Escape to the Movies: Captain America

[UNHchabo]

Really? Would this movie be as good in the eyes of a non-comic book fan? Someone who thinks the very name of "Captain America" sounds ridiculous? Seriously, I truly want to know if the perfection comes only with predispositions and rose-colored glasses...

I'm not a comic book fan, and I knew nothing about Captain America before seeing the movie.

I thought the movie wasn't that great, but it sold me on the concept of the character. Despite what Bob said, I think a better movie could have been made of this; I thought the cast was solid, but several of the scenes were either too long and drawn out, or so quick that they were unsatisfying.

 

[ExtraDebit]

Don't really agree that it got great action sequence or hand to hand action. It's good but not that great. It's hard to find great hand to hand after the matrix or HK movies like ip man.

Western combat choreography still has a long way to go before it can match the eastern.

 

[Varya]

Can't wait to see this one. As much as I love irony, some movies, the greatest in my opinion, are refreshingly true of heart. This is what makes LotR great and for a movie like Captain America, I think it's the only viable approach

You did not just compare Captain America to Lord of the Rings?

Did to. I haven't seen Captain America yet, so I can't say if it does compare, but based on Bob's review, it was an apt comparison.
Also:

He said they both featured characters that are basically "true of heart". That is something they share...characters that are basically "good guys".

This.

 

[Therumancer]

The only mild gripe I had with Captain America was that they didn't come up with a good explanation for how he was trained. The guy pretty much goes from boot camp (where he's a huge) to the super soldier project, to a costumed USO attraction. The guy has enhanced physical abillities, but one has to wonder where he learned how to fight hand to hand like that, and use pistols like that given that handguns were pretty much issued to officers, he was given a promotion of sorts to Captain given his role in the USO, but I'd think that was a kind of "brevet" rank and he didn't exactly wind up attending West Point.

Given the passage of time I'm sure it could be explained, but the simple fact that they never did, kind of bugged me a little. Especially seeing as I vaguely remember that one of the things Cap does is teach other super heroes (in the Avengers) how to fight. A lot of those experts of hand to hand combat (which is like 99% of the hero population) became experts because this is the guy who taught them, or helped them improve their skills.

A very mild gripe as I said, and I'm wondering if there is going to be a directors cut with a 3 minute speil helping to round this little detail out.

 

[warthoggunner]

So... why can't DC make a decent comic book movie besides Batman?

Waited so long for a Green Lantern movie and then... well, that..
I liked seeing Oa, but it was a bit ugly.
One villain would have been enough, a better Oa and a few other changes: decent movie.

DC is not as "down to earth" as much of the Marvel stuff, but more
"fantastic". I like DC because its just so over the top and the events are
awesome (Identity Crisis, Final Crisis, Blackest F***ing Night!)

We get a Superman movie where he lifts heavy things... great.
Smallville was better.

Green Lantern? Not as bad as Movie Bob says, but: Yeah, SOMETHING went wrong.

The comics have gone quite a bit further with the Cap.
Story arcs like the return of Bucky and "Civil War" are great.
Never cared much for that whol Skrull-Invasion-Crisis thing.

He's more than a flag with fists and I hope that will be explored in
the Avengers movie and maybe sequels.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

After I've seen this movie all I can say is:

and make more movies like this!

 

[Mr Dizazta]

May can't come any sooner.

 

[Avistew]

On a lighter note Im both surprised and glad that the movie has international support. I had heard Cap wasn't so popular in other countries, probably for obvious reasons.

Honestly, there are so many superheroes, they're not all as famous internationally. I had never heard of Captain America until I watched the Colbert Report. But if a big movie is going to be made, they're going to release it. It didn't stop them for Daredevil or Hellboy that pretty much nobody here except the hard core superhero fans had heard of either. I don't see it as any different.

And if you think people would be put-off because the hero's "too American"... Pretty much all the super heroes are American to begin with. Do you think they changed any of the others? Just because it's not in their name doesn't mean we don't know they're from the US and the story takes place in the US.
That doesn't make the stories any less enjoyable that they're not taking place in your own country, you know.

 

[MorganL4]

The whole thing with the Shield and what it is made of........ Does anyone think that was a possible hint towards a Black Panther film? and yes I know Wesley Snipes said he would do a Black panther film (but he's been saying that for over a decade.)I would love to see that happen, I know he is not a well known marvel hero, but he is definitely a cool one.

 

[MovieBob]

The whole thing with the Shield and what it is made of........ Does anyone think that was a possible hint towards a Black Panther film? and yes I know Wesley Snipes said he would do a Black panther film (but he's been saying that for over a decade.)I would love to see that happen, I know he is not a well known marvel hero, but he is definitely a cool one.

It seems to be on their "to do" list - that big S.H.I.E.L.D. map on the wall in "Iron Man 2" had specific places highlighted, and one of them appeared to be Wakanda/Africa.

 

[LoganAsh]

I'm so glad they didn't make this an Ironic Captain. Best part of not doing that. It makes his reaction to the modern world. once he wakes up. All the more interesting.

Maybe it was just luck? But it seems like they're developing not only a continuity over the films. But character develoment as well.

Super.

 

[SandroTheMaster]

I wholeheartedly disagree.

I mean, it's not a horrible movie. It's actually pretty good. But good Gods, it was the straightest movie ever made. Complete straight, black-and-white cinematography is BORING and unbelievable. And, by the way, I thought the fight choreography was precisely like the movie: straight and predictable.

Really, I thought they were going somewhere when they forced Rogers to become the Captain America persona (to generate money! What more?), but then this conflict pretty much resolves itself and is pushed aside.

You know what is the most interesting aspect of Captain America in the comics right now? HE QUESTIONS HIS COUNTRY. Because it is not enough for him to be good, he wants his country to hold up to the same principles as him, but he'll not force it. He'll not be patriotic for the sake of being patriotic. He'll not follow orders without question. That's pretty much the only reason why Captain America manages to be something Superman never did: be interesting.

(And really? The movie never brought up the point that the US plan to defeat the Nazis was to create an army of perfect Aryans? I mean, it is the biggest WTF from Marvel since its creation)

 

[rantymcgee]

Wow, this movie is "basically perfect"? Really? How can a film that spends most of it's time ripping from Indianna Jones and Star Wars (aerial battles and bike chases through the woods, anyone?) and the rest peppering generic dialogue and cinematography around an equally unoriginal score by Alan Silvestri, be considered 'great' let alone perfect?

Hell, if it wasn't for the fact that the average super hero film is just this era's answer to a generic blockbuster cash-cow, I wouldn't even be inclined to call it good. Maybe 'OK'. And that's probably exactly why he's gone and over-praised it.

I really wanted to like this film, but it lags so much at times that I was genuinely bored for the most of it. Not to mention the fact that it literally has a laughable villain (every time I saw that red face up on the screen yet another Sun Screen joke would pop up in my head).

I'm pretty dissappointed. Usually Bob has a pretty good view on what makes a film engaging, interesting. This movie was a big letdown and I never thought a critic would claim it was anywhere near "perfect".

 

[Panda Mania]

Really? Would this movie be as good in the eyes of a non-comic book fan? Someone who thinks the very name of "Captain America" sounds ridiculous? Seriously, I truly want to know if the perfection comes only with predispositions and rose-colored glasses...

I'm not a comic book fan, and I knew nothing about Captain America before seeing the movie.

I thought the movie wasn't that great, but it sold me on the concept of the character. Despite what Bob said, I think a better movie could have been made of this; I thought the cast was solid, but several of the scenes were either too long and drawn out, or so quick that they were unsatisfying.

Hm. Sounds like something to maybe catch on Netflix on a rainy day. Anyway, thanks for the advice! Much appreciated

 

[Nimcha]

No irony? Aww. As a citizen of a non-American country I'm afraid it will be very hard for me to take this film seriously.

 

[TastyCarcass]

Tis a bad film.

The first half was brilliantly shot, well paced and had a good explanation for the suit, the second half was rushed and filled with nonsensical action scenes.

Also, to use your own logic against you bob, you praised Thor for being able to pull off a stupid costume because all of his peer's wear stupid costumes too, but Captain America is the only one who dresses like an idiot. It seems to skip important scenes for him too, it'd be nice to know how he got the ability to make executive decisions, and that superhuman strength he possesses isn't shown off ever.

 

[BattleAxeRX]

So... after seeing the movie, I'm probably not going to come to movie bob unless he's reviewing a movie I haven't heard about.

It took me a while to realize that not every movie that moviebob likes is Black Swan good, hence the past disappointments. So, anyway, I'll use these reviews differently from now on.

IMO:
the movie was by the book
wasn't challenging

And I don't think I felt any emotion until he was talking to the babe at the end via voice com. And the action scenes felt a lot like a checklist. I was a little bored with most of the movie!

 

[sporkaganza]

Over-Emphasizing America's role in WWII?

If you saw the movie you'd know that is not true. It mostly focuses on the battle with Hydra and has very little to do with the rest of WW2.

You know, come to think of it, I was actually surprised how much Britain's role in the war was emphasized. Usually it doesn't get as much recognition for doing its part in the war in American films, but it was a surprisingly large chunk of the movie. The love interest is English, a decent chunk of the film is in England, and we even see the aftermath of a London air raid.

I mean, I'm not saying it was about that, it is Captain America after all, but it got its fair share of recognition.

 

[mikespoff]

I had no interest in the character of Captain America before, because it just sounded so horribly jingoistic.

But I just watched this movie, and WOW, it is truly awesome. And he is a really intersting character.