CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011)
US
Directed by Joe Johnston

CAST:
Chris Evans - Steve Rogers/ Captain America
Hayley Atwell - Peggy Carter
Hugo Weaving - Johann Schmidt/ Red Skull

PLOT:
     After being deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending America's ideals.

REVIEW:
     Out of all the summer movies to come out this year, Captain America was the one that I was most unsure about. I'll admit that I've never been a fan of the character until they redid him in the Ultimate side of the Marvel universe. Now that the movie is out we have a much bigger picture of Marvel's plan for their movies. So what did I make of the movie?

     This movie worked due to Chris Evans plain and simple. A lot of people give Chris Evans flak for his acting ability. His choice of playing Johnny Storm didn't help with this, even though he basically played him correctly. I felt the same way about him until I saw him in Sunshine. And what do you know, he can actually act. And again he proves he can act in Captain America as the title character, as well as carry a movie. Evans downplays his character, which was exactly what was needed for the character to work as Steve Rogers wasn't never about ego. It was about doing what needed to get done even if it cost him his life. The one actor that didn't hit all the right marks for me was Hugo Weaving though. That's not to say that he didn't do great as the Red Skull, yet to me it seemed as if Weaving kept on losing his accent in the movie every third sentence. This thankfully didn't make his character seem any less threatening as Weaving is always a perfect choice for the antagonist as he always gets into his role and this one just seems like it was meant for him and I really can't see anyone else playing the Red Skull now.

     I just want to take this time to thank Joe Johnston. He knew what had to be done to make the film work and he pulled it off. Instead of having the film take place in present day, he set it during WWII. This might not seem like a big deal but yet in doing so, it showed how Steve Rogers truly became the man that he is and how that helped create Captain America. Half the movie is how Steve Rogers fights and claws to be accepted before he is even selected for the procedure to make him Captain America. We see that he's someone that even though he isn't strong and is frail, he is always thinking of different ways to accomplish tasks. We're shown that even when he's outclassed and beaten down he won't give up. It's thanks to this that the audience comes to care about Rogers and what he goes through. This is also thanks to Evan's acting that we can relate and enjoy the character, more than anything else though, Evans makes Steve Rogers human.

     I know that in this review it seemed that most of the attention was focused on Evans performance and that nothing else really seemed to stick out. The truth is the whole film was something amazing to watch. It felt as if I was watching a good Indiana Jones movie again. The action sequences are fun to watch and the retro sci-fi feel of the weapons just adds to this. I must say I was surprised with the film overall as it was better than I could have hoped for or even imagined it could be done. From strong performances from all actors and actresses to a great musical score from Alan Silvestri, Joe Johnston has done what I thought couldn't be done and that's make a amazing film based on Captain America and have you care about the characters.  Now all that is left to be seen is if all the pieces from the different Marvel movies can be put together and work in The Avengers next year. Please Whedon, don't screw it up!

BEST DEATH:
      The Hydra soldier that gets minced by propeller blade in mid-flight.

BEST LINE:
     I'm invisible. I'm....I'm turning into you!

FUN FACTS:
     Despite being "The First Avenger", it is the last solo Avenger film to be released before the team-up film, The Avengers, which comes out last year.

     Originally cameo appearances were planned in the film for James Logan Howlett (Wolverine) and Erik Lensherr (Magneto), who were present during World War II (Logan was a soldier and Lensherr was a prisoner of war). Also planned was a cameo by Namor, The Sub-Mariner. These cameos were scrapped due to various issues.

     Wolverine is connected to Captain America through the Weapon Plus Program. Steve Rogers was classified as Weapon I, while Wolverine, or James  Logan Howlett, was classified as Weapon X.

      This is Chris Evans seventh comic book movie, and his third Marvel comic book movie. The films are: Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, TMNT, Push, The Losers, and Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World.