Thanks for checking out our Captain America : The First Avenger Review

Genre: Action/Science Fiction/War/ Superhero
Directed by: Joe Johnston
Starring: Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones, Hayley Atwell and Hugo Weaving
Released: July 22nd, 2011

THE GENERAL IDEA
Steve Rogers volunteers to participate in an experimental program that turns him into the Super Soldier known as Captain America. As Captain America, Rogers joins forces with Bucky Barnes and Peggy Carter to wage war on the evil HYDRA organization, led by the villainous Red Skull.

THE GOOD There is a lot of good in this film, but there are three distinct, GREAT parts of the film that propel ‘Captain America’ to be the most enjoyable and rewarding film of the Marvel Universe bunch. One is where Rodgers is chasing down a HYDRA spy and the spy takes a child hostage. The spy still shoots at Rodgers who is (aside from the changes from the Super Soldier serum) unarmed and no shield as of yet. But the moment comes when the spy has to get rid of his hostage as a distraction for the new hero. The dock kid steals the scene with one single line. Trust me, you’ll love it.

There is one sequence I was starting to have a few doubts about, but as it got going, the USO segment put a smile on my face. There’s even a nod to the old Captain America comics, and, one of few times where the filmmakers really tip the hat to the fans without losing a mainstream audience.

Then of course, there’s the big action set piece where Rodgers as Cap goes behind enemy lines in an attempt to rescue a handful of POWs and have his first face off with Schmidt aka The Red Skull.

Hugo Weaving does a nice job as Schmidt, although….

THE BAD There is a point in this film where you kind of wished they would have split it up in two films instead of one (not counting the Avengers) because while I’m not against the montage of Captain America and the Commandos taking on varied Hydra agents and soldiers, it did feel like it need more substance. Speaking of which, aside from James ‘Bucky’ Barnes and ‘Dum Dum’ Dugan (Neal McDonough), the adventures come and go so quickly that the Commandos become window dressing. The final showdown is also a bit surprising, and if it wasn’t for the first few minutes of the film, they might have had me surprised. Let’s put it this way: it’s not terrible by any means, but it doesn’t have the same “POW!” level as the POW rescue in the middle of the film.

You have heard the saying a film feels too long; well at two hours and five minutes (although that includes the stinger-trailer for Avengers next year) it actually feels too short.

Now, back to Weaving as Schmidt aka The Red Skull. See the above comments for this film feeling too short at two hours. In a nutshell- there’s not enough of this villian. When that big action scene happens, it’s literally interrupted by another character; after that, it’s Red Skull killing underlings and shaking his fist everytime something doesn’t go to plan. I would have been happy for another ten to fifteen minutes, just to let the film breathe a little in the third act.

OVERALL
Perhaps after all the origin, the fun of the USO/War Bonds, the two best cameos in the film (one being Stan Lee, the other being…well, let’s just say it’s a nod to another film Joe Johnston directed) the fun chemistry of Evans and Atwell, Tommy Lee Jones…the film built a high plateau and then felt the need to wrap it up in a box and a bow. I’m not really opposed to it- there was some good and wonderful things that had a ‘Raiders Of The Lost Ark’ feel (one gag near the end with a bad guy stooge in specific) and I think unlike Iron Man 2 and Thor, this film lends more ease to multiple viewings. It’s more enjoyable, more satisfying. Now if you happen to liked those two Marvel films more than I did – that’s alright. You’ll eat this up like cake.

My score : 8 out of 10