Captain America: The First Avenger

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Video: Meet Captain America

Release Date: 29 July 2011
Director: Joe Johnston
Starring: Chris Evans, Dominic Cooper, Hayley Atwell, Hugo Weaving, Sebastian Stan, Stanley Tucci, Tommy Lee Jones
Details: US/122mins PG

Executed with proficient if unspectacular style, Captain America is the typical introductory tale audiences have come to expect from comic book movies nowadays. Marvel in particular have been building towards their Avengers movie, where 'Cap' will cross shields with the likes of Iron Man and Thor . While it does have its moments, it's essentially a precursor to that film, rather than one that can hold its own amongst the comic book adaptation classics.

It's 1942 and Chris Evans is Steve Rodgers, a scrawny youngster who feels it his duty to enlist and head off to faraway lands to fight Hitler and his Nazi brethren; alas, he's constantly rejected due to a barrage of ailments and his diminutive stature. Luckily, Stanley Tucci's kind German scientist recognises his inner courage and picks him for a special "super solider" experiment that could see him war-bound whippity-snicket. A foe appears in the form of Hugo Weaving's Skeletor-like egomaniac, who makes Hitler look like the fat one that no one likes from 'Geordie Shore'.

The issue of introducing a character into another ensemble is a tricky one, and those who had issues with the 'origin' subplot of Thor will probabaly have the same concerns here. Captain America is a lot more "gee shucks" because of its retro setting, and director Johnson does a solid job of replicating the era whilst still injecting some cool gadgetry. But compared to other Marvel flicks like X-Men: First Class - which also had a bunch of characters to introduce us to - it falls well short of the mark.

On the plus side, Evans is very well cast as the square-jawed quintessential American hero Rodgers, and the early special effects which show him as a skinny runt are very impressive. Yet again, as with Thor, the main issue is lengthy character establishment which could easily have minimised; it's a serious stretch to buy the melding of all of these worlds into one for the eventual Avengers flick.

Nevertheless, it's solid enough fare and Evans and Tucci are eminently watchable. The Avengers had just better be worth it, after all of this foreplay.

Review by Mike Sheridan

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Your Comments

Niall

Sounds shart

Posted 12/07/2011 17:14:55

Sounds pretty poor

Posted 27/07/2011 13:38:40

Andy

Would recomment thats its similar fare to recent comic book outings - I feel what we are missing is the darkness and less cartoony feel that we can get with the Chris Nolan Rebooted Batman franchise - This style of movie is so as it appeals to the wider/younger audience, but if its depth you are after, a more realistic, gritty feel is required - I dont hold much hope for the Avengers movie, too many egos, poor story plot - Roll on the next Batman masterpiece

Posted 28/07/2011 08:33:55

BernZ102

Good Movie worth a watch, you got to watch it if your going to watch The Avengers can't wait for that.

Posted 29/07/2011 18:27:46

tiger

NOT GREAT AFTER ALL THE HYPE,NOT MUCH ACTION AND VERY SLOW,HOPE THE AVENGERS IS BETTER, IM NOT HOLDING MY BREATH THOUGH,IF YOU WAIT TILL ALL THE CREDITS AT THE END OF THE FILM , THEY SO A SMALL CLIP OF THE AVENGERS,WITH IRONMAN AND THOR,ITS THE SORT OF FILM IF YOUR INTO CAPTAIN AMERICA, YOU WILL HAVE TO GO ANYWAY.

Posted 29/07/2011 19:15:44

rr

this film is brillant, cant wait for the avengers, great plot and a must see movie.

Posted 29/07/2011 19:32:20

Lenny

Though it was brilliant expected as much from them as a start to what will be a comic feast of films

Posted 31/07/2011 21:22:57

Deli

The cgi done on Evans at the beginning are fantastic. The presence of Jones is needed to keep things moving and the romantic plot is thankfully kept at a minimum. Cooper is a welcome addition as Tony Starks dad and you can see where the resemblance is with the cocky performance. Actually enjoyed this one despite having reservations at the beginning. 3D is a complete waste of money, sticking with 2D from now on.

Posted 01/08/2011 11:07:22

James

thought this flick was alright...3 out of 5...and lets face it...all marvel films are building up to the Avengers..its good...could have been better

Posted 01/08/2011 11:48:11

Melanyfontana

122 minutes of my life I'll never get back.......The Avengers better be worth it after sitting through that!!!!And Thor was so good too.......sigh

Posted 01/08/2011 21:09:39

noel

Average at best. More build up for The Avengers.... The only thing that could make The Avengers work is Joss Whedon but even thats doubtful.

Posted 08/08/2011 22:18:34

noel

oh and dont bother with the 3d, Its another conversion not actually shot in 3d.

Posted 08/08/2011 22:20:59

ellegibbons

I agree dont bother with the 3D didnt notice anything, a complete waste of money. However did enjoy this movie, more so than Super 8 - didnt get the appeal of Super 8, but was entertained with Captain American

Posted 11/08/2011 15:20:57

Spratty

I'm still a sucker for these comic book adaptations - an old fogey like me waited for years for technology to catch up with the imaginations of the cartoonists. Not sure if much depth should be expected in them - there's only one Christopher Nolan. Enjoyed this one - at least as much as the recent X-Men origin one.

Posted 12/08/2011 01:05:18

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