Mini Movie Review: Captain America
Of all of the comic book hero movies I've seen so far, Captain America has been my favorite. Not only did it transport me to an era with vestiges I only vaguely remember from my childhood, but Captain America was depicted as a regular guy. And he echoed a sentiment that's always been close to my heart: he doesn't like bullies.
1940s Brooklyn was very much like 1950s Chicago, so it was kind of nice to revisit the old neighborhood through the filter of Hollywood.
It starts out with Steve Rogers (played by Chris Evans) a skinny, undersized guy who desperately wants to serve his country during WWII. He's turned down time and again until a scientist spots him and offers him a chance if he's willing to undergo an experiment.
Throughout the movie Rogers demonstrates how noble and self-sacrificing he is, but nothing exemplifies it as much as when a grenade is tossed into a crowd and he throws himself onto it. (That's not a spoiler since it's in the clip.) The grenade is a dummy and now everybody knows that Rogers is made of sterner stuff.
Rogers is brave, compassionate, and loyal to the last. All these qualities along with his physique are amplified through the regeneration process. But no matter his size, his resolve remains the same.
The filmmaker digitally removed bits of Chris Evans' physique so he could play 'skinny Steve Rogers', then compensated for the blank spaces by reinserting the background. Overall, I think it worked, though at times I thought the actor's head was just a tiny bit disproportional to the rest of his body.
The filmmaker digitally removed bits of Chris Evans' physique so he could play 'skinny Steve Rogers', then compensated for the blank spaces by reinserting the background. Overall, I think it worked, though at times I thought the actor's head was just a tiny bit disproportional to the rest of his body.
I liked this movie. It reminded me of the sort of movies we used to watch when I was a kid where heroes were regular guys from Brooklyn and there were no grays in good and evil. The movie was sanitized to meet 21st century expectations for racial and sexual equality, but it was still enjoyable.
It'll be interesting to see Captain America (with his 1940s morality) interact with the other (more emotionally flawed) characters in next year's The Avengers movie.
Did you see this movie? How about the other superhero movies? What do you think so far?
Addendum: Sarah Falen reminded me. You MUST stay until after the credits roll so you can see a teaser of The Avengers movie with all the superheroes.
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Don't forget that Friday I will be with Jackie Burris on her blog talking about book bloggers.
Did you see this movie? How about the other superhero movies? What do you think so far?
Addendum: Sarah Falen reminded me. You MUST stay until after the credits roll so you can see a teaser of The Avengers movie with all the superheroes.
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Don't forget that Friday I will be with Jackie Burris on her blog talking about book bloggers.
Comments
Superheroes have always been big around here. I remember watching The Hulk when I was young, and loving it even though that green was weird.
Superheroes? I love 'em. Real or imagined...all good.
I've never been a comic book fan but I have been a big hero nut. Loved Superman even though I could never understand how he got away with people not knowing who he was. Adore all the Batman films, even the ones that aren't so popular and yes, I had to have the Wonderwoman training bra as a kid. Even as an adult, I enjoy catching an episode of the Justice League with my kiddo.
Something about heroes that gives us the ability to believe in some common good worth saving...cause in the end, that's what most of them do.
Dru: I think this is a different Avengers. But I could be wrong. Greg keeps up with all these things. I just go along for the ride.
Sarah: D'oh! I completely forgot to mention that in the post. Yes. Stay until after the credits. And you're right. I am really looking forward to how Stark and Capt. America interact.
Angela: Okay, That Wonder Woman training bra did a wonderful job. :) You turned out great!
Raelyn: The kids will love it. They can go for the fighting, and you can go for the 'other' stuff. ;-)
Anyway did get to see X-Men First Class, Green Lantern, Green Hornet and will watch the remake of Fright Night if am lucky enough to get to go...
Cowboys and Aliens Baby, that is the one I am waiting for! Will get to go see it on the 6th in Austin when we pick up my husband's new glasses from Eyemasters. (have to make the most of that 100 mile round trip to the "big city"!)
I've noticed when the ad gurus hardly say anything (like the early Star Wars and the recent Star Trek) the films are amazing. But when they constantly keep pitching it--watch out.
I hope I'm wrong and it's just a ploy to get the word out.
I'm a huge fan of superheros as evidenced by the type of stuff I write, so I may have to check this movie out. Thanks for sharing your thoughts of it.
Susan
Thanks for popping in!
They weren't fun in SE Texas because of the heat and all the mosquitoes, but in Chicago, it was a pleasant way to spend a night.
Captain America would make a great drive in movie.