Monday, July 25, 2011

A Salute to Captain America: The First Avenger

Since seeing the first trailer for this movie I've been quite ecstatic waiting for it's release, not because I'm a big Captain America fan cuz I'm really not, but because this is the final Marvel movie before The Avengers next year (more on that later).

I do wonder what reason someone who doesn't know the characters and 70 plus years of comics of Captain America would want to see this movie for. Well here's your reason; It's bloody brilliant!
Captain America manages to blend it's cross-genre storylines seamlessly. Part WW2 flick, part superhero movie, part supernatural story, just like the comics it's adventuresome tale spans the gaps and pulls together a great plot.
Like the origin stories, the film opens with an antarctic expedition discovering the frozen body of Captain America aka Steve Rogers. Flashback to 1940s WW2, and we get to see who Rogers was before the uniform; a scrawny, sickly, yet scrappy guy who refuses to give up. He gets enlisted into the government's Super Soldier program to become something more.
But it's the message inside that counts; that it's not about the physical, it's what's inside that makes you who you are. And Steve Rogers is a good guy. Period. No ironic sarcasm (why Green Lantern failed). No dark and moody shadow skulking. Rogers is a straight arrow good guy. And the producers kept this in mind. Chris Evans is a good actor, but mostly known for his smart assery. So there was some hesitation when it was announced he'd gotten the role. But Evans did his research, and he nailed it.
Again, if someone isnt familiar with the source material, it may come off as strange. A WW2 film that deals with genetic engineering, advanced technology, vibranium, the occult/supernatural, and a bad guy with a red skull for a face? It'd probably be weird. But then again it's a historical fact that most of what Hitler did was inspired by his occult fascinations with ancient civilizations and alien beings so...
And then there is the tying in of cross continuity with the Marvel Universe. Howard Stark (father of Tony Stark aka Iron Man) plays a great role as the Allies' science guy and paving the way for what's to come. And when you see this movie, STAY AFTER THE CREDITS! You'll be treated to what amounts to a full on Avengers trailer with Cap, Thor, Iron Man, the Hulk, SHIELD, and more. Avengers is gonna be big. Can't wait.

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