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Captain America: the First Avenger (2011)

July 25, 2011 By Mike B
Movie Review

What Worked?

Finally, the last solo Avenger film is here, and he’s none other than the big red, white, and blue. The little guy with the biggest heart gets a physical makeover to match the strength he has inside in Captain America: the First Avenger. It isn’t the best of the Avengers assembly, but it certainly does a solid job as a hearty appetizer for the Avengers film. Chris Evans is a terrific Steve Rogers, and an amazing Captain America, and Joe Johnston does a credible job with the source material.

The film has a wonderful retro vibe, and a crisp pace. The special effects to make Chris Evans a puny, asthmatic, scrawny stick of a man are very impressive; it looks very natural, as if Evans actually shrunk down to that size, thanks to digital technology. The action scenes are hyper and hard-hitting, showing off Captain America’s superhuman strength, agility and speed without looking too silly. Johnston recreates a World War II atmosphere that’s nostalgic, gritty and stylized, but never feels tacky in any way.

Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America is right on point. Evans is very believable as the skinny Steve Rogers: the epitome of a good man with a plethora of health problems. As Captain America, Evans is equally as good, becoming a hero right before our eyes. Evans showcases a heroic quality of determination and courage through everything he does in the film; it’s not like he’s playing a hero, he is one. Evans is surrounded by amazing talent, such as Tommy Lee Jones, Hayley Atwell and Hugo Weaving. Tommy Lee Jones, as Colonel Chester Phillips, is a rugged, sarcastic man that is a scene stealer. Hayley Atwell, as Peggy Carter, is the tough-as-nails love interest. Atwell and Evans have great chemistry that you can feel. Finally, Hugo Weaving does a fine job as the Red Skull, despite not having too much to do.

Captain America: the First Avenger is a solid film that contains entertaining performances, and a heartfelt one from Chris Evans. It’s a story about the little guy with a golden heart that is given the chance to evolve into  hero. Captain America truly inspires one to “be all that you can be,” as if you were hearing those words for the very first time.

Potential Drawbacks:

The film goes through the formula of a Marvel origins story, and we see most things coming from a mile away. After so many Marvel origins stories, it’s hard to escape that formula, but that doesn’t mean you can’t change it up a bit to avoid monotony.

Hugo Weaving is a tremendous talent, but like other Marvel villains, he feels underused and a bit insignificant. The character should have been fleshed out more(check Loki in Thor)

Although I find it hard to argue with the first half of the film, some may feel that the second half goes does a notch or two in quality. There are some that might not enjoy the Patriotism of it all, but hey, it’s Captain America.

P.S.

Stick around for a surprise after the credits

 

Film Recommendations:

Thor
Iron Man
The Incredible Hulk

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