Remember when it only cost a dime to see a movie? When your mom would cool her homemade apple pies on the kitchen window sill? Or when it felt good to say the pledge of allegiance instead of something your teacher made you do?
Well I don't remember those things either, but after seeing "Captain America: The First Avenger" I kinda wish I did.
Comic book movies have been everywhere this summer and thanks to the meticulous attention to detail by Director Joe Johnston (The Rocketeer, October Sky, Jurassic Park III) it is safe to say that in 2011 Marvel is batting 1000!
Johnson, along with screenwriters Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely (The Chronicles of Narnia films), have finally given comic book gurus a perfect action-adventure movie from start to finish. It's all killer and no filler. Set in war torn 1942 you immediately know who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. The cast is filled with A-listers including Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci, Hayley Atwell (good guys) along with Hugo Weaving and Toby Jones (bad guys).
Donning the iconic mask and shield is actor Chris Evans. Evans is no stranger to the comic book movies and this is actually his 4th. Evans has been good in many of those subpar films ("Fantastic Four" anyone?). But this is without a doubt his best performance in the genre. The character of Steve Rogers becomes a "super soldier" and Chris Evans becomes a bonafide movie star.
Chris Evans' performance as Steve Rogers is the core of the film -- a skinny, frail young man with the heart of a fighter who's only goal is to join the army and fight for his country. That's what his parents did and to him that's what Americans do. This film is not a political film by any stretch of the word and yet, as you sit there watching this boy physically become a man while retaining his "do the right thing" attitude, you can't help but feel a little patriotic.
"Captain America: The First Avenger" is fun, thrilling and epic in a way that hasn't been seen since "Raiders Of The Lost Ark."
If you're looking for the dark gritty despair of "The Dark Knight" or the cynical sarcastic world of "Iron Man" you won't find it here. That's not what this movie or this character is about. Still, "Captain America: The First Avenger" is every bit as good as those previously mentioned films.
Drumroll please… 10 out of 10 shields!!
1 comment:
YES! I have gone back and forth on if I want to see this movie. One side of me kept saying "DO IT!!!" like the side that thought "the adventures of Pluto Nash" could be good and stood in line to see it opening day, While on the other side of my head the "Don't Do it Voice" kept running down a list of sucktastic movies I have seen this years, including any type of aliens taking over any part of LA movies. You my friend have given me heart and I will see movie. If it's great I will kneel before you. If this is another trip up Suckisippi river I will hunt you down.
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