A hero for the past and present.

Rating: Null/10 (29 October 2011)

What I like about Marvel's superhero movies is that they all have a unique tone and feel. Where something like Green Lantern (I can't help but compare the two movies since I've watched them only a day apart), despite it's extraterrestrial scope, it feels so generic. It doesn't play up its strengths or use its unique mythos to its advantage. On the other hand, the Iron Man, Thor and Captain America (and to use a DC example, Batman) movies feel completely different from each other. And that's a good thing, because with the many superheroes crowding the big screen these days, they have to have something to offer to make them worth the time and money.
Captain America succeeds by taking Steve Rogers' hero origins during World War II and making it the backbone of the movie. Time is taken to establish the time period and characters, and the settings and costumes are all excellent. I liked Chris Evans as Johnny Storm in the Fantastic Four movies, but I like him even better, here. He really brings Steve Rogers to life as a character, instead of just being Chris Evans in a Captain America uniform. The whole cast is great, actually, with Hugo Weaving (he's always great, isn't he?) deserving special mention as the primary villain, the Red Skull.
Captain America has nice action, excellent WW2-era trappings, and is a undeniably a fun superhero flick.