2020 has been a difficult year to say the least. To treat myself, I have decided to make an Advent Calendar of the MCU films. I’ve watched them all in order, after all, I watched the movies as they originally came out. I am fairly certain that I have seen every MCU film in the theater with the exception of Thor: The Dark World. For this little exercise, I have decided to go with the chronological order option that they offer on Disney+. This option starts with Captain America: The First Avenger and Captain Marvel as the first two films, which makes sense given that they take place in the 1940s and 1990s, respectively.
I will be posting little thoughts on the films as I watch them on this little blog that no one reads. It’s nice to stretch the old writing part of the brain every now and then. If you are reading, feel free to watch along and enjoy!
Captain America: The First Avenger
Captain America: The First Avenger isn’t the best MCU movie. It certainly is not the most vital film to follow the central plot in the MCU. The First Avenger is pretty good by most standards. But, dammit, the MCU would not be the same without this film.
The First Avenger sets the table for the heart of the MCU, Captain America. Steve Rogers’ character is so perfectly set up here, to the point that it’s even mocked in Endgame when Avengers’ era Cap tells Endgame era Cap that he can “do this all day” and Endgame era Cap is completely exasperated at hearing his own scrappy line thrown back at him. Steve Rogers has that Rocky underdog vibe that resonates with anyone with a soul.
The Steve Rogers that we know and love is present from the first frame that we see him in. He’s a skinny little scrapper that dreams of punching Adolf Hitler right in the face. He doesn’t give up, he’s determined, and he simply will not back down from his goals. The effect used to place Chris Evans on the body of a tiny body double to create pre-serum Steve Rogers may look a little silly by today’s standards, but it’s important that Evans’ face is present on pre-serum Rogers. He is the same guy he’s always been, even when he’s swinging a vibranium shield at a man with a red skull for a head armed with technology fueled by Norse god magic. Chris Evans’ Captain America never stops being that skinny kid from Brooklyn, and that’s what makes this character so perfect.
The line that really stood out to me on this rewatch was Rogers telling Dr. Erskine, “I don’t want to kill anyone, I just don’t like bullies.” That line is so perfect. Yes, Captain America is not here to satiate bloodlust, he is here to stop a madman that wants to destroy any humans that he doesn’t deem worthy.
The First Avenger is a good old-fashioned Indiana Jones-esque throwback film. It does not break any new ground, but it accomplishes its primary goal – to establish the film version of Captain America.
Notes
- It’s such a shame that this is the only time that we will likely get Hugo Weaving as the Red Skull. He’s so perfect for the role.
- I really do love the Indiana Jones vibe to the entire film. The tilts, the close-ups, really pulpy in a great way.
- Dr. Erskine is from Queens, such a nice callback in Civil War.
- The scene where Rogers chases down the German spy in Brooklyn might be my favorite in the film. Evans does a great job of showing how Rogers is adjusting to the size of his new body.
- Still not sure how I feel about the film having the Red Skull leave the Nazis for Hydra. It’s meant to show how singular his goals are and clearly done to minimize the Nazi imagery shown in the film, but in a weird way it almost makes the Skull a little less evil, since even he sneers at Hitler. That said, the scene where the Skull betrays the Nazis is terrific. It yet again has that Indiana Jones feel. “Wait a minute, BERLIN is on this map!” BLAM, disintegrated!
- The Howling Commandos montage is great too, honestly wish there was more time in the movie to see them in action.
- It probably would have benefitted them to take another 30 seconds to explain to the audience why Cap had to crash the plane in the water.
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