Written by Ben Robinson, Education, DFI

Film: Captain America: The First Avenger
Year: 2011
Director: Joe Johnston
Stars: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving and Samuel L. Jackson
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Before reviewing a movie like CAPTAIN AMERICA, I wondered how much time I should spend talking about the issues of Patriotism or War. Is it necessary to even mention, being that Joe Johnston’s film is an exclusively escapist slice of superhero schlock meant only to entertain? On balance I decided that such a discussion would be entirely redundant. CAPTAIN AMERICA is about as politically controversial as STAR WARS (ie: both films DO operate on some level to reaffirm American splendor, but aren’t really controversial in the way they do it). I also felt the need to make the distinction between ‘Good’ Cinema and ‘Bad’ Cinema (also known as ‘High’ and ‘Low’ Art). Make no mistake: CAPTAIN AMERICA is a McDonald’s Happy Meal of a movie. And not necessarily something I would advocate if you’re looking to enrich your understanding of Cinema. I truly wish there were more intelligent, ‘Arthouse’ movies released in Qatar’s cinemas, but until that day comes, let’s try and enjoy ourselves without feeling too much guilt!…

So let’s get to the movie. The latest jewel in the crown of Marvel Studios’ comic-to-film empire, CAPTAIN AMERICA is the final piece of the puzzle in the run-up to the much anticipated AVENGERS movie. Due in 2012, THE AVENGERS will unite “Cap” with IRON MAN, THOR, THE HULK and a couple of lesser superheroes: BLACK WIDOW and HAWKEYE; as they do battle with the evil LOKI, who presumably plans to destroy the World (don’t they all?).

CAPTAIN AMERICA is an ‘Origin’ film, taking us back to World War 2 and introducing us to the wimpy Steve Rogers (Chris Evans – the only actor to my knowledge who has portrayed TWO Marvel Superheroes in one lifetime; having played The Human Torch in FANTASTIC FOUR). Desperate to enlist into the Army and join the fight against Hitler’s hordes, but repeatedly rejected on the grounds of poor health, Rogers makes one last-ditch attempt to become a soldier. Fortune favors the brave, and Rogers attracts the attention of eccentric genius Dr Abraham Erskine, an exiled German scientist who has developed a serum to turn ordinary human beings into Super Soldiers. Thus Captain America is born in a secret government deep in the heart of Brooklyn.

In this corner of Marvel’s alternative history of the world, mapped out over the last 50 years in thousands of wildly successful comic books, Hitler has enlisted the services of Red Skull (played by Hugo Weaving, so sinister in The Matrix Trilogy) a twisted technological maniac with plans to destroy the world. Veteran Director Joe Johnston – Art Director on the original STAR WARS films, and director of JURASSIC PARK 3 amongst other popcorn hits – borrows liberally from INDIANA JONES, HELLBOY, STAR WARS and his other World War 2-set movie THE ROCKETEER (1991) to concoct a consummate feast of action and adventure.

On a personal level, I had a blast with this movie: the screenplay, score, action sequences (some of which blew my mind), flawless special effects and retro-futuristic production design firing on all cylinders. Other DFI teammates were less enthusiastic, and complained of boredom and disinterest. I have to be honest: I have no idea what they’re talking about. I was gripped from beginning to end by the film’s old-school charms. Then again I AM a massive geek, and have waited half a lifetime to see these Marvel characters hit the big screen on such an epic scale.

The supporting cast is superb: Tommy Lee Jones (gruff and witty as hell as Colonel Chester Phillips); Hayley Atwell (Rogers’ delightful English love interest and feisty girl-soldier Peggy Carter); Toby Jones (Red Skull’s devilish science-boffin sidekick) and Dominic Cooper (as IRON MAN’s dad Howard Stark). For Marvel devotees, we’re also introduced to the mysterious alien energy source – The Tesseract – that will propel IRON MAN’s awesome powered exoskeleton decades later. In a neat convergence of storylines, we also learn that The Tesseract (a term borrowed from Quantum Physics to describe a Four-Dimensional object totally impossible to build on Earth) actually comes from THOR’s parallel universe of Asgard. The plot details of THOR, IRON MAN and CAPTAIN AMERICA thus neatly dovetail into the forthcoming AVENGERS movie next year (details of which are now leaking out every day on websites such as www.aintitcoolnews.com).

CAPTAIN AMERICA is pretty much a perfect popcorn flick for those who want to leave their brains at the door. I would recommend it most highly to all geeks, dreamers, adrenaline junkies and escapists. Forget the politics and dive into the adventure. If you’re one of the unlucky ones who were bored, don’t worry: there’ll be another trashy slice of Hollywood junk food along shortly!…