I just came back from seeing Captain America: The First Avenger in 3D. Below are some thoughts about the experience.
* I have followed Captain America and went to see it today because Richard Armitage is in it. He's in the film much too briefly. I always marvel about his ease of movement and his" believability" in action sequences. To me the chase scene between Heinz Kruger and Steve Rogers is the most exciting action sequence in the film - a duel between two men. Armitage has only a few lines of dialog, but he always manages to add extra touches without a word. My favorite, the knowing half smile. A good intro for him to the world of huge action blockbusters in what is already becoming a popular, and also enjoyable film.
Watching him on the big screen I did wonder if some Heinz Kruger scenes were left on the cutting room floor during editing, happens in every film and TV show, and maybe we'll see them on the DVD. I don't know of course, but it's always possible. It was exciting to see him on the big screen.
Update: RA Fest continues! Wonderful new interview in The Scotsman thanks to RichardArmitageCentral.com:
http://www.scotsman.com/features/Interview-Richard-Armitage-actor.6806731.jp
* I was excited to see the streets of Manchester and Liverpool that we've seen in the behind-the-scenes and fan photos posted when they were filming in the UK.
Thanks to Hobbsy.com
* I don't remember seeing Chris Evans in any film before. He's the perfect All American Boy and a refreshing non-swagger hero. I look forward to seeing him in a serious non-CGI film one of these days.
* Hugo Weaving always a solid performance as a villain. Oddly enough I found him scarier without the red Red Skull face.
* For those of us in the US that watch lots of UK television programs and films, always fun to recognize familiar faces, even in small roles.
* Tommy Lee Jones delivers as always. The best lines and probably having the most fun of anyone in this film. He's played this tough-as-nails with a soft heart part before, and it's becoming his specialty, but he does it so well.
* Good performance by Hayley Atwell and glad to have a strong but believable woman in an action film. Only a hint of a romance with Captain America as fits a film for a very young audience, but both actors do it very well. I last remember seeing her in Any Human Heart on PBS and recommend seeing it for anyone not familiar with her work. (I confess not always remembering her name really, but certainly remembered seeing her before in several different roles on other good programs as soon as she appeared on the screen here.)
*Saw a preview of every single action and superhero film slated to open the rest of this year. Sensory overload!!!!!!!!!!! Lots of UK actors though in the lead playing Americans...except Mission Impossible with Tom Cruise.
I enjoyed the film more than I thought I would, it is an action film with an actual story and characters you become attached to. Good job!
