What Do The Critics Say?

"Girls, who might think this is not for them, get little known Londoner Hayley Atwell’s perfectly-acted turn as Agent Carter. She has the best-written female role in this type of film since Kirsten Dunst’s Mary Jane Watson put such heart into the first two Spider-Man movies. Hugo Weaving is pleasingly credible as the villain Johann Schmidt/Red Skull, while Star Trek’s Chris Evans is a new breed of superstar. Meanwhile, older viewers will enjoy Toby Jones's Dr Zola as well as the chance to see the now sixty four year old Tommy Lee Jones back in his pomp." Graham Young BIRMINGHAM MAIL "Captain America takes you back to the simplicity of a Saturday morning serial where you cheered the hero and booed the villain. Everything is clear cut, action-packed and uncomplicated. You might yearn for a bit more of the daredevil exhilaration of Indiana Jones but this is still a good deal more fun than Green Lantern. CAPTAIN America is the Charles Atlas of comic book superheroes." Allan Hunter DAILY EXPRESS "The story is a fantastical and fevered comic book affair in which the ultimate baddie, Johann Schmidt, played with icy venom and boiling hate by Hugo Weaving, is even worse than his Nazi boss Adolf. Technically outstanding, Captain America offers all the visual thrills of a superhero action movie set in the recent past, and boasts marvellous characterisations from a top cast. The super hero recipe is the Marvel gift that keeps giving and Captain America sticks to it with the best ingredients it can find by way of cast, to deliver a star spangled burger with the lot." Andrew L Urban URBAN CINEFILE "Marvel Comics stalwart Captain America never has had a fair deal in Hollywood; from chintzy matinee serials to cheesy TV movies and a stinky straight-to-video disaster in the ’90s, Finally, at long last, the shield slinger gets a big-budget summer popcorn spectacular and mostly delivers the goods: a goofy, old-fashioned, honest to goodness superhero movie worth saluting. After a decade of Dark Knights and doom and gloom predominating the spandex set, it’s a relief to see a noble, essentially uncomplicated funny book character, even if the good captain is square as a brick." Corey Hall METRO TIMES "Marvel are having a bumper year. After surprising us all with the hugely enjoyable Thor they've only gone and done it again. Tommy Lee Jones's hard-ass Colonel gets the best lines, while Tucci and Weaving duke it out for the best OTT German accent, with Tucci taking the crown. Alongside them Evans - despite being a gifted comic actor: wisely decides to play it straight. The Brits here are all on great form, with Toby Jones as a Nazi scientist, Dominic Cooper as Howard Stark (Iron Man's dad) and Hayley Atwell as the feisty love interest." Alex Zane THE SUN

The Inside Story Captain America (the Super Soldier alter ego of young patriot Steve Rogers) marked his first Marvel appearance in March of 1941, eight months prior to the U.S. entry into WWII; the unforgettable comic book cover image displayed a young hero, with the American flag on his chest, punching Adolf Hitler square in the jaw. Such an unadulterated political stance landed creators Joe Simon (the first editor of Timely Comics) and the late Jack Kirby (August 28th 1917 – February 6th, 1994) in hot water, but it also forever announced the arrival of a bold champion for those suffering at the hands of tyranny and militaristic authoritarianism. Simon and Kirby made no bones about the super hero's overriding goal. The staunchly aggressive art created quite a stir, as Simon remembers: "This was the time just before the War, and we were besieged by political activists who used to have big rallies at Madison Square Garden. There would be fifty thoudsand people in the rallies. Some found out where we lived, and these very aggressive people would protest at us and spit on us. The FBI found out what was going on and they assigned agents to be at our offices, just in case." Marvel Studios President and "Captain America: The First Avenger" producer Kevin Feige observed, "When you have Captain America punching out Hitler in March 1941, before Pearl Harbor, it‘s definitely a statement, which proclaimed, 'We cannot sit by on the sidelines anymore.' That immediately spoke to Steve Rogers and Captain America as a character." Indeed, so imminent was the Axis threat in 1941 that the comic book's creators worked backwards, beginning with their villain and crafting a hero in response (classically, the hero comes first). Simon and Kirby sat down and designed varying versions of Captain America, finally settling on one in particular that founder Martin Goodman loved (Goodman began Marvel as Timely Publications in 1939). Market response was positive and immediate, and the book started selling out. Many iterations later, Captain America remains, in many ways, relatively unchanged. Simon (TV'S "Captain America") notes: "They‘ve done a lot of things since I was working on the character, however, we‘re still reminded who Captain America is and what he is. He is a symbol. He is an icon." It was not until September of 1963 that Marvel Comics debuted "The Avengers", a super group comprised of four of Marvel‘s most beloved characters: Iron Man, Thor, The Hulk, (all created in the 1960‘s) and Captain America (a character created two decades earlier), earning him the title of The First Avenger. Since his debut, Captain America comics have sold more than two hundred and ten million copies in more than seveny countries. And now, as fans celebrate the seventieth birthday of the super hero, Marvel Studios releases the origin story of how Steve Rogers became the first Avenger, Captain America. Already well versed in successfully adapting graphic novels to films, the Studio remained firm in its decision to keep the story in the era in which it was conceived. As Feige stated, "It is my belief that we could not have created this notion of an interlinked Marvel cinematic universe without Captain America, because he is the start of the Marvel universe: not only in the history of our comics, but within the overall notion of enhanced humans. Whether that human has been bitten by a spider, exposed to gamma rays, or encased in a self-built metal suit, the notion of a super-powered human started with Steve Rogers, Captain America. You can‘t tell Captain America‘s story without it taking place in that period. Is this the authentic WWII period that you see on the History Channel? Well, no." Director/executive producer Joe Johnston agrees, noting, "You only really get one chance to do an origin story. The 1940s were such an energetic era, fueled by the optimistic belief that right triumphs. Cinematically, it is such a toy box of vehicles, fashion and architecture and we fill it with the Marvel gadgets and weaponry, it just seemed like a great opportunity to do this story first, then move on." The accomplished team of Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely has been writing scripts for fifteen years (including all three of the "Chronicles of Narnia"). McFeely adds, "Captain America is not only such a great embodiment of the American ideal of the time: he also is a prototypical hero, one who wasn‘t born to it, but had to work for it; with unwavering courage and belief in himself. Although those things can transfer quite well to modern day, if you have a hero dressed up like a flag, it might be a bit more challenging to accept that in a contemporary context. The fact they wanted to do it right, frankly, made it very appealing." In Johnston, Marvel found an ideal director to helm the project. They needed someone who not only wanted to tell the story, but who could also give the story a heart. Johnston began his career early on in special effects, worked at the prestigious Industrial Light & Magic, and shared the 1982 Oscar® for Best Visual Effects for "Raiders of the Lost Ark" with Kit West, Bruce Nicholson and, dual Oscar winner Richard Edlund. His gifts as a story teller and his familiarity with the technical aspects of bringing a vintage adventure tale to life made him the ideal person to direct, "Captain America: The First Avenger". "I‘ve been a huge fan of Joe Johnston almost my entire life, right from his design work on the original "Star Wars". His career has been leading up to doing a Marvel movie that is cutting-edge,that is contemporary, that has a heart" Feige notes. "His film "October Sky" is an amazing, relatable piece of filmmaking." As the script began to take shape, Emmy Award winning screenwriters Markus and McFeely ("The Life & Death of Peter Sellers") were constantly working to make sure the story of Captain America dovetailed perfectly with the other existing characters and plotlines in the Marvel Universe." The writers began with the blueprint found on the pages of Captain America comic books, immersing themselves in that world and hungrily pored over stack after stack of issues. In telling the tale from the beginning with Steve Rogers, the story would need to give rise to the entire Marvel universe, a fact that the writers did not take lightly. "We are the midwives who help give birth to this whole thing," Markus joked. Casting Steve Rogers/Captain America would prove to be a long and arduous task. On paper, his character goes from one extreme to the other, from put-upon reject to dynamic leader. Where do you find someone who can start off as a shy, undersized adult, capable of gaining audience sympathy and respect, who transforms into a tough, believable leader, able to legitimately challenge an elite force of Hitler‘s most unscrupulous soldiers? The filmmakers went through many names who, for one reason or another, were ticked off the list. Chris Evans (who was cast as Kyle in the 2004 Brian Robbins film, "The Perfect Score") found his way onto the list, having previously collaborated with Marvel, portraying Johnny Storm/Human Torch in "Fantastic Four" and its 2007 sequel, "Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer". As the list grew smaller, his name remained. "We all really liked Chris and, it‘s funny, his name was there from the start. It's just, as filmmakers, we took this roundabout journey back to him," Feige ("Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer") recalls. "Like once you clear the forest, you can see the tree at the center." "We realized that Chris met with all the criteria, everything that this character needed to be. He was charming. He is boyish, but still capable of being a man and being a leader. He looks like he‘s just walked out of the comic books," Johnston ("Jurassic Park III" & "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids") notes. Evans admits he was nervous about taking the role. "I‘d be lying by saying I wasn‘t massively apprehensive at first, but it‘s a role that is an honor to play and I really wanted to do him justice." So how did the filmmakers convince him that he was right for the role? They called a meeting and pitched Evans on the character, not the action movie. Concentrating on who Steve Rogers is. With the key casting of Evans, the filmmakers off to a strong start. The myriad of other characters, runs the gamut of all types, a full company of international players to tell the origin story. To do this, Marvel continued its unofficial-official policy of choosing performers first. The net was summarily cast wide and Marvel assembled a stellar and varied lineup of performers, from fresh faces to lauded veterans. 1994 Academy Award® winner Tommy Lee Jones ("The Fugitive") was cast as Colonel Chester Phillips, Captain America‘s commanding officer; three time Australian Film Institute Award winner Hugo Weaving plays Johann Schmidt/Red Skull, the nefarious head of HYDRA; Two time EMMY Award and two time Golden Globe winner (as well as Academy Award® nominee for "The Lovely Bones") Stanley Tucci is Dr Abraham Erskine, the creator of Project Rebirth, and the man who selects Steve Rogers to become the program‘s first subject; Golden Globe nominee Hayley Atwell ("The Pillars of the Earth") plays military liaison officer Peggy Carter; Sebastian Stan ("Black Swan") plays Steve's closest friend, 'Bucky' Barnes; Dominic Cooper ("Mamma Mia!" & "Tamara Drewe") plays wealthy industrialist and inventor Howard Stark; and 2007 AFLS Award winner Toby Jones ("Infamous") as Arnim Zola, a Nazi-collaborating scientist. Joining Captain America's 'Howlin Commandos' are 2004 Golden Satellite Award winner Neal McDonough ("Boomtown") as Dum Dum Dugan; Independent Spirit Award winner Derek Luke ("Antwone Fisher") as Gabe Jones; Kenneth Choi ("Street Kings") as Morita; Bruno Ricci ("My Afternoons with Margueritte") as Jacques Dernier; and J.J. Feild ("Centurion") as James Montgomery Falsworth. 2005 Cannes Film Festival Best Actor Tommy Lee Jones ("The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada"), stands as one in a generation of actors at the top of his profession, having gotten there by countless superb performances. "I play the Colonel, sort of this gruff military man in charge of the unit that produces Captain America. I think there‘s always sort of one of 'me' in these films, but I like what Joe and Kevin have tried to do to make it unique." Weaving ("The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert") admits to knowing very little about the comic book characters, or indeed, just how iconic his character is. "I knew nothing about the Captain America stories, and I have a very limited knowledge of super heroes in general. It‘s been an education for me to become part of this world. Johann Schmidt is a German officer who has an interest in a power beyond an Earthly power and, as far as villains go, I think that makes him all the more interesting." "The most appealing thing for me when I read the script was that I could relate to this woman being in a male-dominated environment," Atwell recalls. "She has a fight in her, which I always find very attractive in a character, and she has a mystery about her. I think that makes her formidable, particularly to Steve." What's It All About?

1942. The war rages in Europe. In American, Steve Rogers, a brave but underweight and sickly 'runt', is constantly being rejected for enlistment. Until he is given a chance by Dr Erskine to undergo an experimental treatment for a Super Soldier program headed up by Colonel Phillips. Erskine's machine, built by Howard Stark, transforms him from a weekling to a resilient soldier. But, while Steve may be itching to get to the battlefields, the powers to be send him on an extensive tour under the watchful eye of British intelligence agent Peggy Carter, using him to promote war bonds and boost morale. Dressed in the colours of Old Glory Steve's relegated to performimg as Captain America. His wish to become a real soldier, comes when egomaniac Nazi, Johann Schmidt, unleashes his plot to obliterate most of the world using a super-force developed by Dr Arnim Zola. Sent to Europe, he is once again assigned to Colonel Phillips. When an attack on Schmidt's strong-hold goes wrong, Captain America steps into the battle.

The Verdict "Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, along comes this beauty from the Marvel Comics stable, "Captain America The First Avenger". Those who love a good comic to the big-screen conversion, will get more than their monies worth here. Thankfully this one isn't a full on tale of America saving the world. There's no long winded speeches, no saluting the flag and not a hint of the 'Star Spangled Banner' to distract us from the damn good storyline by screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. The filmmakers are to be applauded for their casting choices. Evans, Atwell, Jones, Cooper and Weaving, give performances that will keep audiences rivetted to the screen. Good chemistry between Atwell and Evans's characters begs the question: will their relationship develope further? Stay till the end of the credits for a sneek peek at what is to come. "Captain America The First Avenger" may not end the way many of us wish it would, but then again, the future looks very good for another Marvel franchise. 3D or 2D? Either way it's a very entertaining experience that should sit well with cinemagoers. 4 STARS." Who Is Playing Who?

Chris Evans Hayley Atwell Sebastian Stan Tommy Lee Jones Hugo Weaving Dominic Cooper Richard Armitage Stanley Tucci Toby Jones Neal McDonough Derek Luke Kenneth Choi JJ Feild Bruno Ricci Lex Shrapnel Michael Brandon

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Captain America/Steve Rogers Peggy Carter James Buchanan Barnes Colonel Phillips Johann Schmidt/Red Skull Howard Stark Heinz Kruger Dr Abraham Erskine Dr Arnim Zola Timothy 'Dum Dum' Dugan Gabe Jones Jim Morita James Montgomery Falsworth Jacques Dernier Gilmore Hodge Senator Brandt

The Production Team Directed by Joe Johnston Screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely From the comic book by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby Produced by Kevin Feige & Amir Madani Original Music by Alan Silvestri Cinematography by Shelly Johnson Film Editing by Robert Dalva & Jeffrey Ford Casting by Sarah Finn/Randi Hiller/Priscilla John Production Design by Rick Heinrichs Art Direction by Neal Callow/Dean Clegg/Jason Knox-Johnston/Phil Sims/Clint Wallace Set Decoration by John Bush Costume Design by Anna B Sheppard Run Time 124 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2011 - Paramount Pictures/Marvel - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2011 - The Movie Pages & Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved. Protected by Australian & International Copyright, Trademark Laws & Intellectual Property Rights.