Captain America: The First Avenger

Paramount/Marvel Studios

Rated PG-13

Running time: 124 minutes

Set during World War II, Marvel's Captain America: The First Avenger has 98 lb. weakling Chris Evans becoming the subject for an experimental super-soldier serum - and then becomes Captain America.

After being discovered in a block of ice in the present day arctic ruins of a huge flying wing plane, the film then tells the World War II story of Evans. Although it is a simpler time, the country is at war. Despite his physical unfitness as a recruit, Evans is determined to be accepted into the Army. When discovered by scientist Stanley Tucci, Evans is given the chance to develop his natural human potential in a top-secret defense project. After Evans is processed with the super-soldier treatment, Tucci is then killed by an agent of The Red Skull Hugo Weaving - the head of Nazi Germany's research department and their own version of a super-solider accidentally created by Tucci. Weaving uses the Cosmic Cube from the movie Thor to create a series of high tech energy weapons to arm his army of HYDRA in his pursuit for world domination. Without Tucci's support, the now muscular Evans becomes an American USO poster boy punching Nazi leader Adolf Hitler in the jaw. Despite the support of British agent Hayley Atwell and Dominic Cooper the inventor - and father of Iron Man - who supplied Evans his iconic bullet-proof American shield, Colonel Tommy Lee Jones consigns Evans to the USO. Disgruntled at this branding role Jones has put him in, Evans soon goes off to rescue his captured best friend Sebastian Stan - as Captain America.

The cameo by Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in present-day New York City sets up for the superhero team movie The Avengers. At the end of the movie is the trailer for The Avengers. Too bad the movie leads up to The Avengers as Captain America sets up The Howling Commandos during World War II, a series I would have liked to have seen.

Although initially I was not that interested in watching a World War II comic book movie, despite my being a fan of Captain America, this is the best of the comic book super-hero movies of the 2011 summer. Evans character as Steve Rogers/Captain America may seem a little two-dimensional, but his sincerity and drive eventually makes you care about him and towards the end he starts to have a little dimension to him - especially when you discover he has become a fish-out-of-water.

Rated PG-13 for violence. Running time: 124 minutes.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

Iron Man 2

Paramount Pictures

Rated PG-13

Running time: 124 minutes















Search Amazon.com for AC/DC














Click below to watch the Iron Man 2 trailer.



In this sequel to Iron Man, Robert Downey, Jr., who plays Tony Stark, is now known as the armoured hero Iron Man - and the government tries to order Downey to turn his highly advanced Iron Man suit over to them as a new weapons system. Meanwhile, Russian scientist Mickey Rourke takes revenge on Downey for Rourke's dead father.

This is actually a broader and better story than the first Iron Man movie as we deal with opposition from all sides, including Downey's friends. The movie starts off broader, with Iron Man dropping in at an industry Expo of Stark Industries amidst a chorus line of Iron Man cheerleaders - along with music by AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" as Iron Man's theme song. This is more of a dramatic comic book story about the people, like Christian Bale's Batman in The Dark Knight , instead of an over-the-top Joel Schumacher movie like Batman & Robin. As the movie progresses, we see Robert Downey, Jr. falling into depression and alcoholism as he realizes that he is not what his father had expected of him - and also because of the government continually pressing Downey for access of his Iron Man technology for the sake of national security. Gwyneth Paltrow, despite her relationship with Downey, tries to pick up the pieces of Iron Man's public relations disaster. Paltrow also tries running Downey's company, amidst accusations of Paltrow being inexperienced at the job of suddenly being CEO - while Downey falls to pieces from his depression. Mickey Rourke was very convincing as the Russian bad guy Whiplash, while Sam Rockwell might be a bit over the top as Downey's arms merchant contemporary.

Throughout Iron Man 2 are hints of the future Avengers movie that will be a team-up of the various Marvel Comics movie super heroes, of which Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury would be in charge of - including a scene at the end of the closing credits hinting at the nature of one of the more powerful Avengers. I personally can't wait to see Scarlett Johansson continuing her kick-ass role as Natasha Romanoff - The Black Widow.

Rated PG-13 for violence. Running time: 124 minutes.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.
Search Amazon.com for AC/DC

Pancho's Movie Reviews