A MARVEL(LOUS) MAN
CAPTAIN AMERICA
Starring:Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Stanley Tucci,Tommy Lee Jones,
Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan,Dominic Cooper, Toby Jones, Richard Armitage,
Samuel L Jackson
Director: Joe Johnston
As the wannabe soldier Steve Rogers, in Capt America: The First
Avenger, the fifth live-action adaptation of Marvel's World War 2
Superhero, Chris Evans is endearing; as the titular character, he is sizzling!
If Jekyll and Hyde mirrors the good and bad in
human nature, Capt America is a study of good and better. Steve Rogers is goodness and self-sacrificing valour personified even as he lacks the physical requirements to enlist in the army. Then, the life of this dejected reject takes a turn for the better when he is recruited by a German emigre scientist Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci, terrific) for the US government's
Strategic Science Regiment (SSR), a top secret research project envisaging the creation of battalions of super soldiers.
Dr Erskine is the polar opposite of the Indian guru Dronacharya who demands the thumb of a brilliant tribal archer. Dr Erskine sees seeds of greatness in the skinny boy from Brooklyn, and disregards SRR boss Colonel Chester (Tommy Lee Jones ) Phillips to choose Steve for the experiment which will transform him into the muscled powerhouse that defends American ideals of life, liberty ( and the pursuit of happiness)
Before he takes his place in the pantheon of superheroes, Capt America has to suffer marketeers of patriotism who reduce him to a mascot selling war bonds. But once he parachutes into the war arena, to fight the good fight against bullies whom he doesn't like, "and I don't care where they're from") the film proceeds with high jinks and derring do to elaborate on themes of patriotism and justice.
As his invincible alter-ego, Steve is helped by James Buchanan 'Bucky' Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and the no-nonsense Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) in the battle against Hitler's "deep science division," HYDRA which is headed by the
diabolical Johann Schmidt /Red Skull (Hugo Weaving) who is in cahoots with warped scientist Arnim Zola (Toby Jones). Schmidt , as the viewer learns before long, is a rogue Nazi filled with such delusions of grandeur, even Hitler had better watch out!
Historical references apart, the film also alludes to movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark ( viz. the Nazi belief in myth ) .
Like Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man, Chris Evans fits the role of Captain America like a glove; a role he is reprising in the upcoming sequel (which boasts a fantastic star cast). Like Marilyn Monroe ( am unable to think right away of a male counterpart) Evans oozes that rare combination of innocence and sexual appeal. (with some actors it's either /or)
The rest of the cast impresses especially Tucci and TommyLee, as does Joe Johnston & writers, who, plot hobblers notwithstanding, combines a sci fi and war story with wry humour and the briefest of romances.
17.08.2011 | Ronita Torcato's blog
Cat. : Abraham Erskine America American film directors archer army Arnim Zola Bucky Captain Captain America Captain America in other media Captain America: The First Avenger Chester Chris Evans Colonel Comics Director Dominic Cooper Employment Relation Entertainment Entertainment Fictional secret agents and spies Hayley Atwell Hitler hollywood movie review captain america Hugo Weaving Human Interest Human Interest Hyde Joe Johnston Johann Schmidt Like Robert Downey Jr Military personnel Nazis in fiction Peggy Carter Person Career Raiders of the Lost Ark Red Skull Richard Armitage Samuel L Jackson scientist Sebastian Stan Sharon Carter Stanley Tucci Stanley Tucci Steve Rogers Technology Technology Toby Jones Tommy Lee Jones