Captain America is a New Kind of Superhero

Rating: 8/10 (19 February 2013)

"The serum amplifies everything inside, so good becomes great; bad becomes worse. This is why you were chosen. Because the strong man who has known power all his life, may lose respect for that power, but a weak man knows the value of strength, and knows compassion."
Captain America: The First Avenger is the superhero origin of Steve Rodgers' transformation into Captain America. The movie is set in the 1940's during World War II and Steve Rodgers has the desire to fight overseas just like the rest of the men in the United States. There is one problem though, he is a 90-pound weakling who doesn't look like a soldier, yet he has the heart of one. Director Joe Johnston's Captain America: The First Avenger is a stripped-down superhero movie that focuses on character development rather than superpowers.
The script for the movie lets the lead characters take center screen. The plot not only focuses on Rodgers' transformation, but also revolves around the conflict between Captain America and the villain Red Skull. A common quality that Red Skull and Captain possess is the serum that they were both injected with, yet they decided to use the strength they were given in different ways. Captain America could be symbolized as a young, developing America, while Red Skull portrays a similar character to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.
Chris Evans gives a believable and realistic portrayal of a persistent and gutsy Steve Rodgers. He walks, talks, and fights like a soldier. The emotional depth of the character is seen when Rodgers decides to risk himself in order to save others. His depiction of the underdog that evolves into a superhero is worth rooting for. On the other hand, Hugo Weaving gives a strong performance as Red Skull. The character viciously manipulates his followers' thoughts in his conquest to take over the world by speaking down to them as if he is a god. By emphasizing the last word in a phrase and then taking a dramatic pause, Weaving is able to get into the heads of the audience through his diction and annunciation. This creates a confrontational relationship between the hero and the villain.
For fans of traditional superhero movies, this movie may not fit the standards because it doesn't contain common elements associated with this genre. The character of Rodgers is developed in order to focus on him rather than relying on a suit like Iron Man, the money that Batman has or the mutations that X-Men possess. Rodgers doesn't need all of the flash and gadgets that other superheroes of our era have because he is innately a hero. He doesn't have much of an advantage over others, but is able to pursue his dream in an unconventional way, which isn't anything like the superhero movies the audience is used to today. He puts himself out there even though he has many weaknesses. It makes the viewer think about what the ordinary person can do with the abilities that they possess to help out others.