Joe Johnston’s superhero movie is another Avengers prequel, much like Iron Man, Incredible Hulk and Thor. Each of these movies promises a minor story in preparation for a major payoff in 2012 when Joss Whedon’s fantasy hits the screens. My excitement for The Avengers is close to zero, but Captain America is rather entertaining, so much so I’d prefer to rewatch its wartime heroics over some Asgardian adventures.
Don’t let the title put you off. Yes, it has the clear ring of propaganda, but contextually it makes sense; the character of Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) comes from a time where it was easy to differentiate between good and evil (at least cinematically) and where the name “America” brought cheers instead of jeers. Rogers is a scrawny little young man for whom there is no greater goal in life than to enlist in the army to face the Germans as World War II continues. Rogers is told repeatedly that he doesn’t make the cut to enlist, but when a scientist, Dr Erskine (Stanley Tucci) observes his patriotic fervour, he convinces Colonel Philips (Tommy Lee Jones) to introduce Rogers to a top secret military program that aims to produce nothing less than American supersoldiers.
In short, Rogers becomes a supersoldier but things go wrong quickly after, which leaves only Rogers to battle his arch nemesis the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving) while courting the British Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) - but not before selling some war bonds first.
Thematically and visually, Captain America is an old school affair. Johnston cut his teeth on the lovely Rocketeer in the 1990s, and retains much of that bygone era charm that characterised the latter film. Evans makes for a convincing superhero, much more so than in the Fantastic Four movies, while Tommy Lee Jones gets the movies best lines. Incidentally, that is also the film’s Achilles heel: the dialogue is often contrived. For example, if one character mentions how much he dislikes potatoes, you can bet your bottom dollar that later in the film, another character will remark on the other character’s dislike of potatoes. Repeat seven, eight times, and it gets annoying.
The film does have a strong villain, as Weaving presents a Red Skull that is deluded and completely convinced of his 'vision'. He’s a comic book villain, for certain, but one of the better ones. And haven’t the Nazi’s always provided the best bad guy fodder for American filmmaking?
Don’t let the title put you off. Yes, it has the clear ring of propaganda, but contextually it makes sense; the character of Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) comes from a time where it was easy to differentiate between good and evil (at least cinematically) and where the name “America” brought cheers instead of jeers. Rogers is a scrawny little young man for whom there is no greater goal in life than to enlist in the army to face the Germans as World War II continues. Rogers is told repeatedly that he doesn’t make the cut to enlist, but when a scientist, Dr Erskine (Stanley Tucci) observes his patriotic fervour, he convinces Colonel Philips (Tommy Lee Jones) to introduce Rogers to a top secret military program that aims to produce nothing less than American supersoldiers.
In short, Rogers becomes a supersoldier but things go wrong quickly after, which leaves only Rogers to battle his arch nemesis the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving) while courting the British Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) - but not before selling some war bonds first.
Thematically and visually, Captain America is an old school affair. Johnston cut his teeth on the lovely Rocketeer in the 1990s, and retains much of that bygone era charm that characterised the latter film. Evans makes for a convincing superhero, much more so than in the Fantastic Four movies, while Tommy Lee Jones gets the movies best lines. Incidentally, that is also the film’s Achilles heel: the dialogue is often contrived. For example, if one character mentions how much he dislikes potatoes, you can bet your bottom dollar that later in the film, another character will remark on the other character’s dislike of potatoes. Repeat seven, eight times, and it gets annoying.
The film does have a strong villain, as Weaving presents a Red Skull that is deluded and completely convinced of his 'vision'. He’s a comic book villain, for certain, but one of the better ones. And haven’t the Nazi’s always provided the best bad guy fodder for American filmmaking?
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