CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER

US, 2011, 125 minutes. Colour.
Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Dominic Cooper, Stanley Tucci, Samuel L. Jackson, Toby Jones, Neal Mc Donough, Derek Luke, Michael Brandon, David Bradley.
Directed by Joe Johnston.

Steve Rogers, the puny little fellow who tries to enlist in World War II, in the steps of his mother and father who served their country, but who is constantly rejected because of a long list of ailments, is a much more human character than Tony Stark, Iron Man, Thor or Bruce Banner, The Hulk. They are Marvel Comics four Avengers (and the end of this film has quite an enticing trailer for the 2012 release of all four together in The Avengers). Even when Steve is transformed into a heroic-sized hulk, he is sympathetic. And then he becomes Captain America, also sympathetic.

The advantage of this film is that it is set in 1942 and turns into a war movie – or a war movie that draws on Marvel Comic heroics. This is a re-interpretation of the war and its battles – if Quentin Tarantino can rewrite war history according to his lights, then why not the exploits of Captain America?

Dr Erskine (an always good value Stanley Tucci) chooses Steve for a transforming experiment. He has already had some success in Germany before the war, changing Nazi Johann Schmidt into the superhuman Red Skull. Hugo Weaving glowers and snarls very effectively, even when he removes his mask and is seen, Red Skull and all.

But, what to do with the hulk-hunk Steve? A senator decides that he is valuable as a war bond sales promoter (a bit like the Iwo Jima heroes in Flags of our Fathers) and he is sent around the nation with a costume, a set of dancing girls, a theme song and some theatrical pyrotechnics. On a trip to the troops in Italy, however, he is booed. Which means he wants to do something for the country that involves his strength. He discovers that these troops are the squad in which his best friend, Jimmy Barnes (Sebastian Stan) enlisted, and they have been captured by Schmidt. Despite the scepticism of Colonel Phillips (Tommy Lee Jones being Tommy Lee Jones) and the concern of British agent, Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), he goes and conquers and frees them all.

The only thing left to do, of course, is to confront Red Skull. Which he does, though not quite with the ending we might have imagined.

This is good old escapist fare, a combination of action and patriotic gestures, a touch of romance, sinister uber-Nazi soldiery and Toby Jones as an evil scientist to match the good scientist. Captain America is the All-American? hero – and, happily, he will be back.

1. The popularity of Marvel Comics? Their long history? The film versions and traditions? The interlinking of the characters and stories? American heroes? Captain America as the first of the Avengers because of his action in World War Two?

2. The World War Two setting, the reinterpretation of the war and action? This film successful as a war film? The military aspects? The destruction of the arms factories?

3. The stunts, the special effects? The blend of realism and imagination?

4. The opening, the discovery of the plane, opening up the interior of the plane? Captain America’s emblem? The end of the film and the return to this sequence? Finding Captain America, restoring him, his listening to the 1941 ballgame, going out into contemporary New York? His hitting of the punch-bag? The new mission and the gathering of the Avengers?

5. The background of Norse mythology? The Nazis and Hitler’s interest? The contrast between Schmidt and Hitler? Schmidt and his being transformed by Professor Erskine, becoming a superman? The invasion of Norway? Confronting the guardian of the relic? Bringing in the troops, killing the guardian, taking the power, going back to his own headquarters? His work with Doctor Zola? Their being overwhelmed by the power, giving the power to the weapons, setting up various arms plants? Schmidt’s ambitions? His capturing of the Americans, barns for an experiment? The confronting of Captain America? Taking off his mask, becoming Red Skull? The confrontation and his escape? The build-up to the final conflict and his destruction?

6. Steve and James? Friends? Steve as small and puny, the memory of his father and his skill in the war, his mother, their deaths? His being refused? On the date with Steve? Going to the World Fair? The professor observing him? His new application, the revelation that he had been rejected five times? Doctor Erskine and his admiration for Steve’s character? His being allowed to enlist? Colonel Phillips and the hard regime? Wanting Hodge to be the experimental soldier? His going to do the drills, his being attacked by people, his failure? His falling on the grenade – and Hodge being a coward? His being chosen for the experiment?

7. The plan, Doctor Erskine, Colonel Phillips, Peggy Carter, the senator? The funds? Going to Brooklyn, the cover for the laboratory? Yet the Nazi spies present? The preparation for the process, the machine, his going in and hardly fitting? The injections, the transformation, his cries? His wanting to go on? The transformation into the powerful figure and physique? The spy, stealing the material? The escape, shooting, Doctor Erskine being shot, yet his pride in Steve? The chase, his ability to run and leap? The crashes? The boy into the water, saving him? The spy taking cyanide?

8. The senator, the discussions with the military, wanting Steve to promote war bonds, his becoming Captain America, the costume, the song, the dancing girls, the audiences, touring the country? The patriotism? Giving a tone to Captain America, his image, the effect on Steve? Going to be with the troops and his being booed?

9. Colonel Phillips, his hard attitude in Italy? Severity towards Peggy? Peggy and her interest in Steve? Yet saying that he did not understand women?

10. Peggy, British, recruited, her work? The attraction? The discussions about women? Her jealousy with the officer kissing Steve? Helping him, participating in war action?

11. Howard Stark, his skills, engineering, at the Expo? His car and the failure, his quips? The development of weapons and machines? His flying Steve to be dropped into Red Skull’s area? Steve and his jealousy of Peggy being with Stark? The further tests, the building of the shield? Stark as an ally for the Avengers?

12. Steve going on a mission becoming Captain America, his being flown to the enemy area, parachuting? His ability in getting into the compound? The strategy, the soldiers and their imprisonment, finding them, freeing them, finding Jimmy and releasing him? Colonel Phillips and his scepticism? Their return and the triumph?

13. Steve becoming Captain America? His uniform? The flag? The shield and the new metal? His missions? Having seen Red Skull’s map? Recruiting his group? Their spirit, comradeship?

14. The train, the slide, the attack on the train, the weaponry, Jimmy and his falling from the train? Steve blaming himself?

15. Doctor Zola, his capture, being interrogated by Colonel Phillips, the steak meal – with broccoli and boiled potatoes? The getting of information from Doctor Zola, the threats?

16. The build-up to the final attack, the troop, victory, the confrontation with Red Skull? Yet the crash of the plane – and Steve being preserved for seventy years?

17. The popular American hero, the atmosphere of the war? The comics coming out before Peal Harbour – and Steve as a foe of Hitler before the war? Audiences responding to a superhero of the past? The spirit of American patriotism?