Captain America!
Jul. 22nd, 2011 04:04 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
inmyriadbitsSo one of the perks of working at a movie theater is that we have employee screenings of new releases, so I got to go see Captain America at midnight (for free).
And can I just say: OMG YAAAAAAY *TWIRLS*
I've been looking forward to this movie for a while; I'm so enormously fond of Steve Rogers, and I wanted this movie to bring him to life on the big screen for me, and it TOTALLY DID. The movie itself is a bit cheesy (I mean, really, it's Captain America, I expected nothing less), but Steve was so very Steve that I wanted to cheer, and in fact did. I was grinning the entire way home (and not just because I noticed that the manhole covers in our neighborhood are round with concentric circles and a star in the center *cough*).
- STEVE. Steve Rogers, you total dork. I love that the movie picked up on his really, really dryly dorky sense of humor (because he does in fact have one, unlike Superman). I love that he has apparently been beaten up in every alleyway in Brooklyn while standing up to bullies. I love how matter-of-fact he is about being an orphan. I love that he packed books in his suitcase to basic training. I love that Steve will throw himself on a grenade to save everyone else, can stare down Red Skull but can't talk to women, can take on an army of Nazis (and does) but turns himself in for disciplinary action. I love that he has a sketchbook and uses it to express his frustration with being used as propaganda. I love that he doesn't give up, but it's not all stubbornness; I love that he wins the flag by disassembling the flagpole, and that he figures out he's being lied to because he was at that Dodgers game. I love that Steve is so good at fighting with his new and improved body because he's clearly never thought of himself as having limits even before. I love that he takes everything seriously but himself.
- Successfully funny! I was watching with a group of people who will not refrain from mocking everyone and everything quite mercilessly, and there was genuine laughter in our theater -- not the mocking ironic kind, but real, I-think-that's-funny laughter. Like the kid who's all "I can swim, go get him!" (♥), or Erskine and the schnapps, or any number of other little moments.
- I loved all of Steve's scenes with Erskine. I mean, part of that is Stanley Tucci, who is awesome in everything ever, but their connection felt real, full of warmth and dorky jokes and sincere understanding and Steve being straightforwardly, solidly idealistic. As he does.
- LOL THE MUSICAL NUMBER. I remember being really skeptical about that whole concept when I first heard rumors, and I remember thinking that it would be incredibly painful if not handled exactly right. And I think that they handled it exactly right; Steve's discomfort with the whole thing even while he's trying to convince himself that he's still being useful was well done, and it made it work.
- I liked the re-working of Bucky! Because let's face it, the comics version wouldn't really fly these days; the age thing was basically audience wish fulfillment, and the idea of sending a 15-year-old into WWII would be scoffed out of the theater. But they kept the essentials -- them being friends, their comfortable banter, their fighting side by side, and the absolutely heartbreaking essentials of his death (a missed catch, a fall into ice; Evans really sold Steve's reaction, imo). Bucky was also kind of a scary badass when they were fighting; I assume they were writing with an eye to laying the groundwork for him as Winter Soldier, and I'd vote it a success. When I think about it, Bucky really didn't have that much screen time, but what he did have really left an impression.
- The scene where Steve is sitting in the bar after Bucky died was so sad. I mean, what a way to use that -- he can't even get drunk in memory (or forgetfulness) of his best friend. And I liked what Peggy said to him about it, that she said nothing to discourage him from grief but straight-up said that blaming himself was not only pointless but disrespectful of Bucky's choice to fight.
- Speaking of, I also liked Peggy! I wish she'd been given more to do, but I suppose there's only so much you can fit into a movie. You definitely got the sense that she wasn't ceasing to exist and function when not around Steve, unlike a lot of ladies in similar positions, which is nice. And she certainly wasn't a damsel; I love her shooting the driver of the getaway car with such calm confidence. And I liked that once Steve stopped trying to talk to her like she was a girl, they started having real conversations. Theirs is a romance that never was, both in the comics and here, and you get the sense of loss here -- that the war kept them from ever getting the chance to try. (And I'm not gonna lie, I thought Steve keeping her picture in his compass was absolutely darling, and Peggy clearly thought so, too. OH STEVE. How so earnest?)
- The Howling Commandos! I was really happy to see them. Dugan's "That was easy" comment about getting Steve to buy another round had me giggling, and their gleeful destruction of everything Nazi-related was exactly as it ought to be.
- Howard Stark was fun -- I'll be honest, mostly because it was fun picking out things that Tony clearly inherited from his father. I'm curious to see how that all comes up when Tony and Steve meet, actually.
- The action sequences were really fun. Steve fighting was a joy to watch -- he's just so damn efficient, I love it. (I also love when he's infiltrating the base, and he fucking politely knocks on the door to get the guard to open it before knocking him out. OH STEVE. heeee.) The disintegrator beams (was there a real name for them?) were kind of terrifying -- and a really cool effect -- and Red Skull was super super creepy (bravo, Hugo Weaving, you've done it again). It managed to be quite brutal, but in a very...clean-cut sort of way, if that makes sense. It was both comic-book violence and vaguely nostalgic. IDK, I'm not yet able to put my finger on how they pulled it off, but I'll work it out eventually. Still, I like that they managed it. :)
- So, slash-goggles thought: ...Steve is canonically a virgin, then? I mean, he's never even danced with a girl, and clearly can't talk to one, and he really isn't the type to accept a pity-fuck, and then he's pining after Peggy Carter, so...unless he and Bucky messed around, I'm really not seeing him ever getting any action. Hee.
- EEEEEEEEEEEE the post-credits bit! I'm sorry, but I love angsty!insomniac!Steve a lot, and him beating the punching bag into dust was very cool. AND THEN. THEN WE GET A MINI-TRAILER FOR THE AVENGERS! I'm really glad that it's going to be playing a million times over while we do theater cleans at work, because I want to watch it a million times more. Thor! Loki! Tony Stark being snarky! Steve being angsty! Clint Barton! The Hulk! Black Widow! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY I can't wait for Steve to meet Tony, because man are they not going to get along at first, lol. Also, the sheer amount of good-looking people in that cast? *fans self*
Oh my god I really need to stop gushing and go to bed, I work in six hours.
And can I just say: OMG YAAAAAAY *TWIRLS*
I've been looking forward to this movie for a while; I'm so enormously fond of Steve Rogers, and I wanted this movie to bring him to life on the big screen for me, and it TOTALLY DID. The movie itself is a bit cheesy (I mean, really, it's Captain America, I expected nothing less), but Steve was so very Steve that I wanted to cheer, and in fact did. I was grinning the entire way home (and not just because I noticed that the manhole covers in our neighborhood are round with concentric circles and a star in the center *cough*).
- STEVE. Steve Rogers, you total dork. I love that the movie picked up on his really, really dryly dorky sense of humor (because he does in fact have one, unlike Superman). I love that he has apparently been beaten up in every alleyway in Brooklyn while standing up to bullies. I love how matter-of-fact he is about being an orphan. I love that he packed books in his suitcase to basic training. I love that Steve will throw himself on a grenade to save everyone else, can stare down Red Skull but can't talk to women, can take on an army of Nazis (and does) but turns himself in for disciplinary action. I love that he has a sketchbook and uses it to express his frustration with being used as propaganda. I love that he doesn't give up, but it's not all stubbornness; I love that he wins the flag by disassembling the flagpole, and that he figures out he's being lied to because he was at that Dodgers game. I love that Steve is so good at fighting with his new and improved body because he's clearly never thought of himself as having limits even before. I love that he takes everything seriously but himself.
- Successfully funny! I was watching with a group of people who will not refrain from mocking everyone and everything quite mercilessly, and there was genuine laughter in our theater -- not the mocking ironic kind, but real, I-think-that's-funny laughter. Like the kid who's all "I can swim, go get him!" (♥), or Erskine and the schnapps, or any number of other little moments.
- I loved all of Steve's scenes with Erskine. I mean, part of that is Stanley Tucci, who is awesome in everything ever, but their connection felt real, full of warmth and dorky jokes and sincere understanding and Steve being straightforwardly, solidly idealistic. As he does.
- LOL THE MUSICAL NUMBER. I remember being really skeptical about that whole concept when I first heard rumors, and I remember thinking that it would be incredibly painful if not handled exactly right. And I think that they handled it exactly right; Steve's discomfort with the whole thing even while he's trying to convince himself that he's still being useful was well done, and it made it work.
- I liked the re-working of Bucky! Because let's face it, the comics version wouldn't really fly these days; the age thing was basically audience wish fulfillment, and the idea of sending a 15-year-old into WWII would be scoffed out of the theater. But they kept the essentials -- them being friends, their comfortable banter, their fighting side by side, and the absolutely heartbreaking essentials of his death (a missed catch, a fall into ice; Evans really sold Steve's reaction, imo). Bucky was also kind of a scary badass when they were fighting; I assume they were writing with an eye to laying the groundwork for him as Winter Soldier, and I'd vote it a success. When I think about it, Bucky really didn't have that much screen time, but what he did have really left an impression.
- The scene where Steve is sitting in the bar after Bucky died was so sad. I mean, what a way to use that -- he can't even get drunk in memory (or forgetfulness) of his best friend. And I liked what Peggy said to him about it, that she said nothing to discourage him from grief but straight-up said that blaming himself was not only pointless but disrespectful of Bucky's choice to fight.
- Speaking of, I also liked Peggy! I wish she'd been given more to do, but I suppose there's only so much you can fit into a movie. You definitely got the sense that she wasn't ceasing to exist and function when not around Steve, unlike a lot of ladies in similar positions, which is nice. And she certainly wasn't a damsel; I love her shooting the driver of the getaway car with such calm confidence. And I liked that once Steve stopped trying to talk to her like she was a girl, they started having real conversations. Theirs is a romance that never was, both in the comics and here, and you get the sense of loss here -- that the war kept them from ever getting the chance to try. (And I'm not gonna lie, I thought Steve keeping her picture in his compass was absolutely darling, and Peggy clearly thought so, too. OH STEVE. How so earnest?)
- The Howling Commandos! I was really happy to see them. Dugan's "That was easy" comment about getting Steve to buy another round had me giggling, and their gleeful destruction of everything Nazi-related was exactly as it ought to be.
- Howard Stark was fun -- I'll be honest, mostly because it was fun picking out things that Tony clearly inherited from his father. I'm curious to see how that all comes up when Tony and Steve meet, actually.
- The action sequences were really fun. Steve fighting was a joy to watch -- he's just so damn efficient, I love it. (I also love when he's infiltrating the base, and he fucking politely knocks on the door to get the guard to open it before knocking him out. OH STEVE. heeee.) The disintegrator beams (was there a real name for them?) were kind of terrifying -- and a really cool effect -- and Red Skull was super super creepy (bravo, Hugo Weaving, you've done it again). It managed to be quite brutal, but in a very...clean-cut sort of way, if that makes sense. It was both comic-book violence and vaguely nostalgic. IDK, I'm not yet able to put my finger on how they pulled it off, but I'll work it out eventually. Still, I like that they managed it. :)
- So, slash-goggles thought: ...Steve is canonically a virgin, then? I mean, he's never even danced with a girl, and clearly can't talk to one, and he really isn't the type to accept a pity-fuck, and then he's pining after Peggy Carter, so...unless he and Bucky messed around, I'm really not seeing him ever getting any action. Hee.
- EEEEEEEEEEEE the post-credits bit! I'm sorry, but I love angsty!insomniac!Steve a lot, and him beating the punching bag into dust was very cool. AND THEN. THEN WE GET A MINI-TRAILER FOR THE AVENGERS! I'm really glad that it's going to be playing a million times over while we do theater cleans at work, because I want to watch it a million times more. Thor! Loki! Tony Stark being snarky! Steve being angsty! Clint Barton! The Hulk! Black Widow! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY I can't wait for Steve to meet Tony, because man are they not going to get along at first, lol. Also, the sheer amount of good-looking people in that cast? *fans self*
Oh my god I really need to stop gushing and go to bed, I work in six hours.