Captain America: The First Avenger Review

Joe Johnson's 'Captain America: The First Avenger' is a perfect blend of fine performances and pulpy action, making for a fitting celebration of the most noble of superheroes. This film doesn't try hard to be ultra stylish or especially dramatic, instead relying on its retro origin to make for a superbly geeky but especially cool look into America's finest war hero.

Captain America tells the story of Steve Rogers, a young dreamer who, after being deemed unfit for the military, volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending America's ideals. The delightful Chris Evans' performance as Rogers is rock solid, presenting an accessible character that is as much interesting as he is patriotic.

Hugo Weaving's performance as the eccentric and over-the-top Red Skull is fun and memorable, perfectly complimenting Evans' accurate portrayal of an old-fashioned character.

What ultimately makes this film such a great experience is its contemporary styling, fueled by great action sequences, fantastic direction and some truly mesmerizing special effects. The story of Captain America is molded into one of accessibility for all film-goers, be them patriotic American, comic book fan or casual viewer. Its humour, pacing and undeniable comic-book charm propel it to superhero film greatness.

By Gaetano Prestia