We grade on three categories:
1. Faithfulness to comic characterization
2. Comic Action Quotient/Storyline
3. Acting
Reviews are graded on an academic scale of:
A, B, C, D, or F
Before I begin this review, I should come clean. I’m a HUGE Captain America fan! Always have been since he got thawed out in Avengers #4. With that disclaimer out of the way, on to the review!
Category 1: There have been several incarnations of Captain America since Joe Simon and Jack Kirby created him in the forties. Stan Lee brought him into the Silver Age with co-creator Kirby. The star-spangled avenger came into his own under the stewardship of Roger Stern and John Byrne in the 1980′s. Many elements of the movie reflected the four issue series Adventures of Captain America from 1991 which re-told his origin in much greater detail. Finally, he was given a gritty edge in Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch’s run on The Ultimates. This film seamlessly merged all those incarnations into an action hero for the 21st century. Chris Evans brought Cap to life with the same integrity and nobility the character has exhibited for 70 years.
Category 1 Grade – A+
Category 2: The storyline was faithful to Captain America’s origin story with lots of nods to Marvel history. Even before becoming the super-soldier, Steve Rogers shows a depth of character that grows along with his physique. Chase scenes, group fighting, and villain confrontations were carried off with a fervor absent from many movies this summer. Once he gets into the war, the action is intense and non-stop. The villains are brutal and memorable in a Darth Vader way. One of the Red Skull’s lines evoked memories of Vader’s “Apology accepted” after dispatching Captain Needa. Even the Howling Commandoes make a World War II appearance alongside Cap.
Category 2 Grade – A
Category 3: Chris Evans was first-rate as both Steve Rogers before and after the super-soldier project. The audience was rooting for him from moment one. He embodied the whole package: ingenuity, courage, and an Indiana Jones level of tenacity. As the shield slinging avenger, he WAS a leader of men and a symbol of the american spirit (Corny, but you were warned that I’m a fan). Hayley Atwell was amazing as Peggy Carter, love interest and support mechanism of the piece. Her method of blending sarcasm and competence into a beautiful package came through extremely well. The rest of the supporting cast gave the film not only depth, but a vivid humanity. The audience genuinely cared for them. Sebastian Stan was a believable Bucky Barnes for whom the viewer both cheered and liked. Stanley Tucci’s Dr. Erskine was a welcome change to the rest of society’s apathy toward the puny Steve Rogers. He became the father figure our hero needed. Tommy Lee Jones does curmudgeon so well, his role as Col. Phillips was almost typecasting. Dominic Cooper did such an excellent job as Howard Stark, one could almost see the resemblance between he and Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark. Lastly, Hugo Weaving brought such an awesome Red Skull to the movie, it automatically moved the character to the villain hall of infamy. His cold approach to killing was reminiscent of every bad guy we wanted to get his butt handed to him. Hence the Villain Killmeter reading shown below.
Category 3 Grade – A+
Overall Grade – A+
