First Avenger The Official Captain America: The First Avenger Review Thread!

[Spider-Fan]

THIS THREAD WILL BE UNLOCKED A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO CAPTAIN AMERICA'S RELEASE!!!

So, what did you guys think? There will be a non-discussion thread for 1-10 scoring, but here...discuss thoughts on the film itself!

Don't forget to rate the movie here:

http://forums.superherohype.com/poll.php?do=showresults&pollid=24507

 

[Spider-Fan]

I have decided to open this thread up now...We're close to pre-screenings and the midnight showings, so...GO AT IT!

 

[MARVEL ROCKS]

Spoiler

There is so much “business” that the fourth big comic book movie adaptation of the summer has to take care of that frankly, it’s astounding that director Joe “Jumanji” Johnston is able to take care of it all, and with style.

“Captain America” has to connect this World War II-era hero to modern times. The movie has to tie into all the other Marvel comic book movies that are part of “The Avengers,” because as the title implies, the good captain is “The First Avenger.” It has to deliver the origin myth — how Captain America was born out of a “super soldier” experiment during WWII. The film has to back-engineer its way into the meeting between the Captain (Chris Evans) and the Avenger leader we know as Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), and give us a credible version of future Iron Man Tony Stark’s inventor dad, Howard Stark. And it has to be fun.

It is. The fourth comic book movie of the summer is the best comic book movie of the summer. Johnston has delivered a light, clever and deftly balanced adventure picture with real lump-in-the-throat nostalgia, with Nazis — who make the best villains — and with loving references to “Star Wars” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

With World War II in full fury, Rogers is determined to serve his country, even if that country’s military rejects him as “4F,” unfit physically. He signs up for a special unit to be turned, thanks to a serum by Dr. Erskine (Stanley Tucci, in a kitschy accent), into super soldiers.

“Zo, you vant to go overzees and fight ze Nazis?” Erskine picks Rogers because he keeps on fighting hopeless odds when he knows he’s right, and “He’s not a bully.” Rogers sticks up for the little guy.

America needs super soldiers because those pesky Nazis already have one. Johann Schmidt is played by that villain’s villain, Hugo Weaving (”The Matrix”). Schmidt’s Hydra organization is developing super weapons and other super soldiers. And Schmidt has his hands on the Norse god Odin’s legendary source of power.

“And de fuhrer digs for trinkets in ze desert,” Schmidt smirks in contempt. It’s a good thing the only American super soldier is ready to chase him, because Indiana Jones doesn’t appear to be available, being in the desert, digging for trinkets.

Rogers is treated with scorn by his commanding officer, played by the commanding (and funny) Tommy Lee Jones. Rogers is sent on publicity tours, given a silly costume and a red, white and blue shield. But a little interference by a British agent (Hayley Atwell), a little gadget-tinkering by Howard- father-of-Tony- Stark (Dominic Cooper) and a USO tour to the front lines means this Captain will soon show he mettle.

Being the hero means the normally jokey Evans isn’t given much funny to say. But he brings a proper earnestness to the character. “There are men laying down their lives. I’ve got no right to do any less than them.”

On the face of it, “Captain America” seems like the corniest, most dated of the Marvel superheroes to try and bring to the big screen. One way to get us past that is to frame the story in the Captain’s re-discovery by a new generation — in the present day. The other is by spending money on good actors.

Nobody but Jones could drawl about a soldier who will “personally escort Adolf Hitler to the Gates of Hell.” Tucci is marvelous, and as a balance, Toby Jones is brought in as sidekick scientist to Weaving’s perfectly-pitched Schmidt.

Atwell makes a vivacious love interest, and they even spent the cash to land the voracious Natalie Dormer (Anne Boleyn of TV’s “The Tudors”) for a one-off man-eater scene.

Others may roll their eyes at the motorcycle chase ripped from “Star Wars” and a certain upgraded flying prop from “Raiders.” The “borrowings” made me giggle, just as I marveled over the scenes where Rogers first encounters a group known in early comics as “Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos.” There’s a lot here for the fanboy in us all.

It’s too long and it could do with a few more laughs. Why cast the swaggering Evans as the modest Captain America if you’re not going to let him put his quirky stamp on the character? But then, like Johnston and the movie around him, Evans has so much business and back story to carry that the real marvel of it all is how much fun it actually is.

Critic's rating: Three stars (out of four)

Roger Moore 3/4

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com...n-America-bulks-up-summer-super-sized-heroism

 

[Spider-Fan]

This is the users review thread. I'll post this in the critics thread.

 

[Crimson King]

Seeing the movie tomorrow night at the Raleigh screening. Can't freaking wait.

 

[Stringer]

Seeing it tomorrow. Are you going to add a poll?

 

[Spider-Fan]

There is a non-discussion thread with the poll.

 

[Stephen K. Hone]

Saw it last night at a screening over at Paramount. Waited until after the credits, and nothing was attached apart from "Captain America will return in The Avengers." Maybe Paramount decided not to show the teaser at the screening, or perhaps the description of the Avengers doing their stuff was bogus. I'll find out on Friday I guess. They had a lot of origin/back story to cram in to just over 2 hours, but they did a great job. 9/10

 

[Raiden]

@Paul_Dini tweeted:

Just back from Captain America premiere. Loved it.

 

[TheVileOne]

I also saw it at Paramount and the version I saw also did not have the extra clip. I guess since it was a teaser they wanted to save it.

Also when I saw early screenings of Iron Man and Iron Man 2 they didn't have the extra scenes either. When I saw an early screening of Thor, it did have the post-credits scene.

 

[S.A.A.D.]

TheVileOne, eight questions.

1. Percentage wise, how much time does Steve spend in the movie wearing his Captain America costume?

2. Is the final fight between Cap and Red Skull great?

3. Is Hugo Weaving really good as Red Skull?

4. How formulaic is the movie percentage wise?

5. What is executed in a compelling and fresh manner?

6. Is there alot of action?

7. Is there any unintentional funny moments?

8. Doe's Cap pull off any amazing and crazy acrobatic maneuvers?

 

[TheVileOne]

Putting answers in spoiler tags for safety :

Spoiler

1. LOL, tough call. If only I used my stop watch feature on my smartphone whenever he was in costume. Let's see . . . counting the USO and sort of pre-modified costume stuff I will say 30-35%.

2. I liked the final fight. It was a good, basic action movie hero/villain fight. I mean, if you are expecting Rocky vs. Ivan Drago level epic it isn't. But I was satisfied that they got to beat each other up after they foreshadowed it around midway in when Cap and Red Skull first meet. It is a good buildup to the final battle.

3. Hugo Weaving is really good. He is Red Skull from the start and they only sort of gloss over his origin story which even I thought was a little too much. He was an early test subject with Erksine's work and serum. My favorite scene is when he's in his HQ and he's being painted and he's switched the lights off with Arnim Zola in. So his skull visage is all in the dark/silhouetted or offscreen. When Zola turns to leave, Skull turns the lights back on so Zola can see the painting, but we still don't get to see his face yet.

4. I'd say about 60%. Look this is an origin movie and a period action adventure movie. I say 60% because it avoids a lot of annoying tropes and instances that I appreciated like with the romance and Bucky. There's no hackneyed love triangle. But at the same time I mean if you know Captain America you know where the movie is going and what is going to happen. The relationship between Rogers and Bucky was very well done, borderline bromance .

 

[roach]

THR review is up:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/captain-america-first-avenger-film-213287

 

[S.A.A.D.]

Putting answers in spoiler tags for safety :

Spoiler

1. LOL, tough call. If only I used my stop watch feature on my smartphone whenever he was in costume. Let's see . . . counting the USO and sort of pre-modified costume stuff I will say 30-35%.

2. I liked the final fight. It was a good, basic action movie hero/villain fight. I mean, if you are expecting Rocky vs. Ivan Drago level epic it isn't. But I was satisfied that they got to beat each other up after they foreshadowed it around midway in when Cap and Red Skull first meet. It is a good buildup to the final battle.

3. Hugo Weaving is really good. He is Red Skull from the start and they only sort of gloss over his origin story which even I thought was a little too much. He was an early test subject with Erksine's work and serum. My favorite scene is when he's in his HQ and he's being painted and he's switched the lights off with Arnim Zola in. So his skull visage is all in the dark/silhouetted or offscreen. When Zola turns to leave, Skull turns the lights back on so Zola can see the painting, but we still don't get to see his face yet.

4. I'd say about 60%. Look this is an origin movie and a period action adventure movie. I say 60% because it avoids a lot of annoying tropes and instances that I appreciated like with the romance and Bucky. There's no hackneyed love triangle. But at the same time I mean if you know Captain America you know where the movie is going and what is going to happen. The relationship between Rogers and Bucky was very well done, borderline bromance .

Out of curiosity, how come you left out the answers to question 5, 6, 7, and 8?

 

[RedSkull]

@TheVileOne, is Red Skull's origin presented in flashback form?

 

[Liam_H]

Out of curiosity, how come you left out the answers to question 5, 6, 7, and 8?

Lol, because when you posted your questions last night you only had 1-4 before you edited.

 

[Shockdingo]

I have a question if you don't mind me asking.

Is Fury in any WW2 scenes? I've been avoiding all spoilers, but this I HAVE to know.

 

[Crimson King]

Just got back! Short review: it was really, really good. Probably my second favorite Marvel film behind Iron Man, but that could change upon further viewings. I'll give it four out of five stars.

Any questions? I'll keep answers in spoiler tags.

 

[Crimson King]

double post

 

[bustedbeatbox]

I thought it was great!! The only thing that pissed me off was that at our screening they did not show us the end credits scene...I'm guessing because of the bootlegs. I was surprised there was not a geek riot

 

[Spider-Fan]

Question: Why are you not rating it right no in the non-discussion rating thread!

 

[Crimson King]

Done!

 

[Crimson King]

TheVileOne, eight questions.

5. What is executed in a compelling and fresh manner?

6. Is there alot of action?

7. Is there any unintentional funny moments?

8. Doe's Cap pull off any amazing and crazy acrobatic maneuvers?

I'll answer the bottom four for you:

Spoiler

5. Yes. Although they misfired on a couple key scenes, overall the look of the movie was spectacular and emotionally, it was really powerful.

6. There is, yes.

7. None that I remember.

8. Not like Blonsky in Hulk, but he does some pretty impressive things. For one, he's incredibly strong, and doesn't mind chucking dudes around.

Also, regarding the fight scene that was shown on IGN, that scene came out MUCH better in the movie. Not nearly as stuttered.

 

[spider_rob]

uhhhhh

 

[Crimson King]