Captain America: The First Avenger [2011]

I’m a bit late coming to this film-blame it on a lousy last month at the movies- but having heard good buzz, I went in with high hopes. Luckily enough, not only did it exceed my expectations, but I strongly believe that this could well be one of the finest movies ever to come out of Marvel studios. Yes it is that good, and after having to endure the dreadful “Green Lantern” back in June (sorry about that Ryan Reynolds), it’s about time that Captain America got to kick dirt in the face of the other superheroes in that wide Marvel/D.C Comics world. You can think of the first avenger as a World War II movie crossed with contemporary visual effects and CGI. Then give your hero a double dose of growth hormones/steroids, and voila! I’m talking Steve Rogers, the Brooklyn kid who tries desperately to join the army and go to war, to no avail. Luckily, Steve meets Abraham Erksine (Stanley Tucci as good as always), a German doctor who thinks this  good natured guy is a perfect fit for his supersoldier experiment. A few injections later, and Steve turns into the hard-bodied Captain America, out to save the world and win the war. Chris Evans is well cast in the leading role, as he not only embodies the physical character required, but also gives him charm and emotions, which is always crucial in superhero flicks (sorry again about “Green Lantern”). What’s more, the cast is full of talented actors (I’m thinking Hugo Weaving as Red Skull, Tommy Lee Jones, and Toby Jones), who bring colors to the characters they’re playing, making it a lot more fun to watch. Add to that an imaginative production, and one hell of a final scene, and you get one of the most entertaining movies of the summer. It’s quite refreshing really, since most of the films I’ve seen this year were instantly forgettable (“Green Lantern” anyone?). No matter, “Captain America” delivers, and even gives us a taste of what to expect from next year’s “The Avengers”, when Evans will be leading the likes of Iron Man, Thor, and The Incredible Hulk on modern day adventure. Can you feel the adrenaline rush?

Hail Hydra!

Rating: 3/4