Captain America: The First Avenger

With the release of The Avengers coming in summer 2012, and having seen all of the films thus far featuring the members of the team (Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk and Thor), the time has come for this final build-up film. They have saved the story about the leader of the team until last, so having said that, expectations were rather high but it needed a lot for it to be one of Marvel's best films. Captain America: The First Avenger is indeed a very fun, intense and exhilarating film to watch that really does make it an exciting build-up to The Avengers! It was beautifully crafted with absolutely splendid 1930s background design and sublime costumes! There were moments in the film that weren't your typical Hollywood action film overloaded with visual effects, such as Captain America's costume. It was dark so that made it more unique and stuck well to the comics.

The main thing that is getting so good about Marvel adaptations as of late (especially in 2011), is that they aren't getting as colorful or as cliched. There is now a darker tone to the films that has appeared, which we saw in this film and saw in Thor earlier in the year. Lets just hope that Disney don't jeopardize their current status. However, as exciting and intense as this really is, Captain America: The First Avenger does have its weaknesses. It's main weakness is that throughout at least the first half of the film, the pacing of the film was incredibly slow so it took quite a long time to get going. However, despite the slow pacing in the first half, the action and all the fun burst out and it made up for the slow-paced introduction.

It is 1942, America has entered World War II, and sickly but determined Steve Rogers is frustrated at being rejected yet again for military service. Everything changes when Dr. Erksine recruits him for the secret Project Rebirth. Proving his extraordinary courage, wits and conscience, Rogers undergoes the experiment and his weak body is suddenly enhanced into the maximum human potential. When Dr. Erksine is then immediately assassinated by an agent of Nazi Germany's head of its secret HYDRA research department, Johann Schmidt aka the Red Skull, Rogers is left as a unique man who is initially misused as a propaganda mascot. However, when his comrades need him, Rogers goes on a successful adventure that truly makes him Captain America and his war against Schmidt begins.

After previously appearing in the two Fantastic Four films as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, Chris Evans as Captain America was, in my mind at the time, one of the worst casting decisions because it just felt like a cover-up to try and make up for the previous films he has been involved in with Marvel. However, after having some knowledge of Captain America and getting to know the character, Chris Evans was actually really good as Steve Rogers/Captain America. What was truly special about Evans' role as Captain America in this was that when he was Steve Rogers before the procedure, he looked like this helpless little boy who wanted to fit in with everybody else, but afterwards when he was starting to become Captain America, he felt and looked like a totally different person. The effects on Chris when he was short and slim Rogers were literally jaw-dropping (reminded me a bit of Brad Pitt in The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button). He was great so I can't wait to see him reprise his role as Captain America in The Avengers. In every Marvel film, there is always a beautiful actress who portrays the love interest of the superhero and I'm glad to say that Hayley Atwell was good as Peggy Carter, but she's not one of the best female characters in a Marvel film.

There is quite a wide range of great supporting actors in this film. First, the great Hugo Weaving. Hugo is one of those actors who can easily pull off playing a hero, but at the same time, is really great as a villain! His performance as Johann Schmidt/Red Skull wasn't only badass and just really cool, but it was at times quite terrifying especially when you see his true identity and what he looks like. He is almost like the devil so critical praise goes to Hugo. Tommy Lee Jones as veteran Colonel Chester Phillips. He has portrayed slightly similar characters like this in the past (for example, his Oscar winning performance in The Fugitive and in the Coen brothers film No Country For Old Men), so he looked good in Captain America: The First Avenger and his performance was good. Stanley Tucci is another great actor in the film who, like Hugo Weaving, can portray villains really well but great heroes as well. Despite his role isn't all that long, he was great.

Joe Johnston may have a very short filmography and has received quite a lot of criticism over the years (especially for The Wolfman in 2009 and Jurassic Park III in 2001), but was the director of Jumanji back in 1995. Anyway, Johnston achieves with Captain America: The First Avenger like what Kenneth Branagh did with Thor earlier in the year: a breakthrough for Marvel Pictures and making them one on their own and not your vintage Hollywood film. I would like to see him do another Marvel film in the near future (or even a possible Captain Americasequel after The Avengers). So, I think he has finally achieved his career-changing breakthrough.

Overall, Captain America: The First Avenger is another brilliant Marvel film that is rightfully one of the best films they have done. Evans' role as Steve Rogers/Captain America truly does make up for his incredibly poor role in the two Fantastic Four films, and the great supporting cast managed to help him achieve this. The film proves itself worthy as one of the most intense and fun action films that you'll see in 2011. After seeing the film in normal 2D, there is no purpose of it being converted into 3D other than the typical reason: to absorb more money! Anyway, now that all of the films involving the members have been released, the excitement and build-up to The Avengers in summer 2012 has truly kicked-off in style!