A Nice Film, Considering How Many Hats It Wears

Rating: 7/10 (29 September 2013)

I am a fan of the character and really wanted and expected this film to be good. Initially, I was disappointed, but subsequent viewings have greatly improved my opinion. I have enjoyed Captain America: The First Avenger more each time that I have watched it, which I think speaks well for the film. It clearly is not perfect, but in my opinion is not deserving of some of the very harsh reviews that others have given.
First of all, CA:TFA suffers from being used as the most overt prequel to The Avengers. An ideal Captain America film would not be so concerned with setting up another film. The tessarect plot angle is the most obvious element in this regard - such "cosmic" themes do not come to mind when one first pictures Captain America. However, when you accept the franchise-building role as part of the package, this film is not a bad effort, and really quite likable.
The Good - Chris Evan is very well cast in the lead role, earnest and believable. The score is inspiring and nostalgic. Most of the supporting cast members work well, particularly Stanley Tucci, Hayley Atwell, Tommy Lee Jones, Toby Jones and Dominic Cooper (as a Howard Hughes-inspired Howard Stark). The retro-40s aesthetic design work is generally enjoyable to see. Some of the "vintage sci-fi" HYDRA technology is very gee-whiz cool-looking. The story has a lot heart, even if it is stretched thin.
The Not So Good - Visually, there is a lot of faux-3D feel when viewed in 2D, the fakeness of which unfortunately undermines what should be a more rustic WWII aesthetic (not nearly as bad as other weird-looking films like Warhorse and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, though). Sebastian Stan as Bucky is utterly forgettable and uninteresting. The Red Skull could have been a bit more gritty (and realistic) and truly menacing. The pacing is somewhat uneven.
Regardless of what you may think of Joe Johnston, I feel that he was a good choice to direct this film. CA:TFA is actually very, very similar to Johnston's earlier film The Rocketeer, and there are some shared virtues with October Sky as well. Again, I enjoy and appreciate this film more each time I watch it, absorb more of its lovingly-crafted details and come away each time feeling inspired and with a smile on my face. It could have been better, but like most of Marvel Studios' productions, CA:TFA is a worthwhile adaption that treats its subject with sensitivity. I find it compelling enough to give it at least 7.5 out of 10.