|
Post by ECM on Jul 27, 2011 19:12:02 GMT -5
So, it's entertaining but it also felt a little, I dunno, poorly paced? For a change, it actually felt a bit too short, something I couldn't say about, oh, Thor, and, as a result, a bit rushed.
I also found the action sequences kinda unsatisfying--they were too short and, generally, badly choreographed (though not Batman Begins badly choreographed, *shudder*).[footnote:1]Yes I know why he did it but that doesn't chance the fact that they sucked something, judging by The Dark Knight, he also felt.[/footnote]
|
|
|
Post by kog3100edw on Jul 27, 2011 19:33:41 GMT -5
I was disappointed by the movie. But I had unreasonably high hopes for too probably.
Too much CG for a character that screams practical effects only. Was done for Indiana Jones and every early Jackie Chan movie. So here you have the ultimate human combatant in a story set in the 1940s. Seems like as solid and non-tech as you could get it would be the way to go. They were already pushing things with all the Hydra gear.
I also think they missed some essential things that make the character great. I enjoyed the first act while he was skinny Steve and actually liked the handling of the experiment's saboteur a lot... it was better than most comic re-tellings.
But after that Cap never gets beyond 'kid from Brookly with big heart'. I realise this is 'Cap's early times' and all that, but by the time he was 'removed' from the war, his training, experiences, and exposure to all facets of humanity had made hime the embodiment of many American ideals (as opposed to propaganda, which is what he started as). When he awakens in modern times in the comics, he is a master tactician, incredibly adaptable, in full understanding of the limits of the super-soldier serum, and probably the Marvel Universe's foremost close combat specialist. The Avengers, Shield, and everyone else grossly underestimated him because they thought of him just as a beefy out-of-his-time-and-depth relic.
The film doesn't really get him past that. They give you glimpses... ie, memorising Hydra's goal map in about four seconds... but he just didn't become the Cap I always picture. Different people emphasize different things, so I'm grateful he got a picture good enough to erase memories of the old TV specials. I think as a movie it is better than Thor or the Edward Norton Hulk film... but I think all the other Avengers movies so far have nailed the essence of their heroes better.
|
|
|
Post by ECM on Jul 27, 2011 20:11:00 GMT -5
Yeah, that's pretty much my point: it needed to be longer to give them time to actually flesh him out. Plus, there were some really, really bad edits where you could see they cut a sizable sequence from the film.
As far as a 'cheap' way to deal with the tactician/leader portion they simply could have had a sequence where Tommy Lee gives him a pile of books on war because "you need to know this stuff before we send you into the field"...then have Cap sauntering out mere hours later w/ "OK, I'm done, when do I leave?" and Jones replies with some mini-quizzes (because he's clearly incredulous that he could be done already)[footnote:1]For added fun, you have Cap start finishing Lee's questions for him then going right into the answer.[/footnote] then Cap shrugs and says "I guess I'm a fast learner"...cue laughter.
'All' of that that would have taken 90 seconds of screen time, tops. (The part w/ the map really doesn't even come close to being an adequate substitute.)
|
|
|
Post by kog3100edw on Jul 28, 2011 4:55:06 GMT -5
....and him hitting a heavy bag for twelve seconds after the credits is no substitute for months and months of physical combat training he had prior to even being sent out on his first mission. He should, in a lot of ways be treated like the Batman. Not dark and scary, but unswerving, dedicated, and extremely well-trained.
Cap's comics are frequently at their most fun when modern characters act like Cap is literally old or from a more ignorant time. And then they not only find he is lightning quick and mentally adapatable but his supposedly out-of-date viewpoint is highly relevant to modern situations. Its like when Clint Eastwood cranks out a powerful filmic statement on racism. Old two-fisted Clint seems like the last guy that would make anything sensitive (if you buy into liberal establishment stereotypes) but there he goes making Invictus and El Torino, the crazy old bastard. People have more to them than just some checklist based on age or background.
The new Captain America film just keeps the character like he's a kid more-or-less. The Cap I know doesn't still have a lot to learn on-the-job by the time he wakes up with the Avengers.
|
|
AllenSmithee
Stripling
Compulsive Pedant
dead men don't have dog days
Posts: 92
|
Post by AllenSmithee on Jul 30, 2011 19:02:50 GMT -5
The ridiculous abandonment of his morals that isn't touched upon as anything important is bogus as well.
"I NEED REVENGE"
Yeah, that's not why you fight, buddy boy.
|
|
|
Post by Justin on Aug 1, 2011 20:55:49 GMT -5
Please tell me you guys sat through the credits to see the Avengers Trailer.
Speaking of trailers, have you guys seen Batman 3 and the new Spidey?
|
|
|
Post by ECM on Aug 1, 2011 21:02:38 GMT -5
Yes, I've seen all of them.
|
|
AllenSmithee
Stripling
Compulsive Pedant
dead men don't have dog days
Posts: 92
|
Post by AllenSmithee on Aug 2, 2011 2:49:20 GMT -5
Yup. Batman and Spidey look pretty terrible!
Batman looks like more Nolan's typical over-rated schlock, and Spidey looks more like Twilight than Spiderman.
|
|
|
Post by elchevalier on Aug 2, 2011 3:03:43 GMT -5
I'm not the biggest fan of Nolan's Batman, i think the two movies so far have been good, but not great. Just don't tell me you prefer Burton's version smithee, they are ok too but hamfisted and overrated by Burton fans. I have to insist, the eternal problem with every single Batman movie is forcing a love interest to Batman, i guess hollywood writters think they need to put a female there to make the character more human, and not that dark. Problem is, they haven't been able to write a proper female character in any of the movies.
|
|
|
Post by Justin on Aug 2, 2011 3:52:02 GMT -5
OMFG, you both are fired. Smithee x2 over the Rubester.
|
|
AllenSmithee
Stripling
Compulsive Pedant
dead men don't have dog days
Posts: 92
|
Post by AllenSmithee on Aug 2, 2011 5:55:54 GMT -5
I hate Tim Burton as well! As far as I'm concerned the only worthwhile Batman theatrical film is The Mask of the Phantasm.
|
|
|
Post by elchevalier on Aug 2, 2011 12:15:53 GMT -5
Good answer, you're cool in my book Smithee. Mask of the Phantom is exactly the only movie so far that broke the rule of giving Batman a poorly written love interest. Something the other movies just haven't learned to do right.
|
|
|
Post by kog3100edw on Aug 2, 2011 18:08:56 GMT -5
Yes. I've seen all the trailers.
I'm not super-hateful about the Nolan Batman films, but the idea of a new Spidey reboot so soon after the Raimi movies coupled with what the trailer actually shows....
My gag reflex refuses to be still.
|
|