Captain America: The First Avenger reviewed

NOTE: This was shown in glorious 2-D

Another piece of the Avengers assembly is finally....err assembled with Captain America: The First Avenger.  Even in this horrible glut of superhero movies this year, it's a fair chance that one may be a bit tired of it all.  I know I was beginning to tire of it but I know I have to see a Marvel movie since it all leads up to the Avengers in 2012.  So I plopped down with low expectations and wanted to see the Avengers trailer at the end.  But I was kinda shocked and surprised that it turned into a grand, entertaining adventure with lots of old-fashioned derring do.

Steve Rogers is a 90 pound weakling that even me and my pathetic muscles can beat up.  He wants to fight for his country during World War II but he, rightfully, keeps being rejected for being small, weak and full of many diseases.  But he keeps trying and some German scientist refugee offers him a chance to be something special, a super soldier.  And before he knows it, he turns into Captain America., a propaganda machine!  And then he actually joins the battle against Hydra, a splinter group from the Nazi's, that's lead by the evil Red Skull, the first person to be given the super serum.  Then a whole bunch of good-old fashioned American ass-kicking follows.

The movie actually takes its time to set up the situations and characters so nothing is forced through at break-neck speed....except the POW's-cum-Commandos but that's fairly understandable.  The movie does go through with some decent pains to develop Steve Rogers into a weak man with a good heart into a superhero....with a good heart.  The action scenes are crisp, clear and a hoot to watch.  The movie truly shows the it's all about having a good time when it comes to the action.

The acting all-around is almost as good as the first Iron Man movie.  Chris Evans really sells his transformation and Steve Rogers as a good man.  But then again, I always thought that Evans was underrated and he could always be counted on for his charisma and charm at least.  Tommy Lee Jones as the gruff military officer is pretty much Tommy Lee Jones and that's always fine by me.  Hugo Weaving is deliciously entertaining as the Red Skull who knows how to play the evil up.  Everyone else is fine.

While both Iron Man movies had Robert Downey Jr's. remarkable performance, Thor had amazing Shakespearean overtones and The Incredible Hulk had smashing, Captain America also has something special.  This is really good entertainment.  It does everything it's supposed to do, it sets up The Avengers, it's action-packed, it sets up Captain America and it's just plain entertaining.

8/10