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Ror Reviews: Captain America: TFA

Better late than never. I'm sure most or all of you have seen this by now, but click for my opinion on Marvel's last solo movie before The Avengers. Joe Johnston's take on the Sentinel Of Liberty..

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By Mark "RorMachine" Cassidy - 8/1/2011
Sorry for the extreme lateness of this one. The movie only came out here on Friday and then I was tied up over the weekend. Anyway, I'll start off by saying that I really enjoyed Captain America but that it had quite a few problems. The biggest of these for me was the almost complete lack of any real tension. Now I'm well aware that this is a Superhero movie, and a PG one at that. But it's also supposed to be something else. A War movie.



In the first act we are introduced to the skinny, frail Steve Rogers. A man who is not bloodthirsty in any way, but recognizes the threat posed to the entire world by Hitler and the Nazis and is determined that he will do his part to end their tyranny. So he is given that chance and becomes the ultra buff fighting machine known as Captain America. Then goes to fight a bunch of left overs from Gi Joe: Rise Of Cobra instead of Nazis. Where is this threat? The movie makes no effort to convey the situation at all. I'm not saying we needed to have shots of people being herded into the gas chamber(although at least a mention of the Holocaust would have been nice..well, not nice but...err, ah you get me) but something needed to be shown beyond a shot of a bomb with "New York" written on it imo. Sure there are action scenes, plenty of em(although there are a few cheats via montage) and they are for the most part well choreographed and exciting. But we know nothing is going to happen to Cap. And the rest of his Howling Commandos may as well have been left out of the movie for all they bring to it. Only Bucky Barnes(Sebastian Stan) is established as something approaching an important character and is then "killed off" in an almost nonchalant way leaving us with no choice but to not really give a damn. There are also a few dodgy choices made in the edit. One example would be Cap swinging on a chain and never coming off it. We simply cut to him running. That might sound a bit nit picky but for me it's ignoring one of the most basic rules of film making.

Now, you might think I'm bashing a movie I claim to have enjoyed a bit too much and if you have already glanced at the star rating you might well be baffled. Don't be, this is a 4 star movie. Because what is done right far out-ways what isn't. And one of the most important factors in this story was always going to be getting Cap right. And low and behold the ol Human Torch knocks it out of the park with a great performance. The script doesn't require him to showboat or come across too intense, but if we didn't relate to Steve Rogers, care about him and genuinely like him then this would never have worked. Something else that works very well, possibly better than it ever has in a super hero based CBM before, is the romantic element. Evans is supported very well by Hayley Atwell as his love interest Peggy Carter and the two have great onscreen chemistry. If you're not moved by their final scene together I'd be checking my pulse. The rest of the cast are also very good. Tommy Lee Jones and Stanley Tucci bring the gravitas and well, awesomeness. Tucci in particular was crying out for more screen time. But I wasn't really feeling The Red Skull at all. Hugo Weaving does a good job with what he has to work with, but what that is, and always has been imo, (sorry Skull fans) is a pretty one note villain. Sure the requisite amount of evilness is present and he and Cap have a couple of decent scraps but a few more scenes featuring both of them or at least more screen time for Weaving would have helped a lot.

Another triumph is the overall look and tone of the movie. Director Joe Johnston has always had a superb eye for detail and flare for atmosphere and it has never been showcased better. There are obvious influences, and even a few nods to the likes of Indiana Jones but that's not a bad thing. The special effects are practically seamless too, with "Skinny Steve" being a real success. Unfortunately the 3D did nothing for me. I think this will be the last time I fork out for it. All I got was slightly duller picture for my extra cash.

Overall we are left with a very old school adventure, which is just lacking more of an edge. Still, a definite success. Marvel haven't made a misstep character wise yet even when their movies have been a bit disappointing. If Joss Whedon pulls off The Avengers they will indeed have made history. Imagine sitting down to watch that box set with your kids/grand-kids someday?






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53 Comments
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StingrayX - 8/1/2011, 8:32 AM
cool movie
naterator - 8/1/2011, 8:38 AM
havents seen it yet.....but am very anxious.
Ryguy88 - 8/1/2011, 8:38 AM
Nice review Ror. I wasn't extremely thrilled with movie myself, although I still enjoyed it enough. I thought it was just a straight forward action movie and I was never fully invested in the story that was being told. Too many coincidences, cliches and predictable outcomes to every situation. It was still fun though and I thought Chris Evans was very good as Cap.
thalidomide - 8/1/2011, 8:40 AM
saw it yesterday and it was awesome
Ryguy88 - 8/1/2011, 8:44 AM
I agree with there being no tension as bringing out any emotion or feeling from a movie has never been Joe johnston's strong suit. Cap was a very likable character though and I do want to see him on screen again.
GUNSMITH - 8/1/2011, 8:45 AM
I THOUGHT IT WAS EXCELLENT, AND THE SEQUEL WILL BE BAD ASS.
GUNSMITH - 8/1/2011, 8:46 AM
HAHA I LIKED THAT AWARD ACCEPTANCE..
CorndogBurglar - 8/1/2011, 8:47 AM
Bucky's death was the most ridisulous thing. Even Cap, who is Bucky's best friend, didn't seem to give a flying shit about him dying. He gave the mandatory "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO" as Bucky fell to his death, and then you never see anymore emotion about it after that. its like 5 minutes later, he's completely forgotten about.

that was my biggest problem. still enjoyed the movie.
ThaMessenger07 - 8/1/2011, 8:48 AM
Awesome Review! I was waiting for yours and Josh's. I Agree on all notes. The movie had several film-school missteps (like the lack of finalizing a climactic point or the multiple request to suspend disbelief by the audience) but overall a fantastic movie and the best presentation of a Comic characters persona thus far. If he begins to bark orders at the Avengers but stays the good heart man he is, Evans becomes the best onscreen portrayal of a CBM character ever.

ThaMessenger07 - 8/1/2011, 8:50 AM
@ Conrdog: I would have served a better death sequence if he died on one of the bombers while saving Steve. What bothered me about Bucky's death was not how he died but how they could have placed in another sequence and it would have served as a much better and emotional death.
HelaGood - 8/1/2011, 8:56 AM
FANTASTIC review Ror!!!!!
megabatfan - 8/1/2011, 9:02 AM
Enjoyed the movie, but as Ror said...I didn't feel as though there was any real threat in the movie. I need to see it again to come up with a final opioion though... Idk, I just enjoyed Thor more
SFCamerica - 8/1/2011, 9:04 AM
A couple things I would have liked.

1) show Cap in training to become the badass that he is.

2) Would have liked to see him more acrobatic, like Blonsky in TIH. Also, they needed to show better perspective to really show how fast or strong he is.
marvel72 - 8/1/2011, 9:05 AM
great reveiw ror,i would score it about the same 4/5.

the things i thought were the biggest faults with the film.

-some dodgey cgi in some scenes invovling skinny steve
-the motorcycle chase scene
-bits of the uso scenes
-bucky's death could of been better
-the modern day ending seemed to me abit rushed.
ThreeBigTacos - 8/1/2011, 9:05 AM
I cannot wait for the box set! Just imagine!

-Iron Man 1 & 2
-The Incredible Hulk
-Thor
-Captain America
-THE AVENGERS
-3 Disk behind the scenes
-1 Disk full of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s database, and Marvel's future hints

All in blu ray, in a box similar to The Star Wars saga on blu ray coming out this year.
drykillogic22 - 8/1/2011, 9:11 AM
Come to think of it...There was no threat or tension in Snore-- I mean thor..either.
JackBauer - 8/1/2011, 9:19 AM
I agree the film could have used a little more of the Red Skull. The present day bookend, although done well, kind of seemed odd when SLJ/Fury shows up out of nowhere.

Maybe it's because I'm a big Cap fan, but those were the only things that bothered me. I loved that the original Human Torch cameod in his dormant state at the fair.

The budding romance between Steve and Peggy was completely believable. Hayley Atwell, besides having a great rack, also has a very beautiful face. When she started to tear up at the end I just wanted to give her a big hug.

Bucky's "death" scene didn't bother me at all. He served his purpose. It set up the scene with Steve and Peggy afterward which shows them getting a little closer.

It was a great movie imo. I may have to watch it again to decide if it's better than Iron Man, but it's definitely in the Top 2 of the Marvel Studios' movies.
ComicsCommando - 8/1/2011, 9:19 AM
I knew that Cap wouldn't be acrobatic in the movie, just like Thor not using his superior strength or lightning as much as he should have. This is the best review that I've read for this movie so far, I agree with everything that you've said. Great job!
ComicsCommando - 8/1/2011, 9:21 AM
I also can't believe they screwed up Bucky's death like that. Such a big and sad event in the comics was watered down and lacked emotion. This is why I fear for movies made by Marvel Studios, they really need to start caring more.
MrSuperheromoviefan - 8/1/2011, 9:29 AM
I though we had enough Bucky. Also I disagree with the Red Skull part. The villain of the year is the Red Skull. Great performence, evil character. My biggest complain is that we didn't had enough Red Skull. I give it 8.5/10.
Great review
EastcoastAvenger - 8/1/2011, 9:30 AM
Oh yeah! You know those box sets are coming! Can't wait!
Saw Cap'n A with my kids over the weekend and we were all pretty excited over what we saw. Ran out the next day and bought a shield for my youngest!
Didn't get a good read on the Avengers teaser. Only that Thor's hair seemed to be all prettied up. Here's hoping they mess that main up with some nasty battles. I don't wan't to be watching 1988 Bon Jovi kicking ass next summer.
EastcoastAvenger - 8/1/2011, 9:30 AM
Oh yeah! You know those box sets are coming! Can't wait!
Saw Cap'n A with my kids over the weekend and we were all pretty excited over what we saw. Ran out the next day and bought a shield for my youngest!
Didn't get a good read on the Avengers teaser. Only that Thor's hair seemed to be all prettied up. Here's hoping they mess that main up with some nasty battles. I don't wan't to be watching 1988 Bon Jovi kicking ass next summer.
MoonDoggyX - 8/1/2011, 9:36 AM
Nice Review, Ror.
KungFuKoala - 8/1/2011, 9:37 AM
@knossis - you're absolutely right. No story arch.

The main story arch of Steve in his Mark II uniform "being" Captain America was condensed into a cheesy and poorly made 3 minute montage, and then the film pretty much fast forwarded to the end. Add this to the lack of tension (everyone I spoke to in the theater couldn't understand why Cap had to go down with the plane like that), and a villain who was on the run as soon as Cap found Hydra first time around, and the second half of the movie pretty much fizzled out.

However, the first half is tremendous and the best 1 hour that Marvel have yet to make. In fact, perhaps the second half was made more disappointing because it followed such a great first half. Just a shame the second half had "Christ's sake let's just get to The Avengers already" written all over it.

All considered, the movie gets a 3/5 rating from me.

PROS:
Great skinny Steve CGI
Acting
Nailed the characters
1st hour fantastic
Hayley Atwell's eligibility to be the mother of my children

CONS:
Sloppy second hour
Poor editing choices
Lack of tension
Poor ending
hgomez1973 - 8/1/2011, 9:41 AM
Let's keep one thing in mind. In the 40's Marvel and DC were very careful not to disrespect the real Heroes of WWII which were the young men and women serving their country. Having said this, the writers created Hydra and Red Skull as a villain for Captain America. This is almost a perfect parallel battle to the one taking place in real history. It would have been a slap in the face to Veterans for Captain America or any Super Hero of that era to waltz into the Europe and single-handedly defeat the Germans.
KungFuKoala - 8/1/2011, 9:56 AM
@ComicFan69 - I suspect you are right.

Also, I think the euphoria of watching the first hour unfold is making people over-compensate for the overall pedigree of the movie as a whole.
Godzillafart - 8/1/2011, 10:11 AM
Good review, Ror. Have to say although I enjoyed the performance, I agree with you assessment of the Red Skull.
Floke - 8/1/2011, 10:49 AM
So what do you think the complete box will be called? Box of Marvels? The Marvelous Box? :)

Would it not be cool if, in the last movie Marvel ever do, in the end the world is on the brink of destruction, then a figure in a cape appears. The hero ask: Who are you? And the figure answers: I have always been here. Cuts to flashbacks of every Stan Lee cameos, then he fixes everything with a snap off his fingers, turns around and walks into the sunset, wearing a t-shirt that says on the back: The One Above All
MoonDoggyX - 8/1/2011, 10:52 AM
@sirPrize - I think the movie did Steve Rogers justice, but not really Captain America. When it came to showing Steve's heart and soul, the film was great... When it came to showing Cap's awesomeness, the film fell flat.

@Knossis, Comicfan and Kung[frick]oala - Very good Points!

Ror definitely hit the nail on the head for this and every Marvel-made film. No edge. I find it very hard to find flaws in Marvel's movies, but as the credits roll, I also find it very hard to be excited. To me, their movies so far, are like beautiful swords with no edge. No matter how stunning the individual parts(acting, story, sfx) are, with no edge, they are dull.
Brashlight - 8/1/2011, 10:52 AM
Why is everyone saying Bucky died? I saw it as a new take on his path to the Winter Soldier. I mean there was obviously a river down below when he fell. Who is to say he doesn't get all jacked up on the fall and get discovered by the Russians??? Seriously am I the only one who sees this?
CapFan79 - 8/1/2011, 11:04 AM
If I had a complaint it was that the villains (HYDRA in general) didn't do anything too "evil". Yes, the plan was to kill millions of people but the most violent thing that was shown was killing 2 Nazi's with a ray gun or Red Skull shooting his henchmen.

Nonetheless it's my favorite Marvel film. I also loved Thor & First Class (depsite continuity issues that bug me).
JackBauer - 8/1/2011, 11:37 AM
@Brash - I'm with you. His "death" was the perfect setup for the Winter Soldier.

@CapFan79 - I was worried that there wouldn't be enough violence, after all this is also a war movie, but I think they did a pretty good job. They showed dozens of G.I.'s getting zapped by the Hydra goons. Dr. Erskine was filled full of lead and Cap took out a bad guy with a knife to the back and chucked two of them out into the wild blue yonder.

@SFCamerica - You're right. They should have shown him learning how to fight and jumping around a little. I hope Whedon adds some of his acrobatics into The Avengers.
Brashlight - 8/1/2011, 11:48 AM
JackBauer@ Definitely, and I completely agree, the two things i wanted more of in this movie was fight scenes with cap ( I wanted some more extended sheild fighing action) and also i wanted more acrobatics. In the comics he is always flipping and spinning over obsticals and badies. But still and excellent movie!!!
sexymuppet - 8/1/2011, 11:49 AM
good review ror

RorMachine - 8/1/2011, 11:53 AM
Whether Bucky is dead or not is irrelevant, for all intents and purposes he is in that movie. Cap thinks he is, the audience(that haven't read any comics) think he is. They should have made it better.
BlanketMan - 8/1/2011, 12:10 PM
@CorndogBurglar: Did you miss the scene in the burned-out bar with Steve and Peggy, where Steve is still obviously guilt-ridden about Bucky's death? That was a pretty major scene, with Peggy trying to convince Cap that he had to keep fighting to respect Bucky's memory. His death was not "completely forgotten about" five minutes later.
SweetTooth316 - 8/1/2011, 12:20 PM
Why didn't Bucky have a costume?
JackBauer - 8/1/2011, 12:22 PM
@BlanketMan - Exactly!
JackBauer - 8/1/2011, 12:24 PM
@tea - My wife said the same exact thing :)
marvelmark - 8/1/2011, 12:47 PM
@corndogburglar why do you think he was sitting in the blitz bar trying to get drunk. he was upset at the loss of his friend, pay more attention next time lol
comicb00kguy - 8/1/2011, 3:36 PM
Bucky should have died on the big plane near the end, sucked out with the Chicago bomb and a couple of henchmen. Killing him on the train was a WTF moment. We don't see a body, though, so there is always the chance of seeing the Winter Soldier at some point in the future.

The film has its flaws, but is a fun ride, and is well-written and well-acted.
Ghostt - 8/1/2011, 5:51 PM
@Ror

agreed
JackBauer - 8/1/2011, 6:26 PM
@tea - Somebody has to satisfy her :D
Wrigs - 8/1/2011, 7:38 PM
Solid Review. I caught that odd edit on the chain swing too! So weird that they someone wouldn't catch that on a big budget movie like this. Anyway, I thought the only places that the movie could have used a little polish were the following:
1. The movie seemed like it lost some momentum a got a little in the middle of the assaults on the first and last Hydra bases when it seemed like it should have been hitting big peaks.
2. Fights! Like others have said, I thought Cap should have gotten some serious hand to hand combat training (maybe while he was on the USO tour?). Even though it was the 1940's, it would have been nice if his fight scene with Red Skull would have had a touch of the speed and skill of Hugo's fights with Neo. On my Iron Man Blu-ray, there are a few choice action scenes that I can junp to for a great fix. Maybe it doesn't really matter, but right now I'm not sure what those scenes will be for Cap.
3. Lastly, there was just a general impression in a just a few scenes that things were slightly forced, or rushed, or made a little too convenient - like how quickly and easily Cap navigated the first Hydra base and stumbled onto Bucky. That last modern day scene did feel a little rusched at the end, too.

But that's it! Just three could-have-been-betters about a really good movie. I'm excited about the Blu-ray and really pumped for Avengers! Good call about the box set of all these movies,too, Ror.
InFamouslyCool - 8/1/2011, 7:47 PM
probably the best review of this film, yet. yeah, definitely the best.
superpooper - 8/1/2011, 7:54 PM
Nice to see you only sugar coated this review a little. One of the first reviews I've read on this site that didn't completely praise this movie. It did have a bit of that GI Joe feel, and it was a bit much for me. Bucky was more or less wasted as character. The bond between him and Cap should've played a bigger part in the story, and the way he was killed off didn't add much to the drama; on the contrary...I think it down played it. I went from not expecting much from this movie to having very high hopes for it, but when compared to other Marvel movies such as Iron Man and Thor, this one didn't really measure up. I can think of about 10 cbms that I enjoyed much more, and to me that's a big disappointment.
InFamouslyCool - 8/1/2011, 7:57 PM
SFCamerica,

exactly.
superpooper - 8/1/2011, 10:24 PM
I think Joss will deliver when it comes to some of the elements we all seem to think this movie was lacking, such as Caps' acrobatic fighting style and his more or less superhuman shield throwing ability. Joss is a comic book guy, and Johnson, well...as we've seen...not so much. I'm still looking forward to Avengers.
DocManhattan - 8/2/2011, 5:01 AM
@Ror and Wrigs
I had the same issue with the chain swing. But after watching the movie again I caught something I didn't catch the first time. The chain that Cap is holding swings down towards the ground and he begins running while still holding the chain, thats why it looks like he never lands.

Good review by the way.
JayTopStix - 8/2/2011, 9:28 AM
Movie just opened friday in México, and I was all pumped up by the reviews here. I CANT BELIVE THE EXAGGERATION OF FANBOYISM! Movie was BAD. Entertaining Yes but very bad, editing alone was unbearable at best. The good this Movie has is the development of Steve Rogers as a character but other than that, it was laughable and the action scenes were ridiculous. Evans was good period, Weaving had potential but lacked more dialogue. Stark was a memorable persona same as the Doctor. I give this Movie a Hard 7.0 nothing more. Ohh andf Bucky...well..I Will keep it to myself (pulls hair).
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