 4:15, 5:30, 7, 8 & 9:30 p.m. Sat-Sun: 12:30, 1:30, 3, 4:15, 5:30, 7, 8 & 9:30 p.m. Century 20: Fri 11:45 a.m., 2:30, 4:15, 5:10, 7:55, 9:40 & 10:35 p.m. Le Week-End (R) Guild Theatre: Fri: 3:30, 6 & 8:30 p.m. Sat-Sun: 1, 3:30, 6 & 8:30 p.m. The LEGO Movie (PG) ((( Century 20: 10:55 a.m., 1:25 & 7:05 p.m.
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The Lunchbox (PG) ((( Palo Alto Square: 1:45, 4:20 & 7:00 p.m. Mr. Peabody & Sherman (PG) Century 16: 9:15, 11:45 a.m., 2:15, 4:50 & 7:20 p.m. Century 20: 10:50 a.m., 1:20, 3:45, 6:15 & 8:50 p.m. Muppets Most Wanted (PG) ((( Century 16: 10:30 a.m., 1:20, 4:10 & 7:05 p.m. Century 20: 10:45 a.m., 1:30, 4:15, 6:55 & 9:40 p.m. Noah (PG-13) Century 16: 9:30 a.m., 12:45, 4, 7:10 & 10:20 p.m. Century 20: 12:55, 4:05, 7:15, 9:35 & 10:25 p.m. Oculus (R) Century 16: 9:05, 11:50 a.m., 2:30, 5:15, 7:55 & 10:30 p.m. Century 20: 10:30, 11:50 a.m., 1:10, 2:30, 3:50, 5:15, 6:30, 8, 9:10 & 10:45 p.m. The Raid 2: Berandal (R) ((1/2 Century 16: 9:05 a.m., 12:25, 3:45, 7:05 & 9:50 p.m. Century 20: 12:05, 3:35, 7 & 10:20 p.m. Rio: 2 (G) Century 16: 9:05, 11:10 a.m., 1:50, 4:30, 7:15 & 9:50 p.m. In 3D at 9:55 a.m., 12:30, 3:45, 7:05, 9:50 p.m. Century 20: 10:30 a.m., 1:15, 2:10, 4, 6:50, 7:40 & 9:35 p.m. In 3D at 11:25 a.m., 12:20, 3:05, 4:55, 5:50 & 8:35 p.m. Son of God (PG-13) Century 16: 9:55 p.m. Century 20: 10:25 p.m. Under the Skin (R) Palo Alto Square: Sun 2, 4:40 & 7:20 p.m. AQUARIUS: 430 Emerson St., Palo Alto (266-9260) CENTURY CINEMA 16: 1500 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View (800-326-3264) CENTURY 20 DOWNTOWN: 825 Middlefield Road, Redwood City (800-326-3264) CINEARTS AT PALO ALTO SQUARE: 3000 El Camino Real, Palo Alto (493-3456) STANFORD THEATRE: 221 University Ave., Palo Alto (324-3700) For show times, plot synopses and more information about any films playing at the Aquarius, visit www.LandmarkTheatres.com - Skip it -- Some redeeming qualities --- A good bet ---- Outstanding
For show times, plot synopses, trailers and more movie info, visit www.mv-voice.com and click on movies.
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OPEN HOUSE April 16, 6:00 to 7:00 pm
MVLA District Office Board Room 1299 Bryant Avenue, Mountain View Join us, and and bring a friend! Learn about the benefits PNG offers to those who volunteer and to the students they serve. Contact us at 650-641-2821 or email info@pngmvla.org
WWW.PNGMVLA.ORG April 11, 2014 ■ Mountain View Voice ■ MountainViewOnline.com ■
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