CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011 - Cert 12A)

With The Avengers project Marvel Studios really seems to have got the knack of the Superhero genre. It's found it's place, it's voice. It's the perfect compliment to the art house film sensibility that Christopher Nolan's Batman films have created. While Nolan seeks to arguably stimulate first and entertain second, with Iron Man (not so much Iron Man 2) and Thor, Marvel's Louis D'Esposito leaves us in doubt as to what his sole aim is. Glossy Friday/Saturday night blockbuster entertainment. The films that The Fantastic Four yearned to be. Fun, exciting with a nice solid emotional foundation.




The pitch perfect series continues with Joe Johnston's (Jurassic Park 3, Jumanji) Captain America. It's the usual brand of comic book nonsense, although this time it's USP is that it's set during WW2. A digitally reduced (in size, not there ladies) Chris Evans plays Steve Rogers, a weedy American kid who is desperate to fight in the War, only to be refused because he's not fit enough, and he's, well, tiny. A sinister German doctor picks him for a special project by the US Army, to create the ultimate soldier (not Universal Soldier Van Damme fans). The lesson here of course is that a real hero is not necessarily the strongest man out there, but the most determined, the bravest. It clearly lacks the depth in theme of The Dark Knight and even Rami's Spiderman films but it's done in such a way that it doesn't feel laboured, it just works. Pitch perfect once again you see.

Despite the period setting, Hitler is not the bad guy. This isn't Tarantino after all, it's a Superhero film. Instead we have a rogue wing of the Nazi party led by Hugo Weaving's Johann Schmidt (Weaving evoking the nastiness and pantomime villain-ness of his agent in the Matrix), AKA The Red Skull, intent on winning the war and ruling the world, aided by Toby Jones' brilliant scientist. Yes I know what you're thinking, this is quite a cast, with some proper thespians. It doesn't stop there either, Tommy Lee Jones does his thing as Colonel Chester Philips, Hayley Atwell as the love interest, Dominic Cooper as Howard Stark. A lot must be said about these big names adding a good deal of gravitas to the piece, but they aren't just turning up, saying some lines and taking their cash. They all put in good performances, the bad guys have the most fun but Atwell manages to avoid being annoying which is no mean feat in these films where women tend to be there for eye candy and plot development. All in all, good stuff from the cast lifting it above other special effects laden drivel.

I use the word laden, although that is harsh. There are obviously effects there, and when they pop up they are impressive, but it doesn't feel heavy on the CGI. In fact, brace yourself, the effects seem to be used for the benefit of the film and not just for the sake of it. The most impressive use is in the downsizing of Evans for the puny Steve Rogers. It's certainly very impressive and not at all distracting, which is an achievement in itself. If there is a criticism to be had of the action and effects is that it takes a hell of a lot (no pun intended) from the two Hellboy films, metal machinery that has an almost supernatural and magical quality.

It's a clever film as well, a 15 minute chunk of which explores the role that propaganda plays in a war and what it really means to be a hero. For example, can good be done fighting the war at home. It's a lot more thought provoking than you expect and it did catch me off guard. In a good way, like eating a posh kebab. It has an unexpected quality. There is also a lot of joy to be had in experiencing this film as part of a bigger picture, a cinema universe created by Marvel studios. We know that it's working towards a grand stand finish, there's plenty of in jokes such as seeing Tony Stark's (Iron Man) dad making his name as the weapon developer that we only hear about in the Iron Man films, we wait for Sam L Jackson's one-eyed Nick Fury to turn up and we wait to see how on earth Captain America ends up in the present day (spoiler alert - tenuously).

Captain America feels like a continuation of the other films, which is as it should be. This is not really a sequel and it's certainly not a completely stand alone film. This is shaping up to be one of those rare breeds, something that can be released as a box set and feel as though that's how it's meant to be. Apart from Hulk staring Edward Norton, we'll forget about that one.

Roll on next summer. Bring on The Avengers.

Oh and if you're wondering, It's probably my favourite of the Avengers films so far. It goes in this order:

1. Captain America
2. Iron Man
3. Thor
4. Iron Man 2
5. Hulk