I am a comic book junkie. Ink flows through my blood. I love to see comics brought to life in other mediums. Whether it animated or live action it all fascinates me. Comics are modern myth, instead of story's of Homer or The Odyssey we have Batman and Spider man. Yes it is true that many a bad comic adaption has been done. Mostly from DC comics but Marvel has had it's fair share. I was quite impressed with Thor even though alot of my fellow nerds were not to keen on it but i felt it captured that magic that i felt reading old Jack Kirby and Stan Lee stories. So the reason i loved it was deeply personal. At a time when i was young and my family life was crumbling down around me these stories where the light in the darkness. Even though it took massive liberties with the comic it sprung from i enjoyed the hell out of X-Men First Class. I was most hopeful this summer for Captain America. It literally combines everything i love into one delicious fondue of awesome. From the WW2 setting to the eleborate USO shows and the grandiose feeling of a classic pulp adventure. The feel of a Indiana Jones film just creeps out of every pore of this film. Here are a few reasons this film works.
1. The digital effects on Chris Evans in the beginning of the film are amazing. A leap forward in digital effects. They make the man mountain he has become into a tiny 90 pound asthmatic and it works.
2. Chris Evans as Captain America is note perfect. From his aw shucks attitude to his pure determination define this version in my mind. He does not want to join the military to kill Nazis.... he wants to join because Germany is a bully and he feels as though someone needs to stand up for what is right. Amazing!!!
3. The tie in to other Marvel films is seamless. It does not stick out but it is their and for fan-boys like myself it is much appreciated.
4.The Shield. Note much to say other than wow. Also for fans of Marvel comics the shield in the movie is not made of admantiumn like its comic counterpart but of vibraniumn. I feel as though this does give a great opportunity for the intro of The Black Panther. Comic fans rejoice.
5. Hugo Weaving was great as The Red Skull. Almost everyone was solid. I would have like a little more with the Howling Commandos and Bucky but that's what sequels are for.
6. The film was amazing but what blew my mind was the 60 second teaser for The Avengers after the credits. Shots of Hawkeye and Black Widow fucking shit up. Thor with his new costume summoning lighting and throwing his hammer at someones face. Quick glimpses of Nick Fury and Bruce Banner. Tony Stark being his usual smart ass self and me loving every minute of it. May 2012 can not come fast enough.
Overall i give Captain America The First Avenger a 4.5 out of 5
Avengers Assemble
Only real issue I had was Agent Smith...ehrm...Hugo Weaving...ehrm....Red Skull at the beginning of the film in Norway. Sorry, but it was BLATANT.
ReplyDelete...oh yeah, and Tommy Lee Jones going all Men-In-Black in the Skullmobile with the little red button. I was hoping they weren't going to go there, and they did. At least they somewhat contained themselves and didn't have Will Smith in the trunk.
All that being said, I'd put it up there with any other Marvel film I've seen, probably including Warzone. Loved how they NAILED the wartime 40's atmosphere, was just about rolling on the ground when **someone** was sneaking around onstage trying to surprise Captain America. Genius.