Captain America is the best superhero movie I have seen this summer.
I’m not planning to do a formal review here. Those things take like three hours to do and end up sounding like a college essay, not that that’s a bad thing. But I thoroughly enjoyed the flick and thought it got a number of things right. First, the cast delivers a solid performance all around; Hugo Weaving is a standout as the villain Red Skull, and everyone brings their A-game. Second, Captain America puts a 1940’s war-movie twist on the superhero movie, with a bit of pulp-adventure sensibility for flavor. It’s a welcome bit of variety to shake up the superhero formula that Thor so thoroughly relied on. Third, it’s uncompromisingly uncynical. The Captain has just enough flaws to make him believably human, but more than enough virtue to paint the picture of a hero; as Dr. Abraham Erskine says, the Captain is “not a perfect soldier, but a good man.” Fourth, and perhaps most importantly, it delivers the action. Captain America pulls off all the sweet shield stunts you’d expect; the pacing of the build to the climax is excellent; each challenge leaves you wondering how Cap will overcome it and then going “Dude, that was awesome!” when he does.
At the end of the day, I’d give it a 4/5. Looking back over my past reviews, I note that it is the first movie covered on SC to not receive a 3.5/5. I would even go so far as to say it is almost as good as Iron Man, which is the only superhero movie at which I have cried.
You can’t go wrong with Captain America.
Excellent review. Now thou hast piqued my interest as to what initiated your tearductuality in Iron Man.
You cried at Iron Man? I was there with you when you saw Iron Man, believe it or not. I do not remember this incessant wailing-fest comprised mostly of tears of which you speak.
Well, I teared up at the scene where he puts the armor through its first field test and breaks up the attack on Yinsen’s home village. I certainly wasn’t bawling, but I had to wipe my eyes by the time he was flying out. Inside my heart I was all like, “He’s defending innocents! He’s being an actual freaking hero! Oh crap I’m tearing up!”
Welp, time to buy my ticket.
I also thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I admit Thor made me wonder if it would be done right, but i agree with your assessment that Captain America struck a great, believable balance. I am looking forward to the avengers movie this winter.
You ‘n me both, Jordan. Should be good stuff!