The last – and perhaps the most important – member of the Avengers team finally makes his big screen debut. So now that the ‘Sentinel Of Liberty’ has wielded his mighty shield, was it definitely worth the wait or will this film flop harder than Toby Maguire’s impromptu dancing in the god-awful Spider-Man 3? Our resident comic book geek – and self-professed part-time superhero – Jerry Gadiano finds out.

If you ask any comic book buff who the most important Avenger is 90% of them will most likely name Steve Rogers a.k.a Captain America and with good reason. In the Marvel universe he is seen and regarded as the symbol of hope and freedom – heck even the likes of Spider-Man, Wolverine and The Punisher look up to him. When the film was first announced, many people were dubious as to how the film would turn out, this could have easily turned out to be the biggest piece of pro-America drivel to of ever infect the movie world, but thankfully it isn’t. In fact this is easily the best film that the Marvel franchise has produced in the build-up to the highly anticipated Avengers film, which will be released next year – Yes it’s even better than Iron Man.

Set during World War II the story follows the journey of Steve Rogers played by Chris Evans, a man with a good heart who wants to enlist in the armed forces to defend his country but is turned down due to his weak and fragile body. He is then enlisted into the ‘Super-Soldier’ program, which transforms him into the perfect human being with enhanced strength, endurance, agility, speed and reflexes – think of it as the kind of steroids that won’t shrink your man parts and inevitably give you ‘roid-rage. With his new-found abilities he’s of to fight the tyrannical Red Skull (played by the always reliable Hugo ‘Agent Smith from The Matrix’ Weaving) and his cult army Hydra, the Nazis’ science and research development department.

The action scenes are executed nicely and the set location and special effects are amazing however the main heap of praise is down to the writing, directing and acting. Director Joe Johnson did an excellent job of producing a film that doesn’t come off too patriotic but instead portrays the story of the everyman who just wants to do right thing when the time is needed. Chris Evans needs to be praised for his near-perfect portrayal of Cap, I – like so many – was unconvinced that he could fill the boots of Marvel’s premier Avenger, due to the fact that he starred in two terrible Fantastic Four films. But he definitely shredded the Human Torch embarrassment and put in an admirable performance truly making the character relatable. His interpretation of Captain America is so dead on the mark that he practically owns the role and it shows you just why John Johnson picked Evans in the first place.

The supporting cast was spot on as well, acting veteran Tommy Lee Jones pulled of the gruff, no-nonsense Col. Phillips very well and Hayley Atwell performed brilliantly as Peggy Carter, Cap’s love interest. Hugo Weaving’s role as the Red Skull is intense, his portrayal as both a menacing tyrant and a delusional mad man is excellent. Another worthy mention, Sebastian Stan’s take on James Buchanan ‘Bucky’ Barnes, in the comics he’s shown as Cap’s younger sidekick but in the film they’re best friends who are pretty much the same age. Stan does a decent job in the role of Bucky and you already sense the studio’s intentions to further develop his character as The Winter Soldier in a potential Captain America sequel.

My only negative criticism is that the closing moments of film, his confrontation with the Red Skull ended a bit too prematurely and the fact the his team of Invaders/Howling Commandos – who are never referred to as such – barely have enough screen time, with the exception of Bucky, felt a bit cheap.

Other than those few minor issues the film hits all the right notes in staying true to the comics and making it screen worthy for audiences who aren’t familiar with Cap’s story and origins in the Marvel universe. They definitely saved the best Avenger till last and it nicely connects to the upcoming Avengers film in 2012, which the whole world cannot wait for.

AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!!!

4/5

Words by Jerry Gadiano

Tags: Captain America: The First Avenger, Chris Evans, comic books, Films, Jerry Gadiano