Set primarily in the early 1940's, Captain America is the story of Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), a young man of diminutive stature who desperately wants to enlist in the US Army at the outset of World War II. Due to his size and history of illness, he is turned down several times, as he falsifies his identity to try over and over to be accepted. His determination to do his part attracts the attention of a Scientist (Stanley Tucci) who offers him a chance to join the army if he participates in testing his Super Soldier Serum. Rogers agrees and after being put through his paces by a highly doubtful Colonel (Tommy Lee Jones), he undergoes the Super Soldier procedure, which remakes him into a Super-Human, the height of human potential. Even as the procedure proves successful, a spy in the midst of the government officials gathered to witness it detonates a bomb, shoots the Scientist, and escapes with a vial of the Super Soldier Serum. However, Rogers chases the man on foot and apprehends him, in spite of the fact that he flees via a stolen taxi and a submarine. As the spy crunches his Cyanide Suicide tooth (Classic!), he taunts Rogers that two will rise to take his place, and says "Hail Hydra!" in his death throes. As the film progresses, Rogers becomes a house hold name selling war bonds as Captain America, and is ridiculed by front line troops when he is sent to Italy, but gains their respect when he single-handedly rescues an entire unit of captured soldiers, including his old friend Bucky. The film culminates in an epic showdown with the Hydra forces and a one on one fight with their leader, the Super Soldier prototype, Red Skull (Hugo Weaving).
Overall, I have to say that I was extremely impressed with the story, particularly how they incorporated Captain America's classic Golden Age origin into the film in the form of his USO stage show, to hilarious effect. Also of note, Red Skull is very well fleshed out (pun intended) and he makes a delightfully wicked foil to Cap's selfless heroism. I also really enjoyed the treatment of tertiary characters, Bucky and "Dum Dum" Doogan, for example. The inclusion of Howard Stark, Iron Man's grandfather, could have been a simple Cameo, but they made him a very important character, flying Cap in on his first combat mission and designing his suit and, perhaps most importantly, the iconic Vibranium Shield. Cap's relationship with Agent Peggy Carter, while obviously meant to be the romantic inspiration for Cap, as he is seen with her picture several times, is refreshingly conservative in a world of super heroes always getting the girl, and adds another layer to the character and the ending of the film. The only problem I had with the story was, ironically, with Cap himself. While they do a lot to show how he progresses from being unsure of his new abilities to kicking copious amounts of ass and leading an elite group of soldiers hand picked to fight Hydra, I couldn't shake the feeling that his leadership abilities that will make him the obvious choice to lead the Avengers one day were not very well demonstrated. Maybe that's just me though.
Another note, and one I pointed out to my cousin Daniel during the movie, was that they managed to make Captain America's universe less believable than Thor's. While it must be said that the inclusion of some Real-World future tech vehicles and weapons that the Germans were actually working on during WWII lent believability to the concept of Hydra being Hitler's "Deep Science" division, some of the other devices have to be described as Ultra Tech by 1940's standards. It lent a futuristic feel to some of the later combat scenes, which seems odd for a movie set in the past. And while energy weapons could be explained away by the fact that Red Skull was harnessing power from the same Cube we see in the Stinger at the end of Thor (Dun Dun Dun!), powered armor, Tanks the size of houses, and a massive Flying Wing took me out of the movie a bit.
That said, the visual effects were extremely impressive and well implemented. Of particular note was the effects used to make Cap look like a scrawny weakling before the Super Soldier Procedure. Costuming is excellent, from the period outfits, Cap's hilariously authentic comic book outfit, or his actual combat outfit, not to mention Red Skull and his varying and menacing outfits. Sound is well done, and the plethora of period accurate propaganda songs is delightful. As far as direction goes, Joe Johnston does a fine job of finding great framing for scenes. There are not really any of the "What the Hell is Happening, all I can see is Camera Shaking" fight scenes that drive me bonkers, and overall, the action is entertaining and never too over the top (For a Superhero that is). Oddly enough, one of the most effective scenes is actually the end credits, which is an animated montage of WWII Propaganda posters. And if anyone left the theater before the end of the credits, big mistake. Not only do we see a bit of Cap and Nick Fury, but also a teaser trailer for the Avengers film which was downright awesome.
All in all, I have to say that I really enjoyed Captain America, it was a perfect Penultimate Avengers movie. And while I have to admit that I enjoyed Thor a bit more personally, it really is an excellent film and worthy of the franchise.
9 Punched out Hitler's out of 10.
No comments:
Post a Comment