There have been several fantastic movies released so far in 2011, many of which I loved and will definitely watch again, but I think my favorite has to be Captain America. I’m always up for a good superhero movie, and though this year has been full of them, there was just something about Captain America that left me wowed.
Part underdog story, part war movie, with a bittersweet end and the timeless struggle of good against evil, Captain America was something epic and thoroughly American. I admit to never reading the comics, so I went in with no pre-conceived notions of what it “should be.” I watched Steve Rogers (played by Chris Evans) transform from a scrawny soldier-wannabe to America’s own superhero, and during the course of the film, I was taken in by the strong acting, the excellent effects, and the extremely well-written story. I was invested in this film, and I fell in love with the characters. I felt Steve’s yearning to enlist in the Army, I felt his desire to fight for what was right, and I felt his heartbreak when he realized just how late he was for his date. In short, I actually cared. It takes a good movie to absorb me like that.
I think my only complaint was that I didn’t go see it sooner. There was a perfect mix of action and emotion, and the actors seemed very comfortable and natural in their roles. The chemistry between Chris Evans and Hayley Atwell was very natural, and Tommy Lee Jones brought just the right amount of comedy at just the right moments. Hugo Weaving portrayed the perfect power-mad villain, and every single member of the cast made a good movie great.
Not only was the movie an excellent stand-alone, but for me it built off the other Avengers movie to create the perfect penultimate Avengers film. The Avengers trailer at the end was the icing on the cake, and I find myself counting down the months until I can return to the world of Captain America and the rest.
If you haven’t seen this movie, I highly recommend it to anyone that loves action, a bit of drama and romance, and some good old-fashioned superhero butt-kicking. I’ll catch you guys at the premiere of The Avengers!