First Avenger Directed by Joe Johnston

[Kirk Langstrom]

This seems to be the general consensus - I haven't seen enough of the guy's movies to comment. From what people have said about him, I think the movie is going to need a very good script - a solid director can't save a poor script. I endorse the Ed Brubaker writing First Avenger: Captain America suggestion.

Agreed. Johnston directing a Brubaker Cap script = Gold.

 

[Metamorpho1977]

I can go with this. Not the best director ever, but not a horrible choice.

Marvel so far is having four straight wins with their choice on directors.
DC on the other hand

Don't blame DC. DC is the victim of anal rape at the hands of Warner Brothers.

 

[FaT_tONle]

It's not a terrible choice... but this is the best guy you get for Captain America??? Not that I was expecting Spielberg... could be worse...

 

[Evil Twin]

Joe Johnston is capable and competent, if somewhat uninspired. You really shouldn't expect anything approaching "gritty" from him. Or something that pushes the boundaries of story, structure, characterization, etc. Nothing wrong with a fun, exciting, serial flavored Captain America movie, which is the most likely result from Johnston.

That said, I don't know if you can expect anything more than that from him. It's kind of the opposite of Greg Berlanti to me. Johnston has been in the business for almost 30 years, and the possibility of him being a hidden talent capable of a great movie is remote at this point, although the possibility of a competent movie is pretty high. Depending on the script, of course.

That said, this is the first time that I've believed that Marvel actually has a hope of meeting their schedule based on evidence. They still need to put a script and cast together, but now there's some concrete direction to the project. Not, we want to make a film in 2011, but we don't have a script or anything else right now.

 

[ultimatefan]

That´s right, he´s a capable director, but not one that has that kind of unique vision that a Nolan or a Raimi - SM3 may have had script problems, but it was well-directed - Pete Jackson brings.

 

[Brian Braddock]

Evil Twin - We'll know when 'the Wolfman' comes out if Johnson has that extra 'grittiness' in his locker; many people were suprised by his appointment as director on that project given his previous work.

 

[FaT_tONle]

They are not going gritty with Captain America... don't expect any blood or anything... even though it's a WWII film. It will probably be a light PG-13 IMO. Indiana Jonesish...

 

[Brian2887]

I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I've been pushing for Johnston to direct a super hero movie since before Singer was announced on Superman Returns. I even suggested him for Captain America a few months back. The guy can handle great character drama (October Sky) and great action (Jurassic Park III). He is definitely the right man to bring Captain America to the big screen.

 

[Brian Braddock]

Yeah FT, it'll be light - I mean, it's no coincidence that JJ helmed the Rocketeer and JP3; he's Speilberg's protege after all. I dont think he'd make Cap gritty either.

I was really answering Evil Twins comment about not expecting anything gritty from him. It almost read like like an assumption had been made that he cant do 'gritty'; like he doesnt have that in his locker.

We'll know if he can do gritty (or edgy if you like) when 'The Wolfman' comes out.

 

[WeaponXProject]

It's not Brett Rattner but it's also not great. This director has as many misses as he does good or okay movies and I think Marvel should have gotten someone who makes suspense thriller's and period pieces. I liked October Sky and Wolfman is getting people excited but he butchered two of my favorite series in Terminator and JP so I am not too happy with this.

I would have shot for Ed Zwick if I were Marvel but he is busy and is a Oscar caliber director so he probably wouldn't have done this.

I will give him a chance maybe Marvel knows something we don't about him just like they did with Jon Favreau.

I am expecting to be okay. I had higher hopes. Now it is going to be harder for Marvel to get a good actor for Cap without a big name director who is known for his skill. Hopefully Marvel can still coax one into it.

Maybe since its not him directing a sequel that he can be creative enough with the help of Marvel to start this series off right bc the ones he has picked up to make a sequel for a garbage.

 

[I am Batman]

It's not a terrible choice... but this is the best guy you get for Captain America??? Not that I was expecting Spielberg... could be worse...

Joe Johnston is capable and competent, if somewhat uninspired. You really shouldn't expect anything approaching "gritty" from him. Or something that pushes the boundaries of story, structure, characterization, etc. Nothing wrong with a fun, exciting, serial flavored Captain America movie, which is the most likely result from Johnston.

That said, I don't know if you can expect anything more than that from him. It's kind of the opposite of Greg Berlanti to me. Johnston has been in the business for almost 30 years, and the possibility of him being a hidden talent capable of a great movie is remote at this point, although the possibility of a competent movie is pretty high. Depending on the script, of course.

Nicely put, this is exactly how I feel.

 

[Carlo Comicus]

I don't know. The best Johnston movie is Rocketeer, but Jumanji? Horrible. I hope the David Self script is the same of two years ago.

 

[Gatchamanjp]

Joe Johnston to direct...Captain America? That is great. The Rocketeer is one of the best Superhero films not affiliated with Marvel, DC, or an independant hero like...Hellboy. The opening song should be the title song of the Captain America theme from The Marvel Superheroes. You know...When Captain America throws his mighty shield.

 

[JerseyJoker]

Definitely not the choice I expected, but maybe we should have seen something like this coming.

Marvel is down a new path, choosing lesser known directors and giving them a big break. Jon Favreau, Louis Leterrier, Joe Johnston, Kenneth Branagh... who's next?

This has been a long standing Marvel pattern though.

Before landing Spidey, Sam Riami was just that guy that did those indy horror movies.

 

[Brian Braddock]

That's a good point;

If I recall correctly, the general reaction when Raimi got Spidey was 'Huh?'

 

[FlawlessVictory]

Rocketeer is definitely a strong credit in JJ´s name, and I gotta say The Wolfman looks really good... But he also directed T3 and JP3, so I can´t say I give this full endorsement.

Jonathan Mostow directed T3.

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

This has been a long standing Marvel pattern though.

Before landing Spidey, Sam Riami was just that guy that did those indy horror movies.

Sure, for the people who don't watch more than 3 movies a year.

 

[Brian Braddock]

He wasnt exactly the 1st name on everyones list though, AB.

The decision was a bit left-of-field at the time.

 

[Congo Jack]

The opening song should be the title song of the Captain America theme from The Marvel Superheroes. You know...When Captain America throws his mighty shield.

That could work in-story as a piece of American propaganda music. I loved that song when I was a kid.

 

[Brian Braddock]

^^^Lol - yeah.

Y'now, given the great newsreel that Johnson had in the Rocketeer - I wouldnt be suprised if he does that.

 

[Metamorpho1977]

I think Johnston will be a good director for this.

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

He wasnt exactly the 1st name on everyones list though, AB.

The decision was a bit left-of-field at the time.

He tried to get the directing gig for Batman back in 1988, then tried to do his own superhero movie with Darkman. So not completely alien to the genre.

 

[Brian Braddock]

Yeah, not alien to the genre - but not everyones immediate candidate either.

Same as Johnson - familiar to the genre; but not alot of people wouldve thought he was a candidate before his appointment was announced.

 

[That-Guy]

Well, I loved The Rocketeer and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids back in the day, and I've heard October Sky is really good, though I still have yet to see it. Hidalgo was okay, even though a bit ridiculous.

The rest of his directing resume is absolute sh**, so this film could really go either way.

 

[goh78]

Not one, but two posts saying he shouldn't direct this movie because he screwed up Terminator 3. Wow.