Media Diary 2

Next up in the line of Marvel movies I haven’t seen is Captain America: The First Avenger and well to be honest I didn't really have high expectations for this one. It just seems like another one of those Superman-esk movies but to my pleasant surprise I was completely wrong. The farther the story progressed the more I started thinking that hey this is actually really nice. Not just two spandex wearing men slapping each other with buttload of special effects thrown on top. This one's really something else.

The story starts of with our main character Steve Rogers being just a 40 kg asthmatic kid who wants to join the army and serve his country during ww2. He isn't some overpowered dude who just happens to have these awesome powers from the get-go. Instead he starts off weak and needs to fight to survive. He needs to believe in himself when no one else does. And even when he gains the awesome superpowers he isn't instantly hailed as a hero. Instead he’s casted as a mascot named Captain America for a play that goes around the country informing kids about the war and the superiority of US. Only when he disobeys the orders of his peers and proves his abilities by saving numerous captured soldiers does he gain the trust and respect of others.

On top of the great story elements there's also a great cast of memorable characters. Everyone of them provide interesting elements to the story and develop as the story goes on. The viewer is really able to relate to the characters actions and motivations. Especially with Rogers. His story arch is built so that the viewers really are able to relate with him unlike any other superhero. I really appreciate such carefully thought out character building in something that at the end of the day is just seposed to be an action packed superhero flick.

The CG in this movie was also done super well. It wasn't overdone and it really helped build this epic story. Everything from the laser guns to the huge tanks and aircrafts added a lot of interest and tension to the otherwise quite grey and dull environments of ww2. But the best feet by far in the whole movie was the conversion of then already almost 90 kg Chris Evans’ body to the small 40 kg figure that we see in the first third of the film. It was executed so seamlessly that most viewers wont ever even notice that there's anything going on. Even when I knew it was there i couldn't find any flaws or mistakes during the whole time.

      Overall I really liked the film and it got me really excited to see what else Marvel has been brewing while I’ve been on hiatus from watching their films.

★★★★☆