I was a bit curious as to how well I'd like Captain America as the last time I saw it, there were extenuating circumstances. Namely: Mark Waid was there and was a hell of a nice guy. Also, Austin Books was there shooting t-shirts out of a gun, and the place was full of friendly comic nerds. Also, I'd had a margarita right before the movie.
If you read my review last August, you may recall I sort of freaked out and gushed about the movie.
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| like a boss... |
You know what? I still find this a very satisfying movie, superhero or otherwise. I mean, its not exactly Citizen Kane, and it doesn't have either the grandeur or myth-making of Superman: The Movie, nor the "geez, I can relate" feel of the Young American Hard Luck Case that comes part and parcel with Spider-Man. But its a celebration of what is best about why we fight, and what it means to be the good guy in the old school, unironic way, nor by becoming the anti-hero.
All very strange because I'm not much of a fan of director Joe Johnston, shy of his work on The Rocketeer.
I suppose part of my attraction is still the pacing of the film, and that even more than Iron Man, I feel like we get a complete story that takes place over an extended period of time. And, Cap's evil opposite makes a lot of sense in the context of this film, at least in my crazy head.
Sure, it would have been nice to have Mark Waid stop by and enjoy the movie with me (you're welcome anytime, Mr. Waid), but even without his presence or any comic geeks who are not my wife or my black lab, its still a decent flick and a solid entry in the superhero genre.
Of course, its a mix of the original tales as told my Jack Kirby and Joe Simon (I am aware that Kirby did leave to go serve in WWII after Cap debuted, but am unaware if Simon did the same). Of course it harkens to the Avengers work done around 63'-64' when Cap returned to comics thanks to Smilin' Stan and Jack Kirby. But it also is an interesting mix of both The Ultimates take on things, leaning heavily on the recent work of Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting on Captain America (which is highly readable in collected editions).
Special bonus: I had a moment of clarity not too long ago when some stray neurons fired and I remember trying to impress a girl when I was a freshman in high school by showing her the Captain America poster I'd recently acquired and hung above my dresser. Yeesh.
I found a picture of that poster online.
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| also... like a boss |
She did still go out with me a couple of times. That's the power of Cap, I guess.
Dang, man. What happened to that poster? Also, my picture of Earth? And my Michael Jordan poster...
Good night! I remember that Cap poster! I don't remember where I had seen it, but I recall spending minutes (minutes!) each time I saw it, staring at it, studying the way the bullet bounced off the shield, and the crazy jump + grab + block + grimace the Cap was doing.
ReplyDeleteIt seems likely you saw it in my room or at Austin Books, back in the day. But at the time, it seemed like an incredibly exciting poster. Still, does, I think.
ReplyDeleteIt probably was your poster. I don't recall starring at it in Austin Books.
ReplyDeleteI really don't remember when I got it, but I know I had it then, and it seems more than likely we were nerding around appreciating Cap together.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen this?! http://www.highsnobiety.com/news/2012/03/05/melting-superman-sculpture-at-singapore-art-museum/
ReplyDeleteYeah! Its crazy. I love it!
ReplyDeleteThere's a site called Superman Homepage (its old enough its called a Homepage), and they scour the internet for all things Superman, and its a weird global community of Superman nerds. I think they posted a picture or two from locals who'd seen it.
But, yeah, its a fascinating bit or art!