Film Review: Captain America: The First Avenger [2011]

  

Marvel Studios releases their final movie Captain America: The First Avenger before the Avengers film in 2012. The film was announced the day after the release of the first Marvel Studios’ Iron Man film. This film is directed by Joe Johnston (Jurassic Park III, Hidalgo) who brought back The Wolfman with mixed reviews last year. Captain America: The First Avenger is a period piece set during World War II leading into next year’s Avengers film.

The movie begins in the present as S.H.I.E.L.D agents uncover Steve Rogers within a block of ice. The story moves into the past introducing both Johann Schmidt who discovers the Cosmic Cube which originated from Odin’s treasure room and Steve Rogers who is trying to pass his physical to join the army. Steve Rogers eventually becomes Captain America and supports the troops through the USO. After discovering his childhood friend Bucky Barnes is captured, Steve sets out to rescue him and the other soldiers trapped behind enemy lines. The rescue attempt leads Steve to his first confrontation with Johann Schmidt AKA the Red Skull.

Steve Rogers as Captain America takes down the Hydra weapon facilities over Europe. The Red Skull boards a plane loaded with weapons to destroy New York City. Captain America follows and confronts the Red Skull on the plane using his shield to smash the conduit housing the Cosmic Cube. The Red Skull is transported by the Cosmic Cube to Asgard space as Captain America puts the plane into the water saving New York City. Seventy years later Steve Rogers wakes up after being found and faces Nick Fury.

In anticipation of the film Marvel released a prequel comic called Captain America: First Vengeance written by Fred Van Lente while his current Alpha Fight partner Greg Pak explores the origins of the Marvel Comics version of the Red Skull within his series of the same name. Red Skull is the bookend to his previous work X-Men: Magneto Testament, which explores the origins of Erik before he became a mutant terrorist.

Captain America: First Vengeance explores the movie versions of Steve Rogers rise to become Captain America and his nemesis Johann Schmidt who begins his descent to become the Red Skull. Johann Schmidt conducts graduate research in physics and believes in the tales of the Norse Gods before taking over the weapons program for the Nazis. Raised in Hell’s Kitchen, Steve Rogers is the son of World War I soldier Joe Rogers whose name was derived from Captain America’s co-creator Joe Simon. First Vengeance showcases the early history of Howard Stark, the Howling Commandos, Agent 13 Peggy Carter, and Hydra.  

FIRST VENGENCE HIGHLIGHTS

1924 – Steve Rogers becomes an orphan after losing his mother

1930 – Steve Rogers meets his best friend James Buchanan Barnes for the first time

1934 – Schmidt meets Dr. Arnim Zola persuading him to build a superior human race

1935 – Doctor Abraham Erskine is kidnapped by Schmidt to build a superior human race

1940 – Howard Stark showcases his vibranium metal shield and joins Col. Phillips  

1940 – An accident turns Johann Schmidt into the Red Skull

1940 – Agent 13 rescues Dr. Erskine from the clutches of the Red Skull

1941 – Following the attack on Pearl Harbor Steve Rogers wants to enlist

1942 – Dr. Erskine chooses Steve Rogers as a test subject for his Project: Rebirth

1943 – The Howling Commandos are formed within a Hydra weapons facility

1944 – Captain America takes on Hydra forces in the Nazi-Occupied Danish Straits

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5