Born during the Great Depression, Steve Rogers grew up a frail youth in a poor family. Horrified by the newsreel footage of the Nazis in Europe, Rogers was inspired to enlist in the army. However, because of his frailty and sickness, he was rejected. Overhearing the boy's earnest plea, General Chester Phillips offered Rogers the opportunity to take part in a special experiment... Operation: Rebirth.
After weeks of tests, Rogers was at last administered the Super-Solider Serum and bombarded by 'vita-rays.' Steve Rogers emerged from the treatment with a body as perfect as a body can be and still be human. Rogers was then put through an intensive physical and tactical training program. Three months later, he was given his first assignment as Captain America. Armed with his indestructible shield and battle savvy, Captain America has continued his war against evil both as a sentinel of liberty and as leader of the Avengers.
Fear not fanboys, this review is positive.
Captain America: The First Avenger shows you using a lot of charm and anti nazi 40's style propaganda can not only make a film fun and enjoyable, but groundbreakingly different. This is once again a shining star for Marvel Studios, who add another great film to there highly impressive superhero blockbusters.
Chris Evans proves in an instant, while still playing the frail and skinny Steve Rogers, that not only can he carry this movie, but he can play Captain America. If you still manage to walk out of the theater with your old insecurities of Evans playing another Marvel hero, don't consider yourself a fan of the character in general, because Marvel once again achieves perfection in casting.
Evans shows Rogers's patriotism and inability to back down, making it look like anyone can waltz onto camera and be a superhero. This of course is in part of him playing your average guy. Steve Rogers isn't a billionaire playboy, Norse God, or even a scientist; Rogers is just shown as a man who feels he should be doing no less than the soldiers laying down their lives for their country. This may not add a large amount of interest in who he is when he isn't cap, but ads a far more interesting repeatability not always scene in the man behind the mask.
The second character to make headway onto screen is Bucky Barnes, who in this film plays a friend and helpful hand to the still frail Steve (serving as a replacement for comic character Arnie Roth, Steve's childhood friend and protector from the comics). When Rogers makes the turn to Captain America, we see him fight alongside Bucky and The Howling Commandos. The only flaw to Bucky is his age. He is of course not shown as just a teenage sidekick, which to some may present more of an interesting character to watch on screen (many times I feel that way too).
The real flaw with his age is Steve doesn't feel like his guardian,
SPOILERS: making his death less interesting to watch Steve handle. His death in the comics takes a much larger debt with Steve, as he feels the weight of it for years throughout comic's history. This doesn't take away all emotion from his death, but it certainly damages it somewhat crucially.
END SPOILERS Serving as the love interest is Peggy Carter, played by the smoking hot Hayley Atwell. She serves more as a crush than a love, which serves the movie better. Having Thor fall in love so fast to me felt forced and rather stuffed down are throats. Rogers and Carter on the other hand are just two people too shy to confess any feelings for each other throughout most of the movie.
Though not full blown love as opposed to more of a casually dating couple, it doesn't hurt your interest in them as the on screen couple. Also, aside from being a hot comic book love interest, Atwell plays a tough and often harsh woman non of the guys want to cross. This adds a flair every other comic book movie that makes you really into the chick because she is as bad-ass as the main hero (well, maybe not AS bad-ass, but close no doubt).
Stanley Tucci plays Dr. Abraham Erskine in a rather fun manner, showing him as sarcastic and funny. We still see Erskine as a man who wants to find the perfect man to test his serum to create the super soldier program. He also plays a father figure for Steve, steering him in the right direction making sure he never changes who he is. Tucci shows once again that even in the briefest of roles, his talent and charm can steal some scenes.
Another scene stealer is Tommy Lee Jone's character Colonel Chester Phillips. Obsessed with true soldiers, he shows a dislike early one for a skinny Steve, who he feels has no place on his base. Jones steals scene using his charm with a mix of outright arrogance, he has the ability to present an intimidating soldier, who will still no doubt make you chuckle.
Howard Stark, father of Tony Stark, The Iron Man, is played by Dominic Cooper. He showcases the same charm and narcissism presented by the later of the Stark Family, even in his brief time on screen. This presence of friendship between he and Rogers will most likely play a huge part in Cap and Iron Man's relation in
The Avengers.
Adding his own villainy and charm (as of course expected), is Hugo Weaving's Red Skull/Johann Schmidt. Weaving plays a villain like no other, he plays a villain so wrapped up in his own beliefs of rising past mere men. Heading the Nazi's science division, Hydra, director Joe Johnston cleverly places the Nazi's real obsession with Norse mythology by using Hydra as a way for Schmidt's obsession with doing the work of gods to add an edge to the characters insane style of villainy. Plus...
Thor references!
Weaving plays a great, scary, and sadistic villain, who rises to the challenge of playing a very difficult character to truly bring to life.
Also, like
Thor's warriors three, The Howling Commandos are played perfectly but lack a large amount of screen time.
The story itself flows wonderfully, with Johnston successfully capturing the era of 1940's America by using anti Nazi propaganda as a weapon to set this film apart like no other. To my surprise, the USO scenes are some of the most entertaining in the movie. Though a dread a sequel, as it is unlikely to make a return to WWII era story.
The action is top notch, showing off the best of any Marvel Studio's movies. The film shows off the true entertainment behind tapping Cap's abilities well enough on the big screen. The action is also a damn site more fun to watch than most, with a rather crazy amount of violence for a PG-13 film. And though it has its cool moments, 3D isn't at all a necessity with this one.
Final verdict:
5/5 STARRING: Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America
Sebastian Stan as Bucky
Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter
Hugo Weaving as Johann Schmidt/Red Skull
Toby Jones as Arnim Zola
Stanley Tucci as Abraham Erskine
Tommy Lee Jones as Col. Chester Phillips
Dominic Cooper as Howard Stark
Neal McDonough as Dum Dum Dugan
JJ Field as Union Jack
Derek Luke as Gabe Jones
Kenneth Choi as Jim Morita
RELEASE DATE: July 22nd, 2011. (US) July 29th, 2011. (UK)