Film Review: "Captain America: The First Avenger" (**1/2)

I'd very much like to hate what I want to hate, but occasionally I have to give credit where credit is due, and credit is very much due to key member involved in creating Captain America: The First Avenger. Probably the most key members in this film are Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, the two men who created the original comic, which is the building blocks for what makes this film mildly successful. You have to give them credit for inventing one of the more original superhero origin stories, as well as one of the more tragic.

This fifth film in Marvel Studios' superhero chronicle follows Steve Rogers, a 90 pound asthmatic who is desperate to serve his country, not on brutality but on principle. He's not one of those gung-ho attitude military types, but mostly a man who wants to serve his country, and as cliche as that sounds, it kind of works. That is, it works until he's given a serum that gives him "amazing superhuman abilities"... which are that he's suddenly gorgeous and can leap long distances and punch stuff? As much as it fits the 1940s mentality, that is still a lame power to have.

For Your Anticipation: You Win Wars with Guts

I'm still of the opinion that Captain America: The First Avenger is going to be, for the most part, an unattractive and overly patriotic fluke. It's painting America as it was perceived during it's most righteous of time periods, which was when it was fighting the Nazis. The best thing that Captain America: The First Avenger can be is a superhero iteration of Forrest Gump. I highly doubt that it will, but there's a sprinkle of hope. However, I won't be watching to finding out until next weekend, so please feel free to let me know how it is.

"Captain America: The First Avenger" Trailer 2

When a film's teaser trailer and final trailer are equal in length, one can be forgiven for some trepidation. I've been against Captain America: The First Avenger from the start, based solely and surely on the promise of director Joe Johnston. There was a point of optimistic denial in which I had hope for this film, but the trailer honestly looks somewhat foul. It looks like the sort of film that will make me gag in the same way G.I. Joe did, or Johnston's own The Wolfman. There should be those who support this film, but I'm just going to stick to my usual snobbery and put it down.

Teaser Trailer: Captain America: The First Avenger

There is a lot that I'm not at all sure about concerning Captain America: The First Avenger. It's directed by Joe Johnston, the man who ruined The Wolfman last year, turning it into something instantly forgettable and atrocious to behold, and it's starring Chris Evans, the man you thought was a total D-Bag in Fantastic Four. Despite everything else, including the apprehension I still hold onto as a precaution, this trailer was something of a success. There were a few structural problems, but it doesn't look nearly as stupid or pointless as Green Lantern. I still have a weird sense of faith in Thor that I have not yet cultivated to this film, but we'll see how it turns out. I'm still kind of upset that Michael Giacchino isn't scoring it as originally rumored. This trailer doesn't stink of disappointment, but we don't have anything truly promising yet.

"Captain America" Teaser Poster

I always took the first poster for a film as a sign that we might be getting a teaser trailer relatively soon. That's what happened with Thor and Cowboys and Aliens, but then the teaser poster for X-Men: First Class was released, and we've gotten to this point without seeing that trailer. So I'm keeping myself reserved in anticipation for the trailer for Captain America: The First Avenger. The poster looks great, but I just don't trust director Joe Johnston with anything. He gave us Jurassic Park 3 and The Wolfman, so keep your expectations to yourself, because that's where they are safest.