Just re-watched this on DVD, and found it stands up pretty well. A decade ago. The MCU was still in early stages of building its empire and the movies had the feeling of freshness and newness, many central characters were being given their full outing on the screen for the first time, and there was lots to look forward to. The first half of CA I think still stands as one of the best Marvel storytelling outings. The second half is more of predictable battle and combat scenes strung together.
Really, the cast is great. Chris Evans totally establishes his ultimate good-guy character fighting on the side of right, truth, and fairness. He looks and acts the part as well as any MCU persona.m and it's no accident he was one of the best-beloved Marvel heros. Add to this Hayley Atwell -- a supporting role here but one that proved to have a lot of longevity (including perhaps the centermost role in the What If --? Alternate-history series, which is loads of fun). Then Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci, and Hugo Weaving, always great. They make it all so easy to watch.
This time through, I was struck by something new: the structural parallels with Wonder Woman (2017). I don't think that was intentional, but several basic elements play out the same way: we have the superpowered hero fighting on the side of right during a World War, his/her intrepid band of companions, the doomed best friend, the villain holding god-like powers, the giant bomber revealed at the end that is carrying a load of Ultimate Weapons. I suppose that just reflects the fact that there aren't a lot of totally innovative plots for movies like this.
Really, the cast is great. Chris Evans totally establishes his ultimate good-guy character fighting on the side of right, truth, and fairness. He looks and acts the part as well as any MCU persona.m and it's no accident he was one of the best-beloved Marvel heros. Add to this Hayley Atwell -- a supporting role here but one that proved to have a lot of longevity (including perhaps the centermost role in the What If --? Alternate-history series, which is loads of fun). Then Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci, and Hugo Weaving, always great. They make it all so easy to watch.
This time through, I was struck by something new: the structural parallels with Wonder Woman (2017). I don't think that was intentional, but several basic elements play out the same way: we have the superpowered hero fighting on the side of right during a World War, his/her intrepid band of companions, the doomed best friend, the villain holding god-like powers, the giant bomber revealed at the end that is carrying a load of Ultimate Weapons. I suppose that just reflects the fact that there aren't a lot of totally innovative plots for movies like this.
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