Avengers Assemble! This film needs to be glorified! Jack Kirby and Joe Simon would be amazed to see their hero (they created Captain America in 1941) in all his glory. I will have to admit that this film exceeded my expectations, especially, after seeing the horrible Captain America (two part television movie from 1979) or the Roger Corman-esque low budget Captain America, directed by Albert Pyun (released Dec. 14th, 1990). Chris Evans performance is believable and his remarkable likeness to the comic book hero is uncanny; he was well casted for this role. Captain America: The First Avengers, directed by Joe Johnston, written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely pays an amazing tribute to the creators of Captain America and the fans. Now, this is a true family movie, a film that my family and I could watch without covering the eyes of my children or hesitation. Sure there were some moments where there was use of foul language by Colonel Chester Phillips (Tommy Lee Jones), but it was part of the character’s personality and it was not too offensive. The editing is clean and smooth. For example, there is a scene where Captain America (Chris Evans) is going to be mooned by a soldier as he is about to pull his pants down, the scene cuts away to the USO girls walking on stage. The technique of suggestion was a wise choice. Although the narrative was not compelling, thought provoking, or an extreme work of art. The narrative is very entertaining, definitely a fun popcorn movie that interweaves the other Marvel Superhero sagas like: Thor, Iron Man, and Iron Man 2, for the upcoming Avengers movie. (Definitely stay after the credits, so that you can see the unofficial trailer for the Avengers)
During the opening of the film sequence, the shot with the group of explorers walking up to an unidentifiable object seemed very classic, and that directorial approach caused me to follow along the camera pan with my eyes towards the object and slowly pull me in. An explorer slides down a rope after a laser drill cuts a circular hole through the ice with a turquoise beam of light. After the second explorer slides down, they creep through the hull of what seems to be some type of aerospace craft. They walk up towards a chair and brush off some snow off of what seemed to be a block of ice, and they notice an object inside the block, it would seem to be Captain America’s shield, then the film cuts to a flashback. I do not want to ruin the movie for any of you, especially, going in and dissecting scene after scene, spoiler after spoiler, but these series of shots really captivated and kept me in the movie.
The flashback sequence of the 1940s was really cool too, and I liked the fact that they kept that 1940s dialogue approach, making the world seem more authentic as well as the sets were dressed to look like the forties, and the characters were dressed in forties couture, and the cars were that of the 1940s models. The juxtaposition of the science fiction technology of the future with technology of the forties, gave rise to the age old argument of modern versus post modern ideology of the fifties and sixties. The dream of the flying car, rocket ships, microwave ovens, and televisions as well as the Stark Industry’s World Expo sponsored by Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) which was alluded to in Iron Man 2. The Expo scene introduces Howard Stark as a playboy like his son Tony and (in later sequences) also gives rise to his reckless nature. I would have to add that the scenes where the characters are watching the military propaganda before the featured film of the era were a nice touch. What I really enjoyed was the introduction of the Howlin’ Commandos, seeing them in action was like seeing them pop out of the comic-book pages. If you definitely want to check out a family flick that everyone can enjoy then check out Captain America: The First Avenger, neither your wallet nor your family should be disappointed. The film makes one feel proud to be an American as well as patriotic. Nothing is more American than creating a hopped up super-soldier on steroids to fight a bunch of bullies while saving the ideals of freedom. Three cheers for the underdog or should I say, the little guy. This flick had a little bit of Americana, but the apple pie. What did you think about the film?
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Well done! Captain America (the movie) does so much in tying in the rest of the Avengers and gives an origin for the mysterious cube of the Gods that was featured at the very end of the movie Thor (another success in my opinion). What's more: the movie gives such a genuine depiction of deeper subjects besides action and adventure; I'm talking about heart. A concept long absent from super hero movies. This film makes you believe that Steve Rogers was Captain America before he "Beefed up" and donned the suit. The fact that the character was chosen for his desire to be a patriot and his undying courage and selflessness not only made him a perfect candidate for the super serum but also made him as plain a hero as anyone whose ever enlisted or had to lock horns with a red skull of their own. I never read into Capt. America in my youth but this film brought out all the inklings of what I may have supposed the character to be: an unflinching boyscout who did not want to sit on the sidelines and do what it took to merely get by. On a side note, I'm not one for finding politics in anything but it does seem that this movie blends well with today's events. With Obama's recent speech and the clear division in the House of Reps. this movie almost reminds that we are of one nation and reminds me also that in the face of true adversity we are all in this together, we all need to pick up our Cap' shields and stand together. Capt. America represents the spirit of our nation and if you ask me, it's about damn time!
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