Captain America: The First Avenger

Well it's finally happened. Marvel have dropped the ball. In setting all sights on next years epic superhero team-up The Avengers, they have been racing to get all story lines in order before it's release. It was bound to happen really. So far each of the four films in the Marvel Studios Universe (Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor) has done their job to the best of their ability in succeeding being stand alone films first and teasers for The Avengers second. But here in Captain America, shows for the first time that they were clearly more preoccupied with getting all those heroes in the one room for next year, than actually developing a decent story for Steve Rogers et al. Director Joe Johnston has made a career out of being a poor man's Spielberg. Long before JJ Abrams came along with the homage to end all homages in Super 8, Johnston was the go-to-guy whenever getting Spielberg was deemed too expensive. As a result, he turned in such efforts as a poor mans Indiana Jones (Hidalgo, The Rocketeer), a poor mans Jurassic Park (Jurassic Park III, Jumanji) alongside Honey, I Shrunk The Kids and last years contender for worst movie of 2010: The Wolfman. Not exactly an impressive track record. And yet Marvel decided he was perfect for Captain America. Each of their choices so far to helm these huge budgeted superhero flicks has been both interesting and fitting. Jon Favreau and Kenneth Branagh both seemed left field choices to take on films of this nature and yet they knocked their efforts out of the park and both Joss Whedon and Shane Black set to continue that trend with their upcoming efforts across the next few years. And yet when Johnston was announced, I didn't think 'how interesting'; rather a sickening groan of 'oh no'. However, while I had my serious doubts about 2011's previous contender Thor, that actually turned out to be surprisingly good fun, so surely the Captain couldn't be as bad as I might have thought? He is after all, one of Marvel's last untouched top shelf superhero's that they have not yet adapted for the screen in their new line. And so I reigned in my doubts for 'Cap'. How wrong I was....

Captain America has a distinction from most other recent superhero films; it is set almost entirely during World War II. We open with a small, skinny and sickly Steve Rogers (Chris Evens) as he repeatedly tries to join the army, to no avail. Here is a man who detests bullies, stands up for what he believes in and has great values of good and justice. It is for this reason, that Rogers is selected by Dr Abraham Erskine, (Stanley Tucci) to be a contender for some sort of super soldier serum. The serum turns Rogers into the all powerful and muscular Captain America. Meanwhile, evil Nazi's dubbed HYDRA (basically even badder Nazi's than usual - hiss!) have set their sights on an all powerful tesseract with the power to win the war and take over the world. Being led by the sinister Red Skull (Hugo Weaving - he looks exactly like he sounds) nothing stands between them and total world domination. That is, apart from Cap and his team. The cast do their best with the lacklustre script yet fail to add much gravitas to any of the action on screen. Weaving snarls and delivers evil one liners with relish but amounts to little much more, while romantic interest Hayley Atwell contributes zilch to proceedings and is obviously shoe-horned in to appeal to the female demographic. Other supporting roles don't fare much better. Not one character makes any impact on proceedings and each one is vastly under developed. Evans works well enough I guess, but can't really do much with a character as bland as the Captain himself. With Thor, everything was played as a fish out of water comedy to balance out it's more fantastical action and help sell the inherent ridiculousness of such a character - a very wise move indeed on Marvel's part. Captain America has always stood as a cheesy, patriotic, flag waving square to everywhere outside of the US and was always going to be a tough character to swallow for most (that the film is merely named The First Avenger in many territories of the world speaks wonders at how unsure Marvel were to sell their brand). However, instead of playing up just how much of a nerd the man is, Johnston fully indulges him. Within him, there is no confliction or darkness, just an over eager appetite to do good no matter what. This shreds the character of any depth or interest he might have had. This might have been easier to overlook if the man was actually truly super. Compared to the Hulk's might, Thor's power and Iron Man's vast gadgets, Cap does.....very little actually. Apart from running faster that is. Even his shield seems more super powered than the man himself. Throughout, I kept on waiting to see him stretch his powers and do something truly incredible but it never came. This almost certainly will see him stick out like a sore thumb along his more fantastical team mates next year. Action sequences are all poorly staged and have no originality to them - most occur for no other reason it seems than someone deciding 'we need an action scene, let's do one here'. Also, despite it's PG rating, the film is by far the most violent Marvel film to date, with deaths well up into the double digits. I guess when it involves Nazi's you can do whatever you want with them and avoid the pesky wrath of the MPAA. The film carries a pleasing retro vibe throughout, which makes things that bit more tolerable and Tommy Lee Jones is his usual craggy, reliable self, but as the film goes on, it sinks further into it's unimaginative stylings. Not that any of those Marvel films so far were high art, far from it in fact - but they were at least fun and entertaining. Captain America had plenty of potential and only a small percentage of which has been delivered on. Some things work along the way and those looking for nothing more than an effects laden action film could do worse but with so much riding on this guys introduction, he should have landed harder. Thor is a missplaced God with Daddy issues, Hulk is a tragic take on Jekyll & Hyde and Iron Man has his egotistical mouth to match his impressive arsenal of weapons - what does Captain America have? A guy who wanted to be strong and now he is so he beats people up if they're bullies? Not exactly the stuff of legend is he?

Verdict: 4/10
Impressive retro stylings and special effects do not mask what is a clunky mishandle of a character that had plenty more to offer than what is seen here. Under developed and poorly written, this Captain would have been better off being kept frozen.

"Captain America: The First Avenger" Trailer

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

'Geek Chic', 'Hipster Cool' and 'Style Over Substance'. There were times during this film, especially near the start, when I feared that all of these things were threatening to drown it out. The film walks a very fine line in almost letting its ADD visuals and 'oh so cool and hip' sensibilities from overtaking everything. As it stands however, I can safely say, that "Scott Pilgrim" is easily one of the best films of the year and quite unlike almost any other film I have seen. Edgar Wright must have had serious confidence in the comic the film is originally based on. I mean, there are moments when the film is going absolutely bonkers on screen. How he was let away by Universal with such authorship over the film is astonishing. When that first fight happens, it will make or break it for most people. Before now, the film was coasting along nicely, obviously existing in its own universe, but nothing too outlandish has happened. But when the action kicks in, it is incredibly jolting. Wright has faith in his audience and his source material, and God knows he has the talent, because there is absolutely no other Director out there today that could pull off a film like this. It is the result of a computer game and indie/rock music mashed together; it is youth and vitality put up on screen; it makes your own humdrum life exciting and fantastical, because you can relate to Scott's outlook so easily. Everyone daydreams and adds in their own 'movie like' features into their own life all the time. Everyone has their life soundtracked by their own favourite bands. Everyone lets their favourite TV Shows influence their outlook on everything far easier than even their own family. Everyone wishes they could stand up and fight for what they believe in no matter what. Put simply, we all live our life in our head, as does the title character of the film. No doubt our life is not nearly as exciting as we aspire it to be, much like the eponymous character. But that wouldn't exactly make for the awe inducing cinema on display here would it?

Scott Pilgrim is a regular 22 year old slacker. He plays bass in a band, loves video games and falls in love easily. Too easily it would seem. Initially going out with 17 year old high school student Knives Chau, his head turns when he meets Ramona Flowers, the girl of his dreams. However, in order to win her heart, he must first defeat all of her 7 evil exes in 7 fights to the death. Michael Cera has many of his critics. While initially being acclaimed for his comic timing and his predilection for awkward and uncomfortable comedy moments on the now classic ''Arrested Development'' TV Show, he was then accused by many as coasting by on those sensibilities for too long. He was a one trick pony they said. Perhaps those are too hard on Cera, as no one seems to be more aware of this trait, than himself. Earlier this year he proved he can do more than 'nice and nerdy' with ''Youth In Revolt'' and now with this, he proves himself to be quite an adept actor and not only in the physical department. With the fact that Wright turned Simon Pegg into an action star in "Hot Fuzz", it will not surprise anybody that Cera convincingly kicks plenty of ass throughout 'Pilgrim'. However, what is surprising is that he is no longer playing Cera, or a shade of him anymore. Yes, Pilgrim is a dork and a dweeb; he puts his foot in his mouth and sometimes stammers uncomfortably and shyly over sentences, but Pilgrim is a different character altogether than anything we have seen from Cera. At turns fickle, moany, and arguably unsympathetic, he is in many regards, the most real part that Cera has portrayed. It is down to his talent that we stay on Pilgrims side throughout and he doesn't become irritating for the audience. He is also lovable, winningly goofy and relatable. Cera is ably supported by a fantastic supporting cast. Winstead carefully sidesteps being just a dream girl to shows layers beneath that 'too good to be true' caricature that Pilgrim paints of her. Chris Evans and Brandon Routh both hilariously convince as just 2 of those previous and very egotistical exes Pilgrim has to contend with. Mae Whitman turns up too, reuniting her with her ''Arrested Development'' co-star Cera. Kieran Culkin impresses as Scotts gay room mate Wallace, and is hilariously sardonic towards the lovelorn Scott. It is arguably all seen from Scotts perspective in his head, but the film is hardly just about him. Part of what makes the film are the supporting players whether they be part of his band 'Sex-Bob-omb', or attempting to kick his ass for the hand of the one he loves.

There is no reason given for the superhuman tendencies characters have here. Look at the film as being set in a different universe to our own, look at it as being seen through Scotts eyes, look at it as being a metaphor for coming to terms with the one you love's past. Whatever viewpoint you decide upon, nothing can quite prepare you for what Wright puts up on screen. He doesn't ease viewers into it; this is his world, like it or loathe it. When the first evil ex starts bellowing out a Bollywood style song and dance, some simply won't want to go along with the Directors sensibilities so disjointing is it. The film is after all a (deep breath) action-romance-comedy-musical. And you thought ''Shawn of the Dead''s 'rom-zom-com' was ambitious? Wrights film simply bubbles over with colour and life and fervour. It literally is far too much to take in at once. It might be easier at the start to characterise the film as a hipsters wet dream, but there is far too much imagination, wit and originality going on display here to so easily dismiss. How Wright manages to keep to movie on the rails is beyond me, but he passes with flying colours. Action scenes are fantastically staged and choreographed, with each battle getting a firm and separate distinct personality from the last. Events do not become tiring despite the fact that there are 7 epic fights to get through; Wrights pacing is impeccable. The film never once stops to take in breath or to let you digest proceedings and it is all over before you can truly take in what you have witnessed. We all knew Wright was talented before, but the staggering amount of split screens, zooms and camera tricks he throws at the audience is astonishing. All are carefully thought out, and not just of the 'see what trick will stick' variety. For a Director as visually gifted, he is also in great possession of keen writing. This is what lends ''Scott Pilgrim'' its heart and vitality; without this, the film would just be a whirlwind of colour all jumbled incoherently together.

''Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World'' could be argued as being rock music personified on film. The picture both knowingly, yet lovingly mocks its indie core audience. 'We are Sex-Bob-omb', one the characters tells his audience, 'we're here to make you think about death and make you sad and stuff'. Another rival bands song lasts only a few seconds with a screaming declaration of being 'so sad'. It laughs at itself and the audience, and the audience laughs right back. Yet music is in the films bones. Fellow Canucks 'Broken Social Scene', 'Plumtree' and 'Metric' all feature heavily, while Beck and his band performed and wrote all the Sex-Bob-omb tracks featured. The result is everything you could want from a film. It makes you fall in love with your friends, your music and those that you hold dearest all over again. It positively jumps out of the screen and grabs you, shaking you to life. A cinematic headrush of colour, humour and music, Edgar Wright yet again outdoes himself. This is a film for right now and hopefully where you are in your life and depending on your age you will get it, and admire it for everything that it is. If there is a more stunningly original vision this year, I'll burst into coins.

Verdict 85%

Edgar Wright confirms his position as one of the most exciting young film makers around, while Cera shows there is more to him than meets the eye. The cast do fantastic work and the music is all top notch. All this combined with the most humorous action you may see all year adds up to a huge cult classic in the making. Ignore the tepid Stateside response, see the film, fall in love with it and see it again.

"Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World" Trailer