Marvel Cinematic Universe: Captain America: The First Avenger

To catch up with my series thus far, click on any of the names to read my review on:

Ant Man
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Guardians of the Galaxy
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Thor: The Dark World
Iron Man 3
The Avengers

Moving on:

Preamble

I have seen every single MCU movie in cinemas, except for three, all in Phase 1. This is one of them. I don’t know why, I just didn’t become as compelled as I would become to watch this series and be as devoted to it. This will be the final one I watch for the purposes of review before Avengers: Endgame, and that almost feels appropriate. Chris Evans has made it clear he’ll be putting the shield down and stepping away from Captain Steve Rogers by that film’s conclusion. It’s appropriate to come back to this because everything that makes Steve great is found in First Avenger, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

And Jesus-Chris Evans, man. What a left field casting choice. It’s funny-he was known for a variety of differing roles sure, but everyone brought up him playing Johnny Storm in the Tim Story Fantastic Four movies. It really made him a hard sell for Marvel that he would adeptly play this character. And looking back at all that shit 8 years on-does anyone think of him as Johnny Storm now? Anyone? The man is Captain America. He embodies this role just as much as RDJ embodies Tony Stark. It’s such a well-earned victory.

I also find it being the MCU’S true blue historical to give this a fascinating distinction. Even with Captain Marvel being set in the mid-90s, it still feels like a Marvel movie. First Avenger just isn’t an MCU movie, it’s a pure historical with lasers and demonic looking lads. It’s a war movie that tries to subtly deconstruct war movies but expects the same pathos, tone and mood of them too. Even just ignoring that, it feels like more of a risk. The first three movies in this series sat comfortably in the wheelhouse of sci-fi adventure, the Iron Man movies being tech-based corporate thrillers and Incredible Hulk being a low-key monster adventure flick with heavier science fiction elements. Thor was a huge departure, but kept it in that world by having Thor interact with Earth folks and burying his adventure in tech and contemporary gadgets. Most of this movie is set in the 40s, making it a pretty noticeable standout of Phase 1.

Does this work? Well…

A Story of Two Stories Crammed into One

Anyone besides me find it kind of ridiculous just how much plot is squeezed into the first 15 minutes? Think about it-we get the media res intro that shows us the shield being discovered in the ice, probably the only well timed sequence in the opening. We then have Norway attacked, our villain established as well as his goals with the Tesseract, with lengthy exposition. We’re introduced to Rogers trying to get recruited, his feebleness is defined and we find out he lies about his location. We find this out through his BFF James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes, who not only is a member of the US Army which Steve is desperate to get into, but he’s constantly second fiddle to Bucky’s wiley, confident charms. We see Steve’s devotion to the army, him chastising a rude cinemagoer and being beaten up in an alleyway where he won’t back down. “I could do this all day”.  We get to the World’s Fair where we’re introduced to Howard Stark, his crazy tech and its propensity to break. We get a glimpse at Steve’s social awkwardness. We then get a visual reference to Steve’s little-man complex in one of the better metaphors, and his utter devotion to serving his country because he needs to do something and not stay on the sidelines while men die through him arguing with Bucky. We get a sense of their bond and Dr. Erskine just happening to overhear this, and then fast-tracking his recruitment while Steve thinks he’s being punished for lying about his address again.

Did I get across my point of how little breathing room any of this really gets? We get some for Steve’s fight in the alley, and while that set-up is hokey, it is far and beyond the most memorable part of the scene, and not just for that iconic line (and the first in a trillion visual metaphors to his shield before he finally gets it). But I don’t get a  sense of a lot of important details, like his rapport with Bucky. The pacing of this movie, for individual scenes, feels rushed here and there, and I think a lot of that is to do with how much they wanted in this movie. Keep in mind that they originally pitched it be first half 1940s second half modern day, and thank Christ they went it another direction there! Because even as we stand, a lot of the World War 2 stuff feels like it climaxes just over an hour in. and this becomes an issue because it feels like I’m watching two movies smashed together.

Our overarching theme for Phase 1 is Discovery. And it’s easy to apply that to most of these films-they’re origin movies. However, another aspect of this discover is on what makes a hero, and what one’s place is in war. Steve Rogers wants to ends this war because he feels compelled to due to humanity’s need for freedom, Red Skull does for ego and his belief that he is now superior to humanity. Part of Steve’s need to prove his worth is to break everyone’s perceptions of him as weak just because he was physically. This is a great struggle and really adds to the character’s selflessness and need to do good. The problem is that that arc ends just over an hour into a two hour movie. There’s nowhere for the character to go until his inevitable sacrifice. I’ll talk about the Red Skull angle later, but first lets go into this movie’s attitude towards the perceptions of the culture of war and its commentary on propaganda.

There’s an idea that this movie is a straight up war film, and that’s only partially the case. It’s obviously hugely inspired by adventure serials of the time and after, a lot of which are pretty jingoistic in tone. Well, it’s more accurate to say it’s more inspired by films inspired by adventure serials, like the Indiana Jones series and the 1980s Flash Gordon flick. However, I don’t really think First Avenger is that straight-laced. It actually has something to say about how war is packaged to people, and what these men are fighting and dying for. Steve’s goals may be idealistic, but they’re born out of a passion and drive that is grounded in a humble sense of righteousness. A lot of this has to do with his physical limitation-he’s not ‘built’ like a soldier, so he never got to coast through recruitment in order to fight. It taught him a real sense of purpose and willpower, which other soldiers may not possess. They’re all taller and in better shape than him, and it’s something that’s hammered in his head a lot.

One of the best moments is the scene of the show he’s a part of to beef up morale for the troops. He sold himself as an attraction so he can contribute in some way. While he can entertain the kids at home, for soldiers who saw war and conflict, this means nothing. Just like the character’s own origins as a war propagandist comic book in the 40s. This movie, almost as a necessity to respond to that image, tells us that the aesthetics of war that were being sold were shit. In campaign reels, in newspaper stories, in comic books…in movies. Movies just like the one you are watching. And it’s not just in this part, we see it in the World’s Fair. Seeing the idealised version of the future contrasted with the actual future Steve wakes up in is a great way of signalling how imagined what you’re fighting for can be. It may be a cause worth dying for, but you’re never going to know where it’s going. So don’t buy into the lie and fight for something real.

This is great stuff, but the problem is the story doesn’t really put a lot of stock in it. And it’s a shame as It helps the film stand out and perfectly adds to Steve’s character. The man who understands the need to do your part for the big fight using his powers to entertain the masses with this cartoonish image of him punching Hitler. But it has to compete with the HYDRA plot, and the attempts of making it a more straightforward war movie, and a lot of it feels too little too late. Because Steve’s arc and HYDRA’s plan feel so separate both thematically and in action. I don’t think it’s necessary to make two movies, but they really should have threaded these elements together more seamlessly and they don’t. It sucks, because I think the genuine fight the good fight war movie aesthetic would have contrasted nicely with the rejection of how war should be fought and who should fight it.

This is an idea that works all the way through the movie, so how is everything made to get it across?

An American Filmmaker for an American Film

Joe Johnston is a meat-and-potatoes filmmaker, and he works like a dream for this material. His shooting is practical, straightforward, but with a fine cinematic scope. He knows how to do a good adventure story, and to play with the traditional feel and atmosphere of how that works. This isn’t a slight in any capacity; he’s very good at what he does, and getting him to do a period piece works like gangbusters.

I love the production in this. It really feels like I’m watching a classic film, all the way down to the interiors and backgrounds feeling like sound set that were decorated. Again, not a slight, and I’m never taken out of the moment in any capacity. If anything it draws me into the high-flying action and gung-ho spirit of our lead and his story. It’s very old fashioned, but never forgets to have contemporary touches here and there. The costuming in particular-I love that Cap’s war outfit is a more cammo-heavy version of his classic suit. I don’t think it ever tried to make people believe that it’s not a movie made in 2011, but the rustic 40s props and automobiles and perfectly thought out costuming really made this stand out. I dig this entirely different part of the MCU I’m being transported to.

The HYDRA car is awesome btw

Where this is most apparent is in the action. This is about a straightforward sort of action filmmaking as you’re going to get in this series. And the results are…kind of mixed? I mean they’re not all terrible, but they rarely stand out. Arguably the strongest is one of its first-a chase through the city right after Steve transforms. I do appreciate that there’s such little action before this; it really builds up the momentum. And we have the classic dodges, the distractions with traffic, the zigzag plot turns as Steve tries to keep up with his opponent. Even a cute subversion with the HYDRA agent throwing the kid into the water but it not slowing Steve down because he can swim. He even has a submarine and Steve hangs onto Indy style! Then we get to the war battles and…eh?

There are two “types” of action sequences in First Avenger: close-quarters combat and gun-toting war battles. I guess Cap just works better in confined spaces and hand-to-hand, something the Russos doubled down on completely to great effect in Winter Soldier. Unfortunately, it’s not so refined here and as a consequence a lot of the action sequences feel a bit rote and tired. Cap freeing Bucky and the rest of his unit has him waltzing around the place when he’s supposed to be sneaking, and we have an encounter between him and Red Skull that has zero tension and is finished by a quick bridge destruction. It’s all too arch and broad for the feel they were going for.

The montages are fun, with some of the best imagery in the film (that famous shot of Cap’s shield flying at the camera is from here). But it goes too quickly to feel impactful or that HYDRA are a real threat. The train fight is a bit more dynamic, as we get great tension set from the dialogue straight away, and how tight the corridors are really forces them to get creative with the camera work and choreography. Only thing that kills it is undisciplined editing. Also, holy shit Bucky’s “death” leaves exactly zero impact! The hilariously awful effect they have of him falling does not help matters.

The climax starts off with a decent, if not incredibly riveting, chase with Cap and HYDRA where the former uses some neat gadgets. The fight at the base is a bit of a clusterfuck, as our guys get laser weapons too and nothing innovative is brought with the advance Tesseract tech, an issue that plagues the story. We have a decent enough fight on the Red Skull’s plane and the Doctor Strangelove-esque aerial fight on one of the bombers is a hell of a lot of fun. Great combination of a chase sequence and close combat as Cap tries to take the plane and get back on the bigger one. Best of both worlds. The final confrontation with Red Skull is lifeless and it ends with the Tesseract sending him 7 years into our future and 70 of his own. Overall a mixed bag for a final act.

And there you have it! Excellent production values for the time period they were aiming for, with a mixed bag in terms of action. What about our villains? Well…

Why Do We Need the Nazier Nazis?

This plays into how fascism is depicted in film and in particular the Nazis. While HYDRA would develop its own identity later, it’s pretty embedded into the Third Reich here for obvious reasons. It leaves me to ask why did they go with HYDRA being a separate entity from the Nazis?

Two possible reasons, both completely incongruous with one another. The first is stigma. The Nazis have a very, very ugly history that people are still not thrilled with, to say the least. While they’ve been the source of ridicule for decades now, it’s still iffy to make them the primary baddies of a family entertainment summer blockbuster action film. We can take ideas and iconography, ideological zealotry and even just make them a subdivision of the Nazis, but they’re gonna be their own thing whether you want them to or not.

The other is, well, nobody really took the Nazis as seriously by this point. They’re old hat, they’re heavily mocked by popular media. That Downfall meme had more of a cultural zeitgeist than certain high-ranking members of the party. Adolf Hitler will always be associated with the very definition of human evil, but the Nazi Party had lost their edge by 2011. And I mean, like, HYDRA were an element of the comics with a huge affiliation with Red Skull. They needed a way to implement the Tesseract and its militia and energy capabilities for the next movie, and as fun as this sounds, maybe arming the actual Nazis with these weapons in World War 2 would be a bit far? Okay, fine, then have Red Skull lead a covert science division of the party, then have him defect when he outgrew them in terms of idolatry and ambition. Let’s get Nazier Nazis for the kids to root against. But also they kind of are not a threat?

Kind of a minor point out of the way-they’re outfits suck. I stand by my praise of the costuming above, but the HYDRA grunt uniform is so sterile and characterless. This was jettisoned and buried pretty quickly in future use. What I do think works is HYDRA’s fixation on the occult. Occultism has had connections in Nazi ideology for years, so the idea that someone within the party took these ideas to a literal extent in order to achieve genetic superiority really plays off naturally with the MCU. I especially love that this is what led the Red Skull to finding the Tesseract at the beginning of the film. Remember, it’s highly connected to the Asgardians. Speaking of Red Skull, how does our occult boi fare?

Now, I love Hugo Weaving. I think he has an amazing ability to bring a quiet charisma and gravitas to stoic and even banal characters. He is not the problem here and I think he plays the role adequately. The problem is that Red Skull is about as generic a bad guy as can be, even for a literal Nazi? This kind of falls into some Originitis, and that’s the “Mirror Image” villain. Every single origin film in the MCU does this (except for Homecoming, which can be argued doesn’t count as an origin film). Iron Man, Thor, Black Panther (again, debateable), Ant Man, Doctor Strange and Captain Marvel all face an evil version of themselves on their first outing. Even if they’re not exact copies, they have similar aesthetics and power sets and sometimes even origins, and our red-headed friend here is no exception. He’s a failed test of Erskine’s formula. Like I said, Steve wants to fight for the people, Red Skull believes the experiments that gave them their powers makes them superior to the rest of humanity, and he wants to rule over all of them. There’s the germ of an idea that never takes shape because these two meet each other onscreen twice. Briefly.

Then we get to Zola, and honestly, he’s great. Toby Jones does a commendable job playing the subtle bewilderment and constant dread of his position. He’s a scientist way more concerned with the bigger picture of the tech than of his ego like his boss is. The problem is that he’s obviously terrified of the Red Skull and just follows along with his ridiculous demands. He’s pragmatic and intuitive, but lacks the spine to really push his ideas out there. Unfortunately, he tended to be straddled with a lot of exposition, and this is the big thing that killed HYDRA as a threat for me. Most of the scenes with them before the Red Skull’s face reveal is plodding explanations of the Tesseract and its powers, and it is painful to sit through. A supervillain force does not exactly feel that threatening if they put you to sleep.

So yeah. Boring villains with flimsy pretexes for motivation and expository moments early on that solidified my conditioning of going for a nap anytime they showed up. How do our heroes fare?

Army Bants: The Supporting Cast

Let’s start off with Bucky, who has kind of an important role going forward. Honestly, he doesn’t leave that large of an impression here. I think part of my problem with him is that I don’t really gel with his relationship with Steve. He’s also kind of a bit too mean-spirited. I get the sense that he’s written as the exasperated but caring friend, but he comes across like a demure and fed-up caretaker. I also feel they overdo him being the more successful, confident, able-bodied mate, and it’s mostly like he’s rubbing it in at points. I don’t think that’s the film’s intention, and it’s more do with it’s complete lack of subtlety, but it fails to make the character endearing or their relationship work.

Considering what this and later films say about the importance of their friendship (their closeness is way more emphasised in future films), his character kind of suffers from not having a clearly thought out starting point. A few more moments of vulnerability for him and between the duo could have helped. On top of it being poorly filmed, his “death” lacks that emotional oomph. It’s structured weird, too-we don’t cut back Steve’s reaction for a couple of minutes, he has one scene where he drinks, and just goes on. This is his best, and from what we’ve seen only, friend since childhood who was killed in action. And he’s just kinda bummed and tries to get drunk and we’re done. Whatever about what comes after, this film fails to make me care about Bucky, and that’s a shame.

Howard Stark is a fun addition; I especially like how he’s introduced. His flying car breaking down adds a humourous element when you find out he’s the guy in charge of the tech that will transform Steve.  His being in Cap’s entourage also becomes important later, but again I don’t feel that rapport as much. He’s not in the movie that much and mostly has Q-like moments with the good Captain. But it’s more a minor point and honestly you can infer Howard developed somewhat of a respect for Cap even if it’s not shown (it’s really not as important as seeing the bond between Steve and Bucky). The Howling Commandos are also…there. They seem nice! Honestly it feels like Marvel had bigger plans for these guys that never went through. Their appearance here feels like a superfluous nod to the comics and fails to make this regiment feel more well characterised.

Having said that, a member of the regiment who is well characterised is Chester Philips. He’s the colonel of Steve’s regiment, and another nice subversion of the aesthetics of war. He’s a serious, no-nonsense kind of guy, but this is built from cynicism and years of combat. He has to look at this like a job, and his callous responses to human lives lost he sees as a practical factor of war. He isn’t uncompassionate, he’s just forced to be coldly pragmatic to fighting his cause. He’s the biggest representation to the realist soldier Steve has to prove himself to after his transformation, and it’s so satisfying after he saved Bucky and the other POWs from HYDRA. He’s also played by Tommy Lee Jones, so everything that comes out of his mouth is gold.

They did an absolutely wonderful job on Erskine. Stanley Tucci just brings a lot of warmth and familiarity from a character with very little screentime. A lot of Steve’s humility and heart withstands the tests of this film and beyond because of Erskine’s wisdom. Again, great subversion of the hokey wartime tropes by having the German soldier, not only working for the ostensible good guys, but he was even a freaking Nazi scientist! He’s the guy who beefs up the Red Skull. And he’s the most noble and stalwart character next to Steve because of this. Because he’s a good man despite the shitty things he was forced into. His final moments are even pointing at Steve’s heart. Because it was important that his life’s work live up to the best humanity has to offer. Great mentor character, he really sticks with you.

This bit where he drinks all the schnapps is great too

Peggy is one of the most important supporting characters in the movie and the MCU in general. They absolutely do her justice. What works about Peggy is that she’s not defined by being just a love interest for Steve. She’s a respectable military officer with a fiery will and proudly stands against those who try to belittle her due to her gender or English upbringing, as displayed in her introduction. She doesn’t come across as condescending, but she won’t put up with Steve’s self-doubt when talking about his ability to fight in the war. She helps him see through his determined will, and he helps her see a brighter tomorrow with more men like Captain America fighting for it. I love the plot thread of their dance, it’s a perfect summation of their relationship. Steve can’t dance, Peggy will take him dancing anyway.

My only real problem with her is that stupid moment where Howard’s secretary comes onto Steve, Peggy misunderstands it and shoots at him when he’s holding his iconic shield for the first time. It’s a stupid, stupid cliché that needs to die, and she goes way too far when she opens fire on him-they don’t know how effective the shield is at deflecting bullets yet. Also the secretary is way too aggressive and it’s just tonally weird. This isn’t really a jab at Peggy-she’s great!-more me griping over what a naff moment that was. But overall I really liked Peggy as a character, and it’s a shame the time skip prevented her from being in the movies more actively. Maybe I should check out her show…

Are we forgetting anyone? Hmm…oh yeah.

Captain Steve Rogers. He Doesn’t Like Bullies

What this film really, really gets right is Captain Steve Rogers, who arguably is the most important character in the MCU, second or tied to Tony Stark.  Right from his introduction, he’s asked if a recruitment speech they’re given makes him think twice about doing so, and he says “Nope”. That’s Captain America summed up in a single word: determined, righteous and good-hearted. He’s not weighed down by ego or self-interest or malice; he’s a legitimately good person trying to do what’s right. We see that in his argument with Bucky over his constant attempts of getting recruited. He’s not just doing this to prove himself, he’s doing this because he feels the need to do what he can to fight the war effort. That idealism and naivety are constants, as well as his courage. The fight outside the cinema may be hokily set up, but it shows us who Steve is. He’ll fight even when he’s hopelessly outmatched. He can do this all day.

The use of his physical inhibitions is great, too. It’s another slight subversion about war heroes needing to be super strong and outwardly perfect (and that’s directly from his original comic!), but it also forces Steve to prove his worth by his own guile and determination. He may end up becoming that perfect specimen later on, but he goddamn earns it. What makes him a hero is not the serum or the experiments, it’s his heart and courage. He may be a square, but he’ll break the law by lying about his address to try to apply for the army again and again. He’s someone who knows what he needs to do, and despite his limitations, he’s determined to at least try. The worst thing for Steve is to sit back and do nothing. He’s got no right to do less than the men laying out their lives for a better cause.

And sure, he’s probably a bit too noble for some people. But I don’t think that makes him less human. Considering the cynical reinterpretations we were (and still are) getting of classic characters, I’m just glad that they kept him a decent person. And he is flawed: he’s bullheaded, reckless in the pursuit of what he thinks is right and expects the better in people even when they constantly prove they’re not as good as him. This last one will hit on his naïve worldview and break down his black and white principles in the later films, but for now it shows that you can write a morally righteous person and not make them a one-note wet blanket. I think that’s these movies’ greatest success.

His displays of smarts and heroism during the training scenes hone into what makes Steve a well-rounded hero. He’s not an idiot, for one. That bit with the flagpole is one of my favourite moments; all of them clamouring to try to get it, and he’s the only one to think about just removing the bolts. It shows he’s intuitive and street smart, also displays his more tactical capabilities. Though, of course, there’s the fake grenade scene. The best scene in this movie is Steve, not knowing the grenade is fake, jumping onto it to save everybody else in its blast radius. All you need to know about his heroism and bravery right there. Just watch it for yourself, words don’t do it justice:

Like I said, Cap’s growth ends when he frees the soldiers and proves to everyone that he’s the genuine article, and everything that Erskine saw in him is legit. Steve himself doesn’t really need to grow though; he needs to prove to others and himself that he can do what needs to be done to fight the bad guys. That doesn’t make his journey any less compelling, and his sacrifice any less heartbreaking. While it’s a tad rushed as to why he needs to fly into the ocean to stop the bombs from dropping (How It Should Have Ended kind of nailed that here), it doesn’t take away from the emotionality of the scene and how heartbreaking his final conversation with Peggy is. The final line of the film is one of the saddest and most emotionally rewarding closers of this entire series-rarely topped 8 years on. But it works because he’s Steve Rogers-he’s the Captain. And he’ll do whatever it takes, no matter how it affects him, to do the right thing at the end of the day. Because he doesn’t like bullies, he doesn’t care where they come from.

Post-Credit Scene and Miscellaneous

The post-credit scene is a clip lifted directly from The Avengers. It’s the scene where Fury recruits Cap to help them fight Loki. That’s it. Kind of hard to talk about when I’m doing these movies backwards. Didn’t consider that when I though I was so smart doing these in this order, did I?!

There is also a trailer for The Avengers. Far as I remember, this is the first and only time they did this. We are better off for that, being perfectly blunt. It’s kind of offputting see this whole thing close with a literal trailer for the next movie.

Other stuff I noticed and wish to comment on:

-Man, the de-muscling effects they put on Chris Evans are so amazingly unconvincing. He looks like a human bobblehead.

-Good thing Erskine was in that hallway just at the moment Steve made a Big-Ass Heroic Speech to Bucky, otherwise we’d have no movie!

-Love the perspective shot for when we first see Zola. It looks like he’s in another part of the room, but he’s actually looking through a telescope. Really cool.

-Red Skull constantly says magic is science that people don’t understand. This was when the MCU were making a conscious effort to ground their universe; Thor does this a bit too. I mean, we’re now at Doctor Strange’s level of unreality, so I guess this noble effort is long gone…

-Even then, in the confines of this story, this science serum can scientifically turn you into the red-tinted monster or a Chris Evans by the scientifically proven method of…how good or bad you are.

-“People forget that the first country the Nazis invaded is their own” Great line. Severely underrated.

-I love that Steve is consistently bad with women despite them overtly interested in him after his transformation. The serum did nothing to change his personality, and it’s just endearing how awkward he is.

-Great touch to have them pause the experiment for safety concerns, but Steve insisting they keep going

-They try way too hard to make HYDRA look more evil then the Nazis. It does not work.

-It’s funny that Bucky, of all people, was strapped to a table when Steve found him at that camp. Wonder if that will signal anything for his future?

-“Maybe she’s got a friend” Steve throwing shade at Bucky is everything

-Peggy’s photo in the pocket watch still resonates-it’s even in the Endgame trailer-but I dunno if it’s a bit too soon for him to be having her there? I’m aware this is all a me-problem, don’t worry

-One of my favourite moments is the interaction with Tommy Lee Joes and Toby Jones. The Jones’ really have a decent banter going and it works so well. “What’s that?” “Steak.” “What’s in it?” “Cow.”

MINOR INFINITY WAR SPOILERS IN NEXT POINT:

-Red Skull seeing himself as superior because of the serum is interesting in hindsight due to Infinity War. His punishment is to serve others for the rest of eternity

-The kids playing Captain America is cute. All you need to know that his legend lived on

Conclusion

Captain America: The First Avenger is a decidedly mixed bag. It feels like two movies wrapped into one, both in plot structure and thematically. It wanted to play the war aesthetic and the serial tribute almost straight, while also deconstructing certain images we take from war movies that warp our perceptions, especially via propaganda. It tries to be both, but more succeeds on the former and is a big, cheesy adventure romp. That certainly isn’t a bad thing, even if its plagued with weak antagonists and some severely rushed pacing.

However, I think this all rounds out to working. This story should be cheesy-Captain America is a cheesy guy. Just look at the name. It has some really great moments that people still reference, and characters people loved so much some of them got their own TV show. It’s got an earnestness lacking in most contemporary fiction, and its period setting really sets it apart. There really isn’t another MCU film like this one, both in its setting but also in style and content. It may not be to everyone’s liking, but it stands out and is definitely a film worth revisiting, introducing us to one of the best characters in the MCU. I am really, really going to miss him when he goes.

Overall rating: 6/10

Let’s see its ranking with the rest of the movies I’ve reviewed:

1. Avengers
2. Captain America: Winter Soldier
3. Guardians of the Galaxy
4. Iron Man 3
5. Captain America: The First Avenger
6. Avengers: Age of Ultron
7. Ant Man
8. Thor: The Dark World

Coming up next, we fall into the mystical world of Gods, Shakespearean verbosity and Dutch angles.

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