Why I Love...Captain America!
Welcome to another edition of the Why I Love column, where I, Eric Ratcliffe, pick something I've read, played, listened to or watched to discuss with you fair readers. This week we talk about the most patriotic super hero on the planet finally getting movie treatment. A man who very much represents the best aspects of America and its people and shows you that even the average Joe can make one hell of a hero. That's right, folks, we're talking Captain America: The first Avenger!
To start off the review I would like to talk about my viewing experience. I had the pleasure of, for the first time, watching a movie in 3D. Now that being said, I do not like Hollywood's use of this new 3D movie stuff, but here, I kind of loved it. It made the movie just that much more fun to watch. I might recommend it if the ticket prices were just a little cheaper.
The movie, for the most part starts off as your average origin piece. Cap's shield is found in a mysterious craft in the arctic and we are soon thrust 70 years in the past to learn about just who Steve Rogers is and what Captain America meant to the world of the 40s. The effect of making Chris Evans look like a scrawny kid from Brooklyn is extremely well done here, we get the heart of the character right off the bat.
If I could wish for anything to come out of this movie, it would be that Chris Evans would be nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of Steve Rogers in this movie. I personally believe this movie put the actor on a new level for what he does here. Steve is your average guy with a bit of a hero complex. He's going to stand up to the bullies for the fact that he doesn't like to see bullying. He wants to make a difference in this world and you can see what it means just in his mannerisms alone.
The scenes early in the movie between Steve and Erskine (played by the fabulous Stanley Tucci) are a driving force for the entire thing. I really found myself enthralled by the man who created the super soldier serum and the young man he put all his faith in because of what he saw in Steve. I really honestly think it's one of the driving forces throughout the movie.
Of course there are plenty of relationships between Evans and the other cast members which drive the movie. From Bucky (Sebastian Stan) to Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) to Colonel Chester Philips (Tommy Lee Jones) the supporting cast backing Steve Rogers is incredibly strong. Peggy and Steve's budding romance throughout the movie feels like Lois and Clark's from the original Superman movie. I really also enjoyed seeing Tommy Lee Jones playing a character who reminded me a lot of his time as Agent K from men in black. It's fun to really see him in an action role again.
Of course, any good superhero needs his villain and here, Steve had his in spades as the man goes one on one with The Red Skull (played by Hugo Weaving) Johann Schmidt who was incredibly imposing and almost unrecognizable in the role. Just like Evans, Weaving brought the very essence of the Red Skull out in live action form and it was great to see.
Joe Johnston the director of the movie said he was very inspired by Raiders of the Lost Ark and to me that shows in spades. The overall look, sound and feel of the movie is spot on and definitely reminiscent of The Rocketeer (which is another movie Johnston did of course). I actually found myself smiling at several moments just staring at the screen at some points.
There are plenty of Marvel references in the movie, from a surprising cameo at the Stark Expo at the beginning of the movie, to the Howling Commando's appearing in full force. (Union Jack is actually one of the commandoes in the movie) but I think the man who stole the show when it came to connecting things to the other movies was Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) who in my honest opinion channeled a bit of Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony and you could tell just where Tony gets some of his more quirky personality traits.
All in all, this is a movie I loved. I really had no problems with it and it's easily right in line with the rest of the Marvel Universe movies. I would give it an A and definitely would like to watch it again. It's right in line with Thor and Iron Man, and easily something that can be watched again and again. Oh, and stay till after the full credits roll, you won't want to miss the special bonus scene at the end, I assure you!
Eric Ratcliffe/Reviewer, Podcaster and Columnist
Eric is a writer/pop culture journalist/interviewer who is currently working on pitching a project named the Hunter chronicles. When not reading his weekly stack, Eric can be found watching dvd's, playing on his 360 (gamertag: Zack Hunter) or just surfing online trying to find a scoop or two. Eric is a prolific writer, podcaster and convention reporter here at Comic Related. Eric shops at TJ's Collectibles. Visit them on the web at www.tjcollect.com!
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