Should characters in "Captain America" smoke?

[J. Custer]

of course they should smoke. half the nation had cigarette cases in there living rooms! men and women smoked to relax and get comfy. hard nosed reporter smoked to combat stressful deadlines. etc. authenticity please....

[KangConquers]

Originally Posted by Triad

Well using Rage's idea as a jumping off point, Bucky could light up on the battlefield & Cap could say "Those'll kill ya" & he replies "I think they might have to get in line behind the Nazis!". Then when Cap's unfrozen (if they go a similar route as The Ultimates) Bucky could tell him as an old man that he has asthma & emphysema and "How does it feel to always be right?"

Bucky should not be an old man. He should be presumed dead. Seriously, the ultimate take on Cap is so lame.

[Webhead2006]

yea i said it before months ago background characters will probably be smoking since it was a common thing in the 40s and all that. As for steve/bucky i would figure they probably wont smoke.

[UnkillableMick]

The whole "no smoking in films" thing is ridiculous. I'm a non-smoker, but it's unrealistic to get rid of it entirely.

It actually negatively affected Watchmen. The studio said Laurie couldn't smoke in the movie, and as a result, there was NO reason for her to push the "flame" button in Archie. At least in the comic, she was looking for a lighter. In the movie, she just came off looking retarded.

[jacross]

Originally Posted by Silvermoth

Hi all, time for a serious discussion.

So we all know how bad it is to advertise smoking to movie going audiences. It's dangerous for people's health and encourages addiction.

Do we all know that? I'm not sure I agree with your presupposition. Smoking is certainly bad for your health. Nicotine entails a reasonably strong physical addiction and smoking usually/often elicits a psychological addiction in people. Where we divert however is whether that is enough to conclude that 'advertising' or even 'showing' smoking to audience is 'bad'. There are many things in life that have negative consequences or inherent risks. It is my personal opinion that the obvious negative consequences of smoking do not make it inherently bad to show or even to do. That is something that people must weigh up for themselves. Obviously, with Government funding of health care there is something of an externality to it. As a libertarian I am not in favour of such things and think it is dangerous to personal liberty to go down that rabbit hole.

For example, I smoke the occasional cigar and pipe. I understand and accept the risks, as I believe the benefits outweigh them. That is a personal decision. I can't make that decision for anyone else as I do not know their goals and priorities. So on that basis, I don't really support the idea of hiding something from them, I'd let them see it and make up their own minds. Personally, I'd let cigarette companies advertise again. I probably wouldn't go around actively encourage people to take up smoking though, particularly cigarettes which are far too pedestrian to be cool.

That said, I've always thought the "Captain America" film should be a period piece that shows how things have changed. When I saw "Mad Men" I thought, thats what I want for a "Captain America" film.

I also think it adds to the authenticity of the era such as in films like "Munich" and "Saving Private Ryan."

We do agree on this. Putting aside the above concept, I think taking smoking out of period pieces or settings where smoking would be frequent (take your example Mad Men) is absurdity and a fraud.

Although I don't think either Captain America or Bucky should be seen smoking

I don't know, the link between smoking and related diseases was starting to be researched and publicised around the time of WW2 but the vast majority of people smoked. I imagine soldiers would have as well. I probably don't care either way, I just wouldn't want it to be made a big deal of in the film.

The Headline 'Evil Captain America encouraging kids to smoke' is probably something the movie could do without.

[jacross]

Incidentally, in the old 40's comics, Cap used to smoke a pipe.

Originally Posted by Triad

Well using Rage's idea as a jumping off point, Bucky could light up on the battlefield & Cap could say "Those'll kill ya" & he replies "I think they might have to get in line behind the Nazis!".

This.

Then when Cap's unfrozen (if they go a similar route as The Ultimates) Bucky could tell him as an old man that he has asthma & emphysema and "How does it feel to always be right?"

Not this.

[Hypestyle]

sure, why not smoke.. weren't tobacco companies involved in the US war effort?

[LadyVader]

Of course people will smoke...

If they're a bad guy or European. Which in this case is the same thing.

[Timstuff]

Only the Nazis should smoke. That way, kids who want to be like the good guys won't smoke, and they'll grow up to be douchey anti-cigarette crusaders just like me.

[Lauryn2000]

Hell yeah!!!

[Webhead2006]

i wouldnt see the issue if some background characters are smoking or just have cigs in their mouths in certain scenes.

[Mace Dolex]

I hardly even noticed movies banning smoking and as for Wolverine not smoking anymore, that's even more mind boggling since smoking is part of Logan's image.

But one thing out of character was Arnold's Mr. Freeze smoking a cigar in Batman & Robin.

[ironmaidenrules]

i would like a ciggarette company to create mock up ads that show cap smoking, but Steve is against it.

I would Also like a scene where two guys are trying to get Steve's attention
"it'd be brilliant! it'll be on newsstand nationwide! we'll have you punching Hitler on the cover!"

and he's holding the first cap comic.

[blah]

Were'nt the Nazis, as an ideal, opposed to smoking? Calling it a sign of a weak mind or something elitist like that.

[ultimatefan]

For the sake of historical accuracy they should, but given that this is a summer blockbuster, a movie that has fantastic elements anyway and that will be seen by families, they most definitely won´t smoke and in this case it´s for the better. If it were an R-rated drama, like a Saving Private Ryan, I´d advocate for the smoking.

[THE MR. TERRIFIC]

Yeah I guess they should if this is a period piece.

[Triad]

Doesn't really matter to me, either way. As long as we get a kickass movie, I'll be happy.

[Webhead2006]

yea for me i dont care really if characters are smoking or not. But since the film is set in the 40s at the time everyone was smoking pretty much. So i would just have background characters smoking, or characters just have an unlit cig in mouth. i wouldnt think that would stir up much trouble.

[ThePompousPuma]

In Joe Johnston's "The Rocketeer" I clearly remember smoking.
I could see Steve smoking a cigar with his men after a mission.

[Spider-Vader]

I think so, everyone smoked in the '40s but they should have a scene where a soldier offers Cap a smoke & he replies "Nah, I have a bad feeling about those things".

[weezerspider]

I don't think smoking is healthy, but is putting it on movies really that bad of a thing?
This is a movie where we will see murder(well hopefully some onscreen deaths). I just find it pretty silly to make this such a big deal. There are worst things in movies, probably worse things in THIS movie. Again, I'm against smoking, but I find this pretty silly.

[Webhead2006]

yea i am totally against smoking to in real life, i dont like it and i never want to do it. But since the film is a period peice it would fit into the life of the times. So really what would be the hard if same some background characters are smoking in a scene or two or some random solider has an unlit cig in his mouth.

[weezerspider]

When you have movies like Hostel out there, I think a few characters smoking in a movie should be the least of the MPAA's worries.

[DocHoliday]

I have no issues with them smoking. It is historically accurate however a shield wielding super hero isn't, so I don't care either way.

On a personal level I hate being around the stuff. But come on, it's just a movie.

[DocHoliday]

I have no issues with them smoking. It is historically accurate however a shield wielding super hero isn't, so I don't care either way.

On a personal level I hate being around the stuff. But come on, it's just a movie.