Just thought I would put my two cents in on a review of Captain America.
As a fan of comic books for more than forty years, the feeling that I have about this new film as I left the theater is this...
Go into your collection and pick up Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos (1963) #13. This particular issue of the Howling Commandos features Cap and Bucky fighting along side of Fury and his Commandos fighting the Nazi hordes. It has a great story by Stan Lee and the wonderful art of Jack Kirby and Chic Stone.
Watching this film gave the the same feeling I have about this particular Lee and Kirby book. Beautiful art and good story.
I am also a fan of films by Joe Johnston (he made the Rocketeer).
When I heard that Joe was to helm this film I relaxed. I knew that the film was in good hands.
I was not to be disappointed.
Somehow Joe Johnston has somehow channeled the best of Lee and Kirby into a film.
When Steve is transformed into Cap in the lab, it was like I was watching a Kirby drawing brought to life. Joe must have studied Captain America #109, the beautiful retelling of Cap's origin by Lee/Kirby/Shores.
Joe has the ability to capture the flavor of an era. He captures the feelings of WWII just right.
All the gadgets and gizmos, the Nazi scientists, weird ray guns, science labs with flashing lights and bubbling beakers. It felt like it was a film that was made back in the forties, but utilized all the cinema technology of today without hitting you over the head with it.
Cap portrayed by former Human Torch actor Chris Evans fills the bill wonderfully, giving the part heart and humility.
The Red Skull was portrayed in a manner most sinister and mad by a wonderfully possessed Hugo Weaving. His scientist assistant was a well done also.
Tommy Lee Jones is a great gruff and grizzly Army commander. He has a few great one liners.
Peggy was beautiful and fit in nicely.
As Dum-Dum Dugan would say Waaa-hooo!!!
