FRED Watch Quickie Film Review: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
AN AWESOME AVENGER!
I’m a Wayne Stellini and welcome to FRED Watch, where we review everything from the mainstream to the obscure. Today’s film is Captain America: The First Avenger…
Marvel Studios / Paramount Pictures
Having been deemed as unfit for military service due to multiple medical conditions, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) volunteers for a top secret ‘Super Soldier’ project that turns him into the brawny Captain America.
Initially used as the U.S. Army’s propaganda poster boy, Captain America battles the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving), leader of the evil HYDRA organisation…
Making his first big screen appearance since Albert Pyun’s 1990 critical and commercial disaster, Captain America is supported, this time around, by a massive budget, a crowd-pleasing franchise, and more significantly, a story that engages from the get-go.
The fifth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Joe Johnston’s Captain America: The First Avenger is a wonderful mix of heart and heroism. As the title character, Chris Evans is nothing short of perfect. Going from scrawny to brawny, Evans’s portrayal of Steven Rogers/Captain America is both sensitive and strong, depicting an assortment of adaptable traits that gives the character depth and meaning. Although the visual effects that convey the short and gaunt Rogers never truly convince (the proportions don’t always look or feel right), Evans captivates enough for us to see past what would have otherwise been a distracting flaw.
Supporting characters aren’t given as much attention or development, but so strong is the cast that there’s always something to relish of each key player. The underrated Hayley Atwell is quite lovely as Officer Peggy Carter, an obligatory love interest for Rogers who is more fleshed out than you would expect, while Hugo Weaving is always fun as the evil Red Skull. Tommy Lee Jones is unsurprisingly exceptional in the undemanding role of Colonel Chester Phillips, whose impeccable line delivery suitably belongs to an era of yesteryear: ‘You and I are gonna have a conversation later that you won’t enjoy,’ he scolds Carter at one point.
Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely’s screenplay doesn’t try to complicate the narrative with unnecessary subplots or convoluted details. It is brought to life through the collective efforts of a talented cast, Alan Silvestri wonderful score, and Jeffrey Ford and Robert Dalva’s taut editing under the skillful eye of a director with a confident vision that has you engaged right up until one of the greatest endings and reveals in contemporary comic book movies.
Though not really delivering anything we haven’t seen before, there’s no denying that Captain America: The First Avenger is a pretty awesome adventure picture. 4 / 5
Starring: Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Dominic Cooper, Neal McDonough, Derek Luke, Stanley Tucci, Samuel L. Jackson, Kenneth Choi, Bruno Ricci, JJ Feild, Toby Jones, Richard Armitage, Lex Shrapnel, Michael Brandon, Natalie Dormer, Jenna Coleman, Laura Haddock, Stan Lee.
Director: Joe Johnston | Producer: Kevin Feige | Writers: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely (based on Captain America by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby) | Music: Alan Silvestri | Cinematographer: Shelly Johnson | Editors: Jeffrey Ford, Robert Dalva
Let us know what you thought of this film in the comments!
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