Shuangxi in Spring

Captain America is a pretty darn entertaining movie. Let’s get that out of the way first. I think it is far more of an enjoyable ‘summer’ movie than a CGI crap-fest like Transformers. That isn’t to say Captain America is chock full of special effects and CGI, but unlike other summer fare the effects are there to serve the story. While the film itself is a good romp, to me it is best during the first half when it still realizes that it is set in the 1940s. I can understand the need to differentiate the Hydra technology from the general equipment of the day, but the led-laden, super-soaker look takes things a bit too far. The armor (tanks, APCs, etc) look far too modern and, even in the midst of a comic book story, it takes a tremendous leap of logic to assume that 70’ish years of military design philosophy could be bridged just by uncovering some ubertech power source. I would have greatly enjoyed a more retro-future aesthetic based on ideas of the day and less of a perfectly clean, contemporary sci-fi feel to the Hydra tech. To be honest, that is the only major flaw I found in the movie.

The acting is well done all around and even Hugo Weaving, who to me generally plays the same character, seemed a bit elevated. Chris Evans, whose acting I loathed in Fantastic Four but grew to enjoy in Push and Scott Pilgrim, was very well cast and Tommy Lee Jones played his usual grouchy self. It was odd that most of the comedic lines in the film came from him, but they worked brilliantly. The best of the bunch I felt were Stanley Tucci, Dominic Cooper, and Hayley Atwell (who I loved in Mansfield Park and Brideshead Revisited). I suspect Atwell is definitely going to be an upcoming ‘It-Girl’ and if you get the chance you should check out her brief appearance on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, she seems extremely down-to-earth and likeable. Cooper is entertaining as Howard Stark, channeling Robert Downey Jr. in all his Tony Stark glory.

All in all, I think Marvel’s movies have been getting better. They may not be producing the broody, critically acclaimed films of Nolan’s Batman run, but they are cranking out good entertainment that makes garbage like Green Lantern weep in frustration. My recommendation? See it and stay through the credits. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Rating: out of 5.