Captain America: The First Avenger

Back in March, when I saw extended footage of Captain America, I cringed. For having such a prime release date and being so anticipated by comic and movie geeks alike, it touted an enormous amount of cheese and corn. I wondered how on earth they were going to take those snippets and turn them into a summer blockbuster.

Somehow, they did it.

Captain America, starring Chris Evans (Fantastic Four), Tommy Lee Jones (Men in Black), and Hugo Weaving (Matrix, Lord of the Rings), delivers an action-packed, engaging fable of strength brought forth from weakness.

Steve Rogers has been trying to volunteer for the Army so he can join his other patriotic friends in fighting WWII. However, he keeps getting denied because he is so small and sports a host of physical maladies. His chance comes when a brilliant physicist chooses him for a secret experiment that will make his body strong to match his strength of character. Now a super soldier known as Captain America, Steve gives it all he’s got to fight the Nazis, but a different enemy arises. Red Skull threatens to conquer the world, but Captain America refuses to let that happen.

Captain America, to my pleasant surprise, did not serve me any cheese or corn. Though keeping with the 40s ideals, the classic sense of innocence and patriotism convey genuine heroism while the quips and jokes translate well. The cinematography adds to the authentic feel as well as the sets that take the audience back to, among other places, old Brooklyn. I expected Don Corleone to stroll across the street at any moment.

Introducing us to the first Avenger, the film draws details from Marvel movies we’ve already seen (Iron Man I & II, Thor) into this prequel of sorts presenting a cohesive, intelligent, exciting story, which will only intensify when all our favorite heroes show up in the Avengers movie next summer.

Which is the prime reason staying through the end credits is a must – the Avengers trailer absolutely rocks. For a geek like me, it sent shivers down my spine.

Captain America is the perfect summer film. I highly recommend it.

Happy Movie Watching, Billings!

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