Review: Captain America

3.0

0.0 (0)

It was with eager anticipation that triplew.me went to see the film adaptation of one of Marvel Comic’s more popular characters. Read our review below.

First published in the early 1940s, the comic book Captain America has very much been used as a political vehicle through the decades to fight the “perils” of WW2 Nazism, Communism, Fascism and terrorism (that’s a lot of –isms) and promote American Values.

Fortunately this film, set for the most part in the early 40’s, focuses more on the virtuous traits of the individual Steve Rogers (played by Chris Evans), a scrawny wannabe soldier with a list of ailments preventing him realizing his dream to join the army and defend his country. While visiting an expo on the future, an immigrant doctor named Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci with a German accent) overhears him lamenting to his friend why he wants desperately to go to war. Dr. Erskine is pioneering a top secret new super-strong serum to make America’s first super soldier and sees our tiny protagonist as the perfect candidate.

Following the procedure, Captain America is born but his new found super strengths are wasted with Steve Rogers becoming the pinup boy for America’s war effort. This is until Captain America, disheartened by the negative reaction from the real soldiers while trying to rally troops at the front, takes it upon himself to rescue a battalion of men from the clutches of the evil villain, earning his place to rightfully be the vanguard super-hero.

Yes with every super-flick comes an arch nemesis. In this case, Hugo Weaving stars as Johann Schmidt, a power-mongering Nazi scientist who has found a long hidden energy source and harnesses its energy in an unstable lab experiment on himself resulting in his disfigurement and the creation of Schmidt’s evil (but could have been a lot more evil) alias Red Skull. Nonetheless, world domination is on the agenda for this heavily sun-burnt bad-dude.

Much special effects wizardry has gone into making Evans appear ‘weaker’ (pre-serum) than he actually is and the effect overall is convincing. The movie is jam packed with obligatory explosions and special effects. All this after a refreshing start with cine-homage paid to the film-noir of the 40’s period encouraging the cinema-goer with thoughts of a superhero action flick with a difference. The superhero formula unfortunately prevails and the film unravels into a plot full of holes, however these concerns are easily discarded as this is a superhero picture after all.

The film succeeds as entertainment and is generally good fun. The Director, Joe Johnston tips his hat to the endearing legacy of both Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark and there’s a nice link-up with a young Howard Stark (father of Tony Stark of Ironman fame).

The ending of the film allows many sequels and side ventures, particularly The Avengers. With Evans purportedly signing a six film deal and successful box office takings from the first one, expect to see a lot more of this superhero.

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE

Editor review

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