Excellent movie, best superhero film in years

Rating: 10/10 (31 July 2011)

I saw Captain America on its second weekend (in 2D) and while I expected a good movie, I was surprised to watch the best action genre movie I have seen in years. The special effects are excellent, and if you are looking for an exciting, fun movie to watch you need look no further.
However, if you want a story with more depth, this movie also delivers on that level. It is the story of one brave man, not gifted physically, but given a second change, willing to fight to make a difference where he could in the world. It is of course a fictional story, but at its core I think resonates, as I think of the many people who have given their own lives sacrificially for others.
Chris Evans, playing Steve Rodgers (Captain America), does a convincing job of playing a man who is "weak" outside, but made of iron inside. His adversary, Johann Schmidt (The Red Skull) is a bit over the top in his performance, but not so much as to become a campy villain. The supporting cast does a nice job, even if Tommy Lee Jones seems a bit wasted in a relatively small role with little opportunity to give his acting skills the workout they are certainly up to.
The movie could be seen as somewhat of a setup for the Avengers movie, as "Thor" and other Marvel superhero movies have been. However, I think this movie stands alone very nicely, and the setup part of it is not distracting at all other than perhaps the brief closing sequence that might have been better relegated to after the credits.
The movie is set in the 1940's and from what I know of the time seems to capture their atmosphere well. I did not think this a problem for today's audiences since the essence of the story has little to do with the time period and everything to do with heroism. Captain America as a person is obviously a man who is not perfect, but he is a true hero that I enjoyed being able to wholeheartedly root for. If you have not seen it yet I recommended you do so!