If you read comics - not just read the odd comic, but followed Marvel comics for any length of time - even if you didn’t like the character, it is impossible to not have formed an impression of Cap. I could get over the physical differences between Evans and the Cap of the comics, but I just never thought of Evans as Captain America. I like Evans, and I like the movies he has been in (for the most part), but I never saw him as Cap. It isn’t a bad conclusion, but the tone is a bit off. The movie wraps up the main story nicely with a solid conclusion, but the rest is almost an afterthought, grudgingly tacked on. One semi-minor flaw with the film is the final wrap up that sets up The Avengers - it is difficult to discuss it without spoilers. Years pass, and the narrative picks up again for the climatic battle which brings the film to a satisfying conclusion… in the WWII era. Once Cap hits his stride, he and his team known as the Howling Commandos then begin a fun-filled campaign to wipe Hydra off the map, which kicks off a cinematic trick that has become the scourge of evil groups and high school bullies everywhere - the montage. But more than that, it focuses the film on Evans, who is likable and charismatic enough through his almost Jimmy Stewart-like belief in the world, that you just can’t help but want to see him succeed. Even the name “Captain America” is rationalized and put into context. Without going into spoiler territory, the film manages to honor the over-the-top nature of the character, and then moves past it to make it somewhat more believable - or as believable as a guy carrying a shield that can make faces explode by punching them can be (not that he makes faces explode, but he could have). It just reiterates the point that Cap earns his way, and it also keeps the character humble and honest. Even with his powers, Cap has to wait for his chance to prove himself to the military that sees him as something of a joke. It is a Horatio Alger story of a kid from the bottom made good. The rest of the story is a war tale by way of the 1950s style, where bad is bad, and good is American. Led by Erskine’s first failed experiment Red Skull (Hugo Weaving), after years of searching Hydra has discovered a new power source that will change the course of the world, kill the dream of freedom and pretty much every other horrible thing they can think to do to the people of the world. The Nazi deep science division codenamed Hydra, is quietly working on something under the noses of their Nazi overlords. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci), who chooses Rogers for the experiment because of his character not his physicality, a secret war is raging in Germany. While Cap is being big-ified thanks to the efforts of the brilliant and wizened Dr.
Instead it is closer to an old-school serial adventure, and it is just fun to watch from start to finish. It doesn’t have the depth and realism that The Dark Knight had, but it doesn’t try to be. It could also be problematic for Marvel’s overall plans for world domination by way of uniting the Marvel characters for The Avengers, seeing as how Cap is the heart and soul of the team.Īll of that is a moot point, as Captain America is easily one of the best superhero films ever made, and just an overall good movie. It could either be a cool war adventure in the vein of the old serial movie clips, or very, very bad. You basically have a guy wearing an American flag punching Ratzis in the face in the name of America. When it is bad, I take it somewhat personally - as with the cash grab mess of a cinematic turd known as Green Lantern, which hurt me deep inside.Īnd so even though the trailers for Captain America looked good, it was still a tough subject to adapt.
When they are good, shazam! I happily soak up the comicy goodness and go about my merry way, safe in the knowledge that a beloved property from my childhood (and on) has been honored. As a long-time comic book geek that now earns a few coins reviewing movies, I feel an attachment to comic book flicks. Walking into Captain America: The First Avenger was something of a daunting prospect for me.