We all know that the villian of a movie can make or break a film. No matter how fantastic or powerful the hero is, if the audience has no interest in his arch nemesis, producers better hope it does well in the dvd bin at Walmart. With all the bucks going in superhero films today, you would hope they had a good formula for producing hit after hit. So far, Marvel has had a pretty good track record but with the economy the way it is they have to pull out all stops to bring in both the fans and the movie going public. With that said, the choice of Hugo Weaving as the yang to Captain America's Yin is a positive thumbs up. The unanswered question is, which Rec Skull will we see?
Will we see the Red Skull as portrayed in the 1991 direct to dvd Captain America movie? Geez I hope not. If I were that little kid who got kidnapped and watched everyone I loved being blasted into oblivion and being force fed super-serum treatments I'd be a little off kilter too. I really felt sorry for the guy. He was forced to be a murderous super soldier just because he demonstrated musical genious. Although, we never saw him kill anyone we are left to assume we needed to send Captain America over there to stop him personally. And to think of it, the only reason Cap could stop him 'eventually',is that he used a recording of the Skull as a child being kidnapped in the midst of a masacre to distract him. Distracting him long enough to get hit by a shield and sent falling to his demise. That's not very Captain America like. In the immortal words of Jar Jar, 'what was me thinkin'?
To be a good villian you have to pose a certain threat to both the world and your hero counter part. With the 1991 Skull, we never really saw what he could do. Well, we found out he could whip Caps butt in a hand to hand match. The movie definitely goes downhill after that point. If that happens in the new film just count me out. Cap is suppose to be a fighter, a trained fighter with the boost of the super soldier serum. Nobody beats him, 'nobody, not no how!' Now read my lips, 'the Red Skull does not have the super soldier serum coarsing thru his veins'. Or at least he did not have it in WWII. He was the one who could plan ahead and mastermind several different ways to conquer a foe without laying a finger on him. And if he did, it would be the final blow. Yes, he is a trained fighter, but they did not put him on the battle field as they did Captain America. With his gun, dust of death and espioage abilities he should prove to be a good foe for Cap. Put the Skull back up against the wall, he'll give you a dirty fight you won't forget though.
The greatest reason Cap needs a good 'evil' Skull is to contrast his beliefs and dreams. They are polar opposite with the Skulls and if exploited correctly in the film, should be great fun to watch. Especially as Cap awakens to the new world to find the dreams he fought so hard for aren't appreciated by the this new generation of americans. Will the Skull have more in common with the people of today and will Caps 'old' tired values have any relevance anymore. I guess we shall have to wait and see. And cross our fingers that we have a good but evil Red Skull.