CAPTAIN AMERICA: The First Avenger - Post Release Thread - Page 7

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby Bear 
Was there Captain America-flavour ice cream?

No, but there was Captain America-flavor ice cream.  Talk American, buddy!  

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/07/04/baskin-robbins-captain-america-treats/

That reminds me, this one time, when I was really little, I ate so many Incredible Hulk ice creams that my poo turned green and Mum banned me from ever having another one.

That's my random non-sequitur for the day.

This movie did let me down. I'm a huge fan of 40's-style flicks, especially WW2 movies, and this seemed like a no-brainer to be a Raiders-style shitshow of epic proportions.

'The Rocketeer' I have a love for, even though it is clunky, although I could never really put my finger on why. Amazing soundtrack, amazing character, the perfect bad guys in the perfect setting. So all these years I wondered why it never quite worked.

Then I saw 'Captain America' and finally clued into why; Joe Johnston cannot direct action scenes. For editors, the old rule of thumb for salvaging a badly-shot sequence has always been to cut it down to it's best shots, and if need be, turn it into a montage ... Well la-de-da, every single action sequence that I saw was basically that. Instead of giving the audience an escalating action sequence, all I saw was blandly shot stuff until the damn thing sped up into 'MONTAGE MODE!' and the scene clunkily ended. 

You think back to a perfect action flick like 'Ronin' or 'Raiders' or even something like 'Mission : Impossible', and there's always the scene where EVERYTHING FINALLY COMES TOGETHER for the hero and he's finally put in a situation where he can kick ass in a fantastic action setting. The music swells, the theme blares at a frenetic speed, and you can barely keep your ass in your seat ...

... In this movie you've got the perfect bloody bad guys, with the perfect arch nemesis, and the embodiment of someone who could kick all kinds of ass, and we were left with 14-second action sequences followed by another 25 minutes of plot/character development. Which is more or less what happened in 'The Rocketeer'; Joe Johnston is like the ultimate flirty virgin; lots of talk and show and tell, but when it comes down to play ball, he doesn't know what the hell he's doing.

I had some AMC credit, a hankering for more Howling Commando action, and an interest in seeing some 3D pizzazz.  So, I went to see it again in 3D.  Well, the 3D hurt the movie.  It looked much better in 2D.  A lot of the Skinny Steve effects were ruined by the 3D.  The whole thing looked too dark.  Post-converting live action movies is a stupid plan.

I'll admit that I'd rather see Baron Zemo or a more robotic Zola for part two, but this choice is rather interesting.

http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2011/08/27/captain-america-writer-how-about-peter-dinklage-as-modok/

Please God yes.

There's no reason why we can't have Zemo and MODOK in the same film.  Save robot Zola and the return of the Red Skull for Captain America 3.

S.D. Bob Plissken, You are right!  Of course, it would add to the tension of...HYDRA and A.I.M. in the same film.  Remember MODOK was a creation of A.I.M.  I could also see Toby Jones getting his traditional Comic look, from A.I.M. as well!

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPL 

I'll admit that I'd rather see Baron Zemo or a more robotic Zola for part two, but this choice is rather interesting.

 

http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2011/08/27/captain-america-writer-how-about-peter-dinklage-as-modok/

Dinklage as MODOK seems like nerd baiting of the highest order.

Still, I can't seem to look away... so shiny...

Coming to 3D blu/blu in October, which is cool by me because I really want to see this again. That said, list price is redick.

~$35 US is the standard for the 3D blu combo packs.  What's list for this one?

$54.99 according to Amazon.

For that price, I had better receive a signed nude picture of Hayley Atwell... or at least Tommy Lee Jones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrTyres 

For that price, I had better receive a signed nude picture of Hayley Atwell... or at least Tommy Lee Jones.

"I DIDN'T WANT A NUDE PICTURE OF YOU!!!"

"I don't care!"

Hell, for $60 that blu-ray better come with a life-size shield. 

Screw 3D Blu until prices for 3D TVs and glasses hit an even remotely reasonable level.  The only brightside to the 3D televisions right now is the fact that I'll be able to get a nice big plasma TV this winter for a really fucking good deal.

I'll stick with the regular Blu-ray, which will likely hit shelves at $20-25.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnooj82 

There was no ice cream here, my friend...

Is that the white Tyrone Biggums?

Stupidly overpriced or not, caught the film again last night and I think it might work even better. You notice a lot more, especially the performances. Atwell does so much with what small amount she's given it's incredible. Hell, I had a crush on her big time this go around.

The theater was still about a quarter full (small theater, of course), and that made me happy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pop Zeus 

Coming to 3D blu/blu in October, which is cool by me because I really want to see this again. That said, list price is redick.

Where are you seeing October as the release month?  I mean, three months later?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc Phibes 

Where are you seeing October as the release month?  I mean, three months later?

October 25th to be exact.

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=7201
 

Awesome.  I wasn't expecting the release until November or December.  That's actually a perfect release date for me, for certain Halloween reasons.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc Phibes 

Awesome.  I wasn't expecting the release until November or December.  That's actually a perfect release date for me, for certain Halloween reasons.

I'm curious... what are the Halloween needs for CAPT AMERICA? Really lucky trick-r-treaters in your neighborhood? "Ooh, nice Red Skull costume, Johann! Here's a Bluray!"

I'm looking forward to the Agent Coulson shorts on this and the Thor Blu. There was a short clip of one online somewhere (io9 I think) and there was a cool Marvel nod - he filled up at a Roxxon gas station. 

That's an awesome poster!

It's by shokxone-studios at deviantART

Quote:

Originally Posted by DARKMITE8 

I'm curious... what are the Halloween needs for CAPT AMERICA? Really lucky trick-r-treaters in your neighborhood? "Ooh, nice Red Skull costume, Johann! Here's a Bluray!"

Screw the trick-r-treaters.  I'm the Goddamn Red Skull this Halloween.

Here's something to tide you all over until the Blu-ray comes out.  The Art Of The Title takes an in-depth look at the making of the end titles:

http://www.artofthetitle.com/2011/08/30/captain-america/

And you can download a 720p copy of those titles!  Eye candy!  

I grabbed the 'Art of Captain America' coffee-table book, and although the flick didn't grab me the way I hoped it would, the initial designs and whatnot were awesome to look through. As someone whose done character design for movies, it was really nice to see the process for a big-budget movie like this. 

A really disappointing bluray package. I was hoping this would be more in tune with the Iron Man/Hulk releases, with extensive, fun documentaries. Alas, this thing is THORsville. A few short, shallow featurettes and a lazy AVENGERS hype piece with zero new footage. However, unlike THOR, the commentary for FIRST AVENGER is a snooze-worthy bore of the highest order. Want to know which backgrounds are green screen? Or which backgrounds were shot in London vs. U.S.? Or how the skinny Steve effects impacted... the backgrounds? All that and more is included.

Thanks. I'll won't spend two hours on that commentary. I prefer commentaries with behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and discussions of character and plot. Technical explanations are not what I'm after, but I guess some people are into that.

Reminds me of the features DK blu. I was hoping someone would discuss the decision process for the directions they took for Joker and Two-Face - I don't really care how they flipped the truck.

I won't be surprised if we get a more packed SE of The Dark Knight before TDKR hits screens next year.  Considering how stacked the Batman Begins release was, part of me wonders if WB backed off on releasing an interview-filled release due to Ledger's death still not being that far off at the time.

Anyway, as for the Thor and Cap releases?  I'm not surprised they are lighter than the Iron Man and Hulk ones.  If memory serves, both of those hit shelves 6 or more months after their theatrical release.........................as opposed to 4 months (Thor) and 3 months (Cap).

Even the regular dvds of Iron Man and Hulk had tons of extras and all we get now is bare bones. I feel like im getting screwed.

Let's just hope that the eventual home video release of The Avengers is jam-packed with features and that they actually take their time with it instead of rushing it out on shelves as quickly as possible.

Somehow I doubt it though.

Funny how the special features seemed like promotional material for a movie I just bought. Very lacking. 

I picked up the 3D blu, just to future proof my collection (and hoping the movie was worth it.) Thankfully, I still dig the shit out of it. I would've preferred one extended action sequence instead of a montage, but the montage is not bad and it's not even that long. Still, a whole set piece with more character bits thrown in would've given the film more of the truly good stuff. I suppose the danger of repetition is what prevented that. 

I don't get those who think no Marvel film has a remarkable look because this shit is beautiful. Really. The lighting is gorgeous. And short of a few lackluster greenscreen shots, the fx are great. Nick had it right, It's not perfect, but it's Joe Johnston's best film and, on it's own, pretty great.

I dug the Marvel One-Shot. Not a lot of deleted scenes and I can see why they didn't make the cut. 

I agree with nearly everything you wrote, save this - I much preferred the extended talk between Nick Fury and Cap in Times Square.

I still think it's a shame the movie couldn't have ended with Steve's sacrifice; would have made for a stronger film, and you could save the revival for Cap 2. But I get why they had to rush it for the Avengers, and as long as they did, I liked that longer scene.

I think at that point, for me anyways, the extended Nick Fury sequence just kinda dragged the pace down when it should stay at a certain pitch. In the final cut we go from the escape (echoes of the taxi chase), right to the Nick Fury reveal and then to that very apropos last line. It's pretty short and sweet and gets the point across.

Man, I do love this movie, somewhat irrationally. This is my favorite superhero film since Dark Knight.

I love this film. Its unabashed enthusiasm for the material shines through the failings. Can't wait to get the dvd. (still haven't jumped on the blu ray bandwagon yet though)

Finally saw this tonight on blu-ray. Im shocked at how much I really enjoyed this. Also shocked at just how violent it was. I have a feeling on a 2nd watch it's going to feel a little long and the way Bucky died is going to bother me more. I don't mean his death by the way but the way they barely acknowledged it.

I checked this out again, ready to enjoy it more and absolve all its sins. And I thought it was happening, for the first hour. But then the second half happens, and all my issues the first time were remembered. It's honestly a really big disappointment, that I lose so much interest in this so fast, once the first Hydra base blows. Up until then, I'm completely engaged, I'm really into Erskine and Schmidt, and I love the look and the even the score, on second time. But then I can just feel my interest wane. It's a damn shame, because the cast is so spot-on.

I think the characters all work perfectly here, and the romance is maybe the best I've seen in any superhero movie, but man, it just fails as a narrative. I envy you all your enjoyment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waaaaaaaalt 

I have a feeling on a 2nd watch it's going to feel a little long and the way Bucky died is going to bother me more. I don't mean his death by the way but the way they barely acknowledged it.

Heh.

Wish I knew nothing about the character of Bucky, so I could react in a more appropriate manner over his "passing."

Yeah, they clearly cast him with on eye on sequels and Brubaker's run on Cap comics., which was wise.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabe T 

Heh.

 

Wish I knew nothing about the character of Bucky, so I could react in a more appropriate manner over his "passing."

 

Okso your saying he isn't dead? Thats cool I guess but Cap didn't know that. You would think the earth would have shook with his anger but not so much.

We do get a reference to how upset he is through General Phillips when he is interrogating Zola.  That said, a mournful scene would have helped.

The two great failings of Cap (as much as I loved it) are the assault of Zola's train and Bucky's "death".

The train hijack needed to be a giant set piece in the middle of the film. Firefights both in and on top of the train, carriages uncoupling and falling off the mountain etc. That it instantly becomes a corridor shootout is a big missed opportunity.

Equally puzzling is how Bucky's death is treated with no gravitas. My wife who knows nothing about the comics turned to me and said "Does he come back or something?". It plays out like it's a foregone conclusion that he isn't really dead and it's a bizarre choice.

Personally I would have had Bucky sneak onto the bomber unbeknownst to Steve and during the fight saving him from some killer blow before being thrown out of the plane by Scmidt.

Yeah, it would've been nice if the train hijack was at the end of a giant setpiece that starts with Cap and the Howling Commandos raiding a base/lab way into Hitler's territory, that way it makes sense that Cap couldn't hit it sooner into the war. (Of course, Tesseract-mutated wolves that protect the forest lab would've been cool too.) That leads to Zola escaping by train and the movie picking up where it does in the final cut. And really, it would be the Howling Commandos, Bucky and Agent Carter who benefit the most from the additional screen time. In addition to the audience, who can apparently withstand almost 3 hours of Michael Bay's explosions sans characters.

It seems like Stan's portrayal of Bucky has some real darkness or pathos at the edges and we never get to see it fully, only brief glimpses here and there. I wouldn't be surprised if we revisit that scene in a Winter Soldier sequel (just typing that makes me happy.)

Cap's "I can't get drunk" scene is in response to Bucky's death.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Prankster 

Cap's "I can't get drunk" scene is in response to Bucky's death.

I know but considering it's his best friend EVER it didn't seem like it was enough.

To me, it wasn't that Cap wasn't feeling Bucky's death.  It was more like the movie didn't care.

I don't know anything about the character aside from what the movie showed.

More than Cap or the movie, I didn't care about Bucky's death. Like, at all. 

I did care about Erskine. Tucci is really one of the best character actors out there, and he adds a lot to the first half. Too bad the movie forgets about him.