Captain America: The First Avenger

Mr Wallstreet · Post by **Mr Wallstreet** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 12:30 pm

This film had a few flaws, but nothing glaring. Like most all other comic films, it was very formulaic: origin story, struggle to become a hero, brief happy achievement of becoming said hero & final battle. And despite it being a by-the-numbers film, nothing about this movie was half assed. Cap had a leg up on most other comic films due to how strongly it was made.

What set Cap apart from the other films was that it was almost entirely a period piece. Seeing a super hero film set in the 40s with appropriate clothing, sets & design was a great change of pace from the modern day super hero films. What surprised me was that even though it was a war film & PG-13 to boot, we got to see Cap kill people using guns & knives; something we hardly ever see in PG-13 films and especially from the hero. I think the exceptions are Wolverine & Punisher.

Finally, the ending was perfect. It was just very abrupt. There was no epilogue or neat little bow to wrap it up. It just ended when it seemed there was so much more to explain.

I liked it.

Action, casting, actors, dialogue, dramatic scenes, all were top notch.

Stocky Boy · Post by **Stocky Boy** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 3:31 pm

It was very much a 'prelude' to the Avengers. Done, as you say, by the numbers, but done well. So, enjoyable when marked against its own criteria, as laid out by the film formula it employed. But, alsopretty good at tying in with Iron Man and Thor, without it being so obviously jarring it like was with Hawkeye in Thor.

As you say, the ending was rather abrupt. It felt like an appropriate ending to an extended mid episode of an Avengers TV series.

I think it would have been served better, if the non trailer bit at the end of the credit was added right on to the end of the film to give the ending something a bit more positive.

In terms of the violence, I'm glad we saw Cap do some killing. Even in a comics world, I don't think the audience should have to suspend believe to the point where a soldier with powers doesn't kill. Like with Wolverine, they got around their PG-13 issue by just not showing any blood.

I enjoyed Captain America. I thought it was a solid 3.5/5. I don't think it quite got to a 4/5, but it is a decent action film.

The only major gripe I can think of at the moment is one I thought Thor shared. The development of the supporting cast was a bit meh. Dum Dum who? At anyone point was it mentioned that the British guy was Lord Falsworth/Union Jack? Token oriental guy who? French dude who? Token Black guy who? Oh and Bucky... who? Bucky was actually done quite well to be fair.

Stocky Boy · Post by **Stocky Boy** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 2:09 pm

... seriously only me and Wally have seen this already?

I'm usually one of the last people here to see a comic film.

wolf_2099 · Post by **wolf_2099** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 2:20 pm

I saw it the weekend it came out.
I was underwhelmed by the whole film, but thought Chris Evans did a good job. It made me look forward to the Avengers.

Considering the director I wasn't expecting much, and got what I was expecting.

Krista loved it though, thought it was an entertaining summer movie.

MGM · Post by **MGM** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 11:36 pm

I'm catching it next week.

Tragic Angelus · Post by **Tragic Angelus** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 11:42 pm

I saw it opening weekend, and I thought it was pretty good. However, I seem to be in the minority in thinking it wasn't the best of the Avengers films. I really liked it, but wasn't all that excited about it to start with. I don't know why, but it was the one I was most apprehensive about, mostly because Marvel had done such a good job so far from my perception, and I felt like they were about to screw up before Avengers.

But that wasn't necessarily the case. I just had something of an issue of knowing EXACTLY how the movie would end because I know Cap's origin. Knowing he'd be frozen by taking out a plane/bomb, I wasn't looking forward to the ending as much as I was the middle. Granted, I know we all really know the ending to how superhero movies will end (hero wins, typically), but with Cap I knew exactly what he'd do. At least with Thor I was surprised when he destroyed the Rainbow Bridge and closed off Asgard.

I still really enjoyed Cap, but personally I liked Thor a lot more, and I think I was just more excited about seeing Thor than i was Cap. I did think the first half of the movie was MUCH better than I expected, and I loved how he was used by the government right after the process.

That being said, I'm still really excited for The Avengers.

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:30 am

Release date is 17th of August here.

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:12 am

So I got the Stan Lee cameo. Any other cameo I missed? (there is the Human Torch that we see at the fair but I don't consider that a cameo, right?)

MGM · Post by **MGM** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:07 am

Oh yeah, almost forgot about this: weakest Avengers-movie by far.

What Human Torch? I probably simply missed that. What's the scene with the fair, for example?

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:22 pm

I thought it was better than Incredible Hulk.
The World Fair in New York, where Stark shows his flying car? You can see the original Human Torch there on another booth.

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:23 pm

MGM · Post by **MGM** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 2:35 pm

Ah, didn't notice that.

Also, I lied. Iron Man 2 is by far the weakest Avengers movie. And I liked the Norton Hulk movie better than this one.