Chris Evans stars in the new film Captain America: The First Avenger as scrawny Steve Rogers, who just wants to do his part in World War II against the bullies of the world. Evans takes to the role of Captain America as if he was born for it. The origin story plays out as it should and is a fair adaptation of what comic book readers for decades know and expect to see as the origin of the iconic Super-Soldier and Patriot.
Hugo Weaving (of Lord Of the Rings fame) is terrific as Johann Schmidt, the evil Red Skull, head of the Nazi super science division, Hydra, and Cap's arch-nemesis. He has outgrown Hitler and schemes to rule the world alone.
Tommy Lee Jones is great as Col Chester Philips who works to turn a scrawny kid from Brooklyn into a good soldier. Hayley Atwell (awesome in the Pillars of the Earth miniseries, about the 12th-Century building of a cathedral) plays Agent Peggy Carter, Cap's love interest, a gun-toting dame working to make the Super Soldier a reality.
Marvel is pulling together a great continuity in its films and Captain America: The First Avenger gives us some great geek-tastic moments. Howard Stark (Tony "Iron Man" Stark's father) appears with his prototype anti-gravity car. Can a floating SHIELD Helicarrier be far off in future Marvel films? I think not.
Several of Sgt. Fury's Howling Commandos and old pal James “Bucky” Barnes show up in great dramatic moments and are a nice introduction to these classic Marvel characters.
In the background of one scene I gleefully found the Synthetic Man, AKA Toro, Marvel's 1940's Human Torch, who in the old-school comics often teamed-up with Namor the Sub-Mariner, and is a nod to Evans previous role as the Human Torch in the Fantastic Four films. The original Human Torch is also a precursor to one of the Avenger's most feared villains Ultron.
Captain America’s return to the present, also a mainstay of comics lore was well-handled and fun, setting the stage for good things to come in future Marvel films.
I grew up with Captain America cartoons from the ‘60s playing on TV after school daily with other Marvel cartoons starring The Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, Namor, and of course Spider-Man. I am one of the few people out there who fondly remember the short-lived '70s CBS Captain America TV series starring Reb Brown as Captain America. We also grew up with a live action Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk, and Wonder Woman TV series too.
The first modern Captain America Film for the big screen (1990 – look it up), not counting movie serials from the 40’s and ‘50s, just sucked, and if you ever have the misfortune to see it, please do see it, for it will reinforce how GREAT the new Captain America film really is.
Oh, and stay through the entirety of the end credits, you won't be disappointed.
Next Summer, The Avengers Assemble! Can't wait!
In conclusion, enjoy this blast from the past:
Hugo Weaving (of Lord Of the Rings fame) is terrific as Johann Schmidt, the evil Red Skull, head of the Nazi super science division, Hydra, and Cap's arch-nemesis. He has outgrown Hitler and schemes to rule the world alone.
Tommy Lee Jones is great as Col Chester Philips who works to turn a scrawny kid from Brooklyn into a good soldier. Hayley Atwell (awesome in the Pillars of the Earth miniseries, about the 12th-Century building of a cathedral) plays Agent Peggy Carter, Cap's love interest, a gun-toting dame working to make the Super Soldier a reality.
Marvel is pulling together a great continuity in its films and Captain America: The First Avenger gives us some great geek-tastic moments. Howard Stark (Tony "Iron Man" Stark's father) appears with his prototype anti-gravity car. Can a floating SHIELD Helicarrier be far off in future Marvel films? I think not.
Several of Sgt. Fury's Howling Commandos and old pal James “Bucky” Barnes show up in great dramatic moments and are a nice introduction to these classic Marvel characters.
In the background of one scene I gleefully found the Synthetic Man, AKA Toro, Marvel's 1940's Human Torch, who in the old-school comics often teamed-up with Namor the Sub-Mariner, and is a nod to Evans previous role as the Human Torch in the Fantastic Four films. The original Human Torch is also a precursor to one of the Avenger's most feared villains Ultron.
Captain America’s return to the present, also a mainstay of comics lore was well-handled and fun, setting the stage for good things to come in future Marvel films.
I grew up with Captain America cartoons from the ‘60s playing on TV after school daily with other Marvel cartoons starring The Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, Namor, and of course Spider-Man. I am one of the few people out there who fondly remember the short-lived '70s CBS Captain America TV series starring Reb Brown as Captain America. We also grew up with a live action Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk, and Wonder Woman TV series too.
The first modern Captain America Film for the big screen (1990 – look it up), not counting movie serials from the 40’s and ‘50s, just sucked, and if you ever have the misfortune to see it, please do see it, for it will reinforce how GREAT the new Captain America film really is.
Oh, and stay through the entirety of the end credits, you won't be disappointed.
Next Summer, The Avengers Assemble! Can't wait!
In conclusion, enjoy this blast from the past:
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