Movie Review – Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Captain America: The First Avenger is the final prequel movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before the superheroes return in the highly anticipated movie, The Avengers (2012).
Although it was released last in the series, Captain America: The First Avenger is chronologically the first movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as 95% of the movie takes place in 1943, whereas the other four movies primarily take place in modern times.
Captain America: The First Avenger begins in Norway in March of 1942.
Nazi officer Johann Schmidt (played by Hugo Weaving) and his men invade a castle in Norway. The Tower Keeper tries to hide the Tesseract, but Schmidt finds it hidden in a mural of Yggdrasil (Norse legend of Tree of the World). After finding it, he has his men open fire on the people in the castle, killing all witnesses.
Over in New York City, a skinny young man named Steve Rogers (played by Chris Evans) is rejected for military service. Apart from his frail build, he’s also full of health problems. His pleas for being accepted for service fall upon deaf ears. The medical examiner claims that denying Rogers for service is actually saving his life from certain death.
As we later learn, that was not Steve Rogers’ first time being denied for military service. He’s known for using fake names and addresses to get into the service, but all of his attempts have ended in failure.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – (c) Paramount Pictures
Down on his luck, Rogers goes to a movie theater only to have to deal with an unappreciative bully making rude comments during the news reel. Rogers stands up for what’s right and isn’t afraid to fight him in an ally behind the theater. Naturally, the physically larger bully beats Rodgers again and again, knocking him down to the street. But Rodgers keeps getting back up to his feet claiming that, “I can do this all day.”
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – (c) Paramount Pictures
Steve Rogers is ultimately rescued by his friend, Bucky Barnes (played by Sebastian Stan). Barnes is scheduled to deploy to England the next day, so he suggests that Rogers join him and they take some dates to the World Exposition of Tomorrow. While at an enlistment center in the Exposition, Rodgers once again tries to enlist. After hearing Rogers’ desire to help with the war effort, Dr. Abraham Erskine (played by Stanley Tucci) allows Steve Rogers to enlist. Dr. Erskine has a special project in mind for young Rogers.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – (c) Paramount Pictures
In a secret laboratory in Europe, Nazi officer Schmidt and Dr. Arnim Zola (played by Toby Jones) have successfully harnessed the power of the tesseract recovered from Norway. Schmidt forms the Hydra organization and uses powerful energy weapons to kill all Nazis not associated with his members. He then begins his plans of conquering the world.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – (c) Paramount Pictures
Back in the U.S., Steve Rogers begins basic training under the guidance of British agent Peggy Carter (played by Hayley Atwell) and Colonel Chester Phillips (played by Tommy Lee Jones). Although he didn’t have the physical fitness aspects of being a soldier, in training, Rogers demonstrates his brainpower and bravery. He becomes the top prospect for being part of a secret “super-soldier” program. After being injected with a serum and bombarded with energy, Rogers survives the experiment, emerging significantly taller and muscular.
Immediately after the experiment, spies from Hydra shoot up the laboratory, killing Dr. Erskine. The remaining spies make a run for it outside, and the much more powerful Steve Rogers give chase. He impresses himself with his tremendous running speed and jumping ability. He ultimately catches the final spy, but the spy swallows a poison pill, rendering himself useless for an interrogation.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – (c) Paramount Pictures
With the formula for the super-soldier formula gone, Dr. Erskine dead and the laboratory destroyed, U.S. Senator Brandt determines that Steve Rogers would best help the country by donning a superhero costume and selling war bonds. His name: Captain America. In a catchy song and dance number, we see Captain America tour the country and sell war bonds with the help of a bunch of ladies in short skirts.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – (c) Paramount Pictures
While touring military bases in Italy, Steve Rogers learns that the 107th, the unit Barnes was attached to, was attacked and lost in battle by Schmidt’s forces. Not giving up without a fight, Rogers dons combat gear and has Howard Stark (played by Dominic Cooper) fly him behind enemy lines for a parachute drop. Rogers successfully sneaks into the enemy base and frees the surviving members of the 107th along with other captured Allied troops. While the troops escape and fight Schmidt’s forces, Rogers and Barnes go after Schmidt himself. Schmidt gets away but not before pulling off a mask and revealing his true identity as the Red Skull.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – (c) Paramount Pictures
Now a published hero Captain America assembles a team of soldiers to strike Hydra’s remaining bases. Before doing so, he visits Howard Stark’s laboratory and upgrades his uniform, selecting a powerful round shield made from a substance called vibranium.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – (c) Paramount Pictures
Rogers leads his team through a series of attacks against Hydra’s forces, succeeding each time and further infuriating Schmidt / Red Skull. One particular daring attack on a moving train leads to the capture of Dr. Zola, Schmidt’s top scientist. Zola reveals the location of the final Hydra stronghold and its plan to fly halfway around the world and launch a massive attack against American cities.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – (c) Paramount Pictures
It’s up to Steve Rogers and his team of commandos to raid Hydra’s underground base and bring Schmidt / Red Skull to justice. Just before capture, Schmidt boards his aircraft and takes off from the underground airstrip. Massive doors open and the experimental flying wing takes flight. Just at the last second, Rogers / Captain America is able to climb aboard the aircraft and continue the fight.
The fighting continues on board Schmidt’s massive aircraft. Captain America is able to battle the enemy forces and once again fight Red Skull. During their battle, the Tesseract’s container is damaged. Schmidt tries to handle the Tesseract, but the massive amount of energy leaking out of the container basically vaporizes him. The energy then burns a hole into the aircraft, and the Terreract falls into the Atlantic Ocean.
Rogers then takes the controls of the damaged aircraft, but there’s little that he can do. It’s feared that any sort of landing will detonate Schmidt’s weapons of mass destruction, and that’s just a risk that he cannot take. Rodgers speaks with Peggy over the radio one last time before making a crash landing in the Arctic. Stark’s team is later able to recover the Tesseract from the ocean floor, but there’s no sign of Schmidt’s aircraft or Steve Rodgers. He’s presumed to have died in the crash.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – (c) Paramount Pictures
Captain America: The First Avenger ends in the present day. Upon awakening and discovering that something changed, Steve Rogers escapes from the facility and runs out into the middle of the street. Sure enough, New York City looks drastically different than during his times. S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury (played by Samuel L. Jackson) arrives and calms Rogers, telling him that he’s been asleep for nearly 70 years.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – (c) Paramount Pictures
While this final scene in the movie is enough to hint about Steve Rogers being in The Avengers (2012), there’s also a post-script S.H.I.E.L.D. scene linking this movie to the next one. We see Steve Rogers aggressively punching a punching bag, knocking it clear across the room. S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury enters the gym and informs Rogers that he has a mission for him.
“Trying to get me back into the world?” asked Steve Rogers.
“Trying to save it,” Nicky Fury replied.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – movie trailer
After all of that, is Captain America: The First Avenger a good movie or not?
While Captain America isn’t going to win any awards for acting or being a great film, it’s safe to say that Captain America is a FUN film. It’s best enjoyed when you switch off your brain and just enjoy a solid American superhero standing up for what’s right and kicking some Nazi / Hydra ass.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – Super Bowl TV spot
I’m not going to lie here.
Quite a few scenes involving certain characters, situations and vehicles (including most of the final action scenes) disturbed me. Not from it being thrilling, but from the plot holes and other technicalities.
Despite those issues and more, it’s still satisfying seeing Captain America kick ass. When he gets rolling, he’s an unstoppable force between his brainpower, physical attributes, and very powerful shield. While he cannot fly or shoot blasts of energy, transform into an angry green monster, or have the power of a Norse god, Captain America can kick plenty of ass the good ol’ fashioned way. Those elements and more make Captain America: The First Avenger a fun movie to watch.
Be sure to check out the slick 3-D versions of the famous propaganda artwork from World War 2 during the end credits. Cool stuff!
Johann Schmidt – “What makes you so special?”
Steve Rogers – “Nothing. I’m just a kid from Brooklyn.”