"Captain America: The First Avenger" Movie Review
About.com Rating
From Marvel Studios comes this better-than-average comic-book adaptation that stands as a distinct improvement over several of the company’s recent releases, including such disappointments as 2010’s Iron Man 2 and 2011’s Thor. Director Joe Johnston has crafted a briskly-paced adventure film that’s clearly been modeled after Steven Spielberg’s 1981 masterpiece Raiders of the Lost Ark, as Captain America:The First Avenger boasts an old-fashioned feel that’s reflected in its refreshingly coherent action sequences (no shakycam!) and earnest, engaging performances.
Ranking high on the movie’s list of stellar attributes is star Chris Evans’ consistently charismatic turn as the title character, as the actor efficiently drops his wiseass persona to step into the shoes of an increasingly heroic figure who always puts country first. It’s a definite departure for an actor who has come to be known primarily for his comedic performances, with Evans’ onscreen transformation into a full-fledged movie star merely the tip of the iceberg in terms of Captain America’s positive attributes.
The Story
It’s 1942. World War II is in full swing and Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) wants nothing more than to join the fight against the Nazis. Steve is, however, a 90-pound weakling with a laundry list of medical problems (including asthma), which instantly disqualifies him from service and leaves him with little choice but to watch helplessly as his best pal, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), prepares to head overseas.
Fate intervenes on the night before Bucky is scheduled to depart, however, as a mysterious scientist (Stanley Tucci’s Dr.
Abraham Erskine) offers Steve the chance to participate in an experimental procedure that would radically alter his physical appearance. Steve jumps at the opportunity and soon finds himself strapped into an ominous device being controlled by one Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper).
He emerges from the machine a super-strong, super-fast version of himself, and it’s not long before Steve is being trotted out before the American public as a tool to sell war bonds. But when Bucky and a group of soldiers are captured by a nefarious figure known as the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving), Steve, who is by now calling himself Captain America, embarks on an unauthorized mission into the heart of enemy territory to save his comrades.
The Cast
In addition to Evans’ eye-opening work as Rogers, Captain America features a number of stand-out performances from an impressively eclectic cast. Stan, best known for his recurring role as Carter Baizen on Gossip Girl, does a solid job of embodying Rogers’ fiercely loyal best friend, while Hayley Atwell offers up a star-making turn as a tough-as-nails British officer who eventually develops feelings for Evans’ character. Tommy Lee Jones delivers an expectedly solid performance as an American soldier who is initially skeptical of Captain America’s intentions and abilities, with various familiar faces taking on the roles of Cap’s dogged brigade (including Neal McDonough and Derek Luke). Finally, Hugo Weaving, armed with a thick, intimidating German accent, transforms the silly Red Skull into a formidable villain that grows more and more fearsome as the movie unfolds.
The Bottom Line
Director Johnston does a superb job of ensuring that Captain America, for the most part, comes off as a popcorn flick in the best sense of the term, as the film moves like a rocket in its opening hour and features a number of exciting action sequences (including one of the best car chases to come around in years). The engrossing atmosphere persists until around the one-hour mark, after which point the movie’s overlong running time does become increasingly problematic – as the latter half of the proceedings contains a number of unfortunate lulls that diminish Captain America’s overall effectiveness.
It’s also worth noting that the film boasts what is perhaps the worst use of 3-D since 2010’s notorious Clash of the Titans debacle, as Johnston has delivered a movie that transpires primarily in darkness – from the dimly-lit confines of Red Skull’s lair to the overcast, cloudy atmosphere of the battlefield. There comes a point at which it becomes preferable to watch the movie without wearing the glasses, with the blurrier (yet brighter) image certainly preferable to the incoherent murkiness provided by the 3-D process.
Grade: B-
Captain America: The First Avenger was directed by Joe Johnston and is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action.
Theatrical Release Date: July 22, 2011
This review is based on a screening provided by the studio. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
From Marvel Studios comes this better-than-average comic-book adaptation that stands as a distinct improvement over several of the company’s recent releases, including such disappointments as 2010’s Iron Man 2 and 2011’s Thor. Director Joe Johnston has crafted a briskly-paced adventure film that’s clearly been modeled after Steven Spielberg’s 1981 masterpiece Raiders of the Lost Ark, as Captain America:The First Avenger boasts an old-fashioned feel that’s reflected in its refreshingly coherent action sequences (no shakycam!) and earnest, engaging performances.
Ranking high on the movie’s list of stellar attributes is star Chris Evans’ consistently charismatic turn as the title character, as the actor efficiently drops his wiseass persona to step into the shoes of an increasingly heroic figure who always puts country first. It’s a definite departure for an actor who has come to be known primarily for his comedic performances, with Evans’ onscreen transformation into a full-fledged movie star merely the tip of the iceberg in terms of Captain America’s positive attributes.
The Story
It’s 1942. World War II is in full swing and Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) wants nothing more than to join the fight against the Nazis. Steve is, however, a 90-pound weakling with a laundry list of medical problems (including asthma), which instantly disqualifies him from service and leaves him with little choice but to watch helplessly as his best pal, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), prepares to head overseas.
Fate intervenes on the night before Bucky is scheduled to depart, however, as a mysterious scientist (Stanley Tucci’s Dr.
Abraham Erskine) offers Steve the chance to participate in an experimental procedure that would radically alter his physical appearance. Steve jumps at the opportunity and soon finds himself strapped into an ominous device being controlled by one Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper).
He emerges from the machine a super-strong, super-fast version of himself, and it’s not long before Steve is being trotted out before the American public as a tool to sell war bonds. But when Bucky and a group of soldiers are captured by a nefarious figure known as the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving), Steve, who is by now calling himself Captain America, embarks on an unauthorized mission into the heart of enemy territory to save his comrades.
The Cast
In addition to Evans’ eye-opening work as Rogers, Captain America features a number of stand-out performances from an impressively eclectic cast. Stan, best known for his recurring role as Carter Baizen on Gossip Girl, does a solid job of embodying Rogers’ fiercely loyal best friend, while Hayley Atwell offers up a star-making turn as a tough-as-nails British officer who eventually develops feelings for Evans’ character. Tommy Lee Jones delivers an expectedly solid performance as an American soldier who is initially skeptical of Captain America’s intentions and abilities, with various familiar faces taking on the roles of Cap’s dogged brigade (including Neal McDonough and Derek Luke). Finally, Hugo Weaving, armed with a thick, intimidating German accent, transforms the silly Red Skull into a formidable villain that grows more and more fearsome as the movie unfolds.
The Bottom Line
Director Johnston does a superb job of ensuring that Captain America, for the most part, comes off as a popcorn flick in the best sense of the term, as the film moves like a rocket in its opening hour and features a number of exciting action sequences (including one of the best car chases to come around in years). The engrossing atmosphere persists until around the one-hour mark, after which point the movie’s overlong running time does become increasingly problematic – as the latter half of the proceedings contains a number of unfortunate lulls that diminish Captain America’s overall effectiveness.
It’s also worth noting that the film boasts what is perhaps the worst use of 3-D since 2010’s notorious Clash of the Titans debacle, as Johnston has delivered a movie that transpires primarily in darkness – from the dimly-lit confines of Red Skull’s lair to the overcast, cloudy atmosphere of the battlefield. There comes a point at which it becomes preferable to watch the movie without wearing the glasses, with the blurrier (yet brighter) image certainly preferable to the incoherent murkiness provided by the 3-D process.
Grade: B-
Captain America: The First Avenger was directed by Joe Johnston and is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action.
Theatrical Release Date: July 22, 2011
This review is based on a screening provided by the studio. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.