Post by Rey Kahuka on Jun 19, 2022 4:28:02 GMT
www.cbr.com/rewatching-captain-america-first-avenger-harsh-realities/
10 Harsh Realities of Rewatching Captain America: The First Avenger
This is a troubling article, not because I disagree with the author (and boy, do I); It's troubling because the author shows a complete inability to comprehend what is being communicated on screen at times. I'm going to respond to these point by point, just thought I'd share it with an audience that might find the topic interesting.
This is probably the author's worst take in the piece, and she decides to lead off with it. The ridiculousness is the point. It's poking fun at the jingoistic origins of the character and highlighting the absurdity of the concept. The point is that Steve Rogers is a nuanced character, a human being, not the goofy mascot he's being portrayed as in these shows that he clearly hates doing. That's the joke. That's the point. Most people find it funny because most people get the joke. If you find it hard to watch or 'cringy,' the whole thing must've gone over your head.
This is probably the most reasonable commentary in the piece. I see the author's point, but I don't understand the issue. Yes, violence against men can be played for laughs much easier than violence against women. It would be 100% creepier if Steve picked up a gun and started shooting at Peggy for kissing another guy. But how is that a problem? The author is a woman and I'm a man, so far be it from me to tell her what stereotypes or double standards she should be offended by, but again the humor lies in the fact that we (the audience) know that Steve was never in real danger, and we know Peggy knows it too. They were literally warning shots telling Steve not to mess around on her, she won't put up with any BS in their budding relationship.
Again, that scene is 100% creepier if for example she starts shooting at the other woman and Steve has to jump in with his shield or something. The gag works because it's understood that nobody was ever in any real danger.
What? I'm not entirely sure what the argument even is here, so where do I begin? I think Nazis have aged very well as stock villains, which is why Hollywood keeps reusing them. In fact, this movie (and most movies that use Nazis as villains) goes out of its way to repeatedly use 'Nazis' or 'Hydra' as opposed to 'Germans' when talking about the bad guys. It isn't making a political commentary on a nation or even WWII; its world view is very black and white and is less about nationalism (ironically, I suppose) than about good vs evil, again not focusing on nationality but rather group (Hydra) affiliation.
Is... is she suggesting the movie should've had a few sympathetic Nazis to even things out? Somebody help me out here.
She's comparing a movie oozing old school classic Americana with a modern afro-centric production like Black Panther? Surely she understands the differences in tone and culture that both movies were deliberately going for? And about all that brass... again that's vintage Americana. I wonder if she's familiar with Copland's work, or John Williams for that matter? It's a movie about a classic American hero, you want to strike a similar chord with audiences, it gives the entire production that classic American hero feel.
I guess it's fair to criticize TFA for going back to the well, but I feel like that was the point. Comparing it Black Panther of all things is downright ridiculous. The BP score is awesome, and it suits the film perfectly. But something tells me a movie about a white guy in the 1940s shouldn't have a funky ethnocentric soundtrack.
This feels like a reach by the author. She couldn't come up with ten things, racked her brain overnight, came up with this complaint and slid it into the middle of the list. I suppose it's worth asking what Hitler's reaction would've been, but do we need 20 minutes added to the runtime to include a Hitler vs Red Skull subplot? No, and I'll tell you why. Hitler is Hitler. As the author already pointed out, Hitler has been run down our throats as the big bad of all human history at this point. Put him in the film and he overshadows Red Skull immediately. The audience doesn't care about Red Skull anymore, Steve should be stopping Hitler.
Truly a trivial complaint. "An aspect of the first movie isn't as compelling as later installments." This is a theme the author will revisit in the article, so I'll hold off on my full rebuttal. But a cakewalk? Bucky (apparently) died. Steve sacrificed himself to stop Red Skull. (And yeah, as it turns out, he survived, but he didn't know that was going to happen.) "It's accurate to say everything Cap goes through in the first film was a total cakewalk," feels like bait, like something a troll would say trying to get a rise out of people. Feels like lazy commentary. But yes, I can agree Zemo and Thanos are more nuanced characters.
This again. First of all, I disagree with the entire premise of this argument. The characters who are important to the story get plenty of development. The dynamics between Steve/Bucky, Steve/Peggy and to a lesser degree Steve/Colonel Phillips are at the very heart of this movie. It matters when Steve loses Bucky, it matters when Peggy is saying goodbye at the end, it matters because the film has spent significant time building those relationships.
Also, has the author ever seen another film franchise or television show in her life? Is there a character who's more interesting in the pilot episode of a television show than they are by the end of season 3? What an idiotic argument. For that matter, the brilliance of the character of Steve Rogers is the evolution of his world view. Things were very simple in WWII, there were 'good guys' and 'bad guys.' The most compelling part of the CA franchise is watching a man with ideals set in stone have to navigate an increasingly murky sociopolitical world.
It's Steve's almost childlike idealism that makes him so compelling, idealism that was showcased and explored (such as his talk with Dr Erskine) in TFA. He didn't need a near death experience to open his eyes like Tony Stark did; all he needed was an opportunity to make a difference.
I don't think I even need a counterargument here, the second paragraph in this entry does it or me. "The only real divergence is the ending." Yes, the one that views like a Twilight Zone episode instead of your classic hero's journey. How typical.
I have to ask, what's the complaint here? Instead of some other franchises like Indiana Jones, classic James Bond, Die Hard etc which are essentially one-off adventures, Captain America films are chapters in a larger narrative and this is the first. I don't have a problem with 'a day in the life of' storytelling such as that in the other franchises I mentioned (three of my all time favorites, by the way), but I certainly don't have any problems with a story that builds on itself over time and allows for character growth those other films never bothered with.
So we knew Steve's story would continue before the movie came out. Uh, most of us were fans of the comics and we knew his story, we saw the movie anyway. Have you ever gone to a Bond, Batman, Die Hard, or Indiana Jones movie expecting the hero to die? Were the stakes any lower for you, did you have less interest in what was going on? Me neither.
Of all the author's issues, this might be the most subjective and thus the one that bothers me the least. For me, knowing what happens next actually makes rewatching it more fun. It isn't blind speculation, you're now aware of the awesomeness yet to come. I guess it's more of a personal preference as to whether or not you enjoyed his exit... But do we really think we've seen the last of this character?
Summary:
It's the kind of article that bothers me because there are two distinct possibilities: Either it's pure clickbait and the author knows people like me will do stuff like this, "Hey guys, get a load of this," and give them free traffic, which again is lazy and cynical in its own right; or the author is presenting these ideas in complete sincerity. "Oh man, the song and dance routine is so dated and cringey." It demonstrates a total lack of perspective. We can disagree on whether the music is any good, or how much fun it is to know the fates of the characters when you go back and watch the original; but complaining about character depth in an origin story as opposed to where the character is 20+ films into the greater franchise is nonsensical.
10 Harsh Realities of Rewatching Captain America: The First Avenger
This is a troubling article, not because I disagree with the author (and boy, do I); It's troubling because the author shows a complete inability to comprehend what is being communicated on screen at times. I'm going to respond to these point by point, just thought I'd share it with an audience that might find the topic interesting.
10
Captain America’s Most Embarrassing Hour
Before becoming a proper soldier, Steve Rogers is roped into doing advertising work onstage. Chock-full of over-the-top American fan-fair and accompanied by a cheesy jingle, the montage sees Steve forced to become a show pony instead of fighting the real battles he wants to face.
Further down the road, Steve Rogers finds himself facing an audience of real soldiers and realizes how useless he feels. Most people find the montage funny. Others find it hard to watch. Either way, it’s the cringiest scene in the film, and it never gets any better.
Captain America’s Most Embarrassing Hour
Before becoming a proper soldier, Steve Rogers is roped into doing advertising work onstage. Chock-full of over-the-top American fan-fair and accompanied by a cheesy jingle, the montage sees Steve forced to become a show pony instead of fighting the real battles he wants to face.
Further down the road, Steve Rogers finds himself facing an audience of real soldiers and realizes how useless he feels. Most people find the montage funny. Others find it hard to watch. Either way, it’s the cringiest scene in the film, and it never gets any better.
This is probably the author's worst take in the piece, and she decides to lead off with it. The ridiculousness is the point. It's poking fun at the jingoistic origins of the character and highlighting the absurdity of the concept. The point is that Steve Rogers is a nuanced character, a human being, not the goofy mascot he's being portrayed as in these shows that he clearly hates doing. That's the joke. That's the point. Most people find it funny because most people get the joke. If you find it hard to watch or 'cringy,' the whole thing must've gone over your head.
9
"Testing" Captain America's Shield
Some people like to talk about double standards and how they negatively affect certain groups. For instance, a man using violence against a woman is seen as graphic and triggering, whereas a woman using violence against a man can be portrayed as comedic.
In Captain America, Agent Carter catches Steve Rogers having his first kiss stolen by a pushy secretary and gets angry. She vents by shooting at him to “test” his new shield. Agent Carter is still rad, but this scene doesn't age well, to say the least.
"Testing" Captain America's Shield
Some people like to talk about double standards and how they negatively affect certain groups. For instance, a man using violence against a woman is seen as graphic and triggering, whereas a woman using violence against a man can be portrayed as comedic.
In Captain America, Agent Carter catches Steve Rogers having his first kiss stolen by a pushy secretary and gets angry. She vents by shooting at him to “test” his new shield. Agent Carter is still rad, but this scene doesn't age well, to say the least.
This is probably the most reasonable commentary in the piece. I see the author's point, but I don't understand the issue. Yes, violence against men can be played for laughs much easier than violence against women. It would be 100% creepier if Steve picked up a gun and started shooting at Peggy for kissing another guy. But how is that a problem? The author is a woman and I'm a man, so far be it from me to tell her what stereotypes or double standards she should be offended by, but again the humor lies in the fact that we (the audience) know that Steve was never in real danger, and we know Peggy knows it too. They were literally warning shots telling Steve not to mess around on her, she won't put up with any BS in their budding relationship.
Again, that scene is 100% creepier if for example she starts shooting at the other woman and Steve has to jump in with his shield or something. The gag works because it's understood that nobody was ever in any real danger.
8
A Potential Twitter War
Adolf Hitler was an evil person who led those under his influence to commit atrocities. It’s easy to understand how the Nazis became stock villains for adventure films, next to orcs and space soldiers. That being said, stock characters become overused after a while, and Nazis aren’t aging well.
In this era of breaking stereotypes and humanizing people from oppressive societies, it’s impossible to use national criminals as stock villains and get away with having only one “good” character from that nation.
A Potential Twitter War
Adolf Hitler was an evil person who led those under his influence to commit atrocities. It’s easy to understand how the Nazis became stock villains for adventure films, next to orcs and space soldiers. That being said, stock characters become overused after a while, and Nazis aren’t aging well.
In this era of breaking stereotypes and humanizing people from oppressive societies, it’s impossible to use national criminals as stock villains and get away with having only one “good” character from that nation.
What? I'm not entirely sure what the argument even is here, so where do I begin? I think Nazis have aged very well as stock villains, which is why Hollywood keeps reusing them. In fact, this movie (and most movies that use Nazis as villains) goes out of its way to repeatedly use 'Nazis' or 'Hydra' as opposed to 'Germans' when talking about the bad guys. It isn't making a political commentary on a nation or even WWII; its world view is very black and white and is less about nationalism (ironically, I suppose) than about good vs evil, again not focusing on nationality but rather group (Hydra) affiliation.
Is... is she suggesting the movie should've had a few sympathetic Nazis to even things out? Somebody help me out here.
7
It's A Bird! It's A Plane! It's...Sorry, Wrong Movie
When Superman was released in 1978, it produced of the most iconic theme songs in superhero history. It did the same when Batman was released in 1989. When Captain America: The First Avenger was released, it gave Captain America the same generic brass music as almost every other Superman/military movie in existence.
Making a unique theme song for Captain America would've been a challenge even without the time crunch. All the same, when compared to other MCU films like Black Panther, the soundtrack wasn't one of Captain America’s strengths.
It's A Bird! It's A Plane! It's...Sorry, Wrong Movie
When Superman was released in 1978, it produced of the most iconic theme songs in superhero history. It did the same when Batman was released in 1989. When Captain America: The First Avenger was released, it gave Captain America the same generic brass music as almost every other Superman/military movie in existence.
Making a unique theme song for Captain America would've been a challenge even without the time crunch. All the same, when compared to other MCU films like Black Panther, the soundtrack wasn't one of Captain America’s strengths.
She's comparing a movie oozing old school classic Americana with a modern afro-centric production like Black Panther? Surely she understands the differences in tone and culture that both movies were deliberately going for? And about all that brass... again that's vintage Americana. I wonder if she's familiar with Copland's work, or John Williams for that matter? It's a movie about a classic American hero, you want to strike a similar chord with audiences, it gives the entire production that classic American hero feel.
I guess it's fair to criticize TFA for going back to the well, but I feel like that was the point. Comparing it Black Panther of all things is downright ridiculous. The BP score is awesome, and it suits the film perfectly. But something tells me a movie about a white guy in the 1940s shouldn't have a funky ethnocentric soundtrack.
6
Adolf Who? Never Saw Him
Near the beginning of the film, Johann Schmidt — the Red Skull and the main villain — breaks from Hitler and the Nazis to form his regime. From then on, the war is between Captain America and the Red Skull.
Looking back, it seems odd that Hitler wouldn't have done nothing to try and stop Schmidt once he realized his representatives weren’t coming back. Sure, he wouldn’t have the resources to fight outright, but maybe he could’ve sold information to the Americans in exchange for pulling out of the war?
Adolf Who? Never Saw Him
Near the beginning of the film, Johann Schmidt — the Red Skull and the main villain — breaks from Hitler and the Nazis to form his regime. From then on, the war is between Captain America and the Red Skull.
Looking back, it seems odd that Hitler wouldn't have done nothing to try and stop Schmidt once he realized his representatives weren’t coming back. Sure, he wouldn’t have the resources to fight outright, but maybe he could’ve sold information to the Americans in exchange for pulling out of the war?
This feels like a reach by the author. She couldn't come up with ten things, racked her brain overnight, came up with this complaint and slid it into the middle of the list. I suppose it's worth asking what Hitler's reaction would've been, but do we need 20 minutes added to the runtime to include a Hitler vs Red Skull subplot? No, and I'll tell you why. Hitler is Hitler. As the author already pointed out, Hitler has been run down our throats as the big bad of all human history at this point. Put him in the film and he overshadows Red Skull immediately. The audience doesn't care about Red Skull anymore, Steve should be stopping Hitler.
5
Typical Short-Sighted Planning
It's accurate to say everything Captain America goes through in the first film was a total cakewalk. However, after over a dozen films with threats like Loki, Ultron, Zemo, and Thanos, the Red Skull just doesn’t do it anymore.
The Red Skull rebelled against his Führer. He planned to take over the world. He knew Captain America and his team were on his tail. Wouldn't he have formed plans to stop Captain America from destroying his bases after the first two were busted? Perhaps, but given the film’s run time, they probably wanted to keep it straightforward.
Typical Short-Sighted Planning
It's accurate to say everything Captain America goes through in the first film was a total cakewalk. However, after over a dozen films with threats like Loki, Ultron, Zemo, and Thanos, the Red Skull just doesn’t do it anymore.
The Red Skull rebelled against his Führer. He planned to take over the world. He knew Captain America and his team were on his tail. Wouldn't he have formed plans to stop Captain America from destroying his bases after the first two were busted? Perhaps, but given the film’s run time, they probably wanted to keep it straightforward.
Truly a trivial complaint. "An aspect of the first movie isn't as compelling as later installments." This is a theme the author will revisit in the article, so I'll hold off on my full rebuttal. But a cakewalk? Bucky (apparently) died. Steve sacrificed himself to stop Red Skull. (And yeah, as it turns out, he survived, but he didn't know that was going to happen.) "It's accurate to say everything Cap goes through in the first film was a total cakewalk," feels like bait, like something a troll would say trying to get a rise out of people. Feels like lazy commentary. But yes, I can agree Zemo and Thanos are more nuanced characters.
4
Not Enough Depth
Because of the straightforward nature of the film, not all the characters in Captain America: The First Avenger receive a lot of development. The film establishes Steve’s incorruptible nature. It demonstrates that he'll go to hell and back for Bucky. It portrays his tragic romance with Agent Carter, cut off before it had even begun.
However, The First Avenger doesn’t let Steve Rogers change much. Actually, compared to how he's written in later films, Steve's character is a little… bland. The same goes for Bucky and Agent Carter. None of them are as interesting as they are in future Marvel properties.
Not Enough Depth
Because of the straightforward nature of the film, not all the characters in Captain America: The First Avenger receive a lot of development. The film establishes Steve’s incorruptible nature. It demonstrates that he'll go to hell and back for Bucky. It portrays his tragic romance with Agent Carter, cut off before it had even begun.
However, The First Avenger doesn’t let Steve Rogers change much. Actually, compared to how he's written in later films, Steve's character is a little… bland. The same goes for Bucky and Agent Carter. None of them are as interesting as they are in future Marvel properties.
This again. First of all, I disagree with the entire premise of this argument. The characters who are important to the story get plenty of development. The dynamics between Steve/Bucky, Steve/Peggy and to a lesser degree Steve/Colonel Phillips are at the very heart of this movie. It matters when Steve loses Bucky, it matters when Peggy is saying goodbye at the end, it matters because the film has spent significant time building those relationships.
Also, has the author ever seen another film franchise or television show in her life? Is there a character who's more interesting in the pilot episode of a television show than they are by the end of season 3? What an idiotic argument. For that matter, the brilliance of the character of Steve Rogers is the evolution of his world view. Things were very simple in WWII, there were 'good guys' and 'bad guys.' The most compelling part of the CA franchise is watching a man with ideals set in stone have to navigate an increasingly murky sociopolitical world.
It's Steve's almost childlike idealism that makes him so compelling, idealism that was showcased and explored (such as his talk with Dr Erskine) in TFA. He didn't need a near death experience to open his eyes like Tony Stark did; all he needed was an opportunity to make a difference.
3
Presenting... Your Average, Everyday Underdog
As far as origin stories go, Captain America’s story is fairly generic. He’s the quintessential underdog. He’s weak, bullied, and can’t get a girl. Then, he’s transformed into a muscular hunk, and suddenly becomes a famous hero, knocking out bad guys and getting all the ladies. The only real divergence is the ending.
Instead of getting to enjoy the new life his powers brought, Captain America was frozen in ice, lost for decades, found, and revived. He awakened to a changed world where all his friends were either dead or near death. Then the film left him there — alone, confused, and utterly traumatized.
Presenting... Your Average, Everyday Underdog
As far as origin stories go, Captain America’s story is fairly generic. He’s the quintessential underdog. He’s weak, bullied, and can’t get a girl. Then, he’s transformed into a muscular hunk, and suddenly becomes a famous hero, knocking out bad guys and getting all the ladies. The only real divergence is the ending.
Instead of getting to enjoy the new life his powers brought, Captain America was frozen in ice, lost for decades, found, and revived. He awakened to a changed world where all his friends were either dead or near death. Then the film left him there — alone, confused, and utterly traumatized.
I don't think I even need a counterargument here, the second paragraph in this entry does it or me. "The only real divergence is the ending." Yes, the one that views like a Twilight Zone episode instead of your classic hero's journey. How typical.
2
Before We Get Started...
Probably the biggest issue with Captain America: The First Avenger was the fact the film wasn’t made to be a standalone project. By the time the film came out, the MCU’s success had taken off to such heights that continuing Steve’s story became a guarantee rather than a possibility.
The cliffhanger would be addressed, and the characters would get a chance to undergo growth and development in future properties. Captain America: First America was only a prologue to a larger story, the last piece in the game before the real adventure began.
Before We Get Started...
Probably the biggest issue with Captain America: The First Avenger was the fact the film wasn’t made to be a standalone project. By the time the film came out, the MCU’s success had taken off to such heights that continuing Steve’s story became a guarantee rather than a possibility.
The cliffhanger would be addressed, and the characters would get a chance to undergo growth and development in future properties. Captain America: First America was only a prologue to a larger story, the last piece in the game before the real adventure began.
I have to ask, what's the complaint here? Instead of some other franchises like Indiana Jones, classic James Bond, Die Hard etc which are essentially one-off adventures, Captain America films are chapters in a larger narrative and this is the first. I don't have a problem with 'a day in the life of' storytelling such as that in the other franchises I mentioned (three of my all time favorites, by the way), but I certainly don't have any problems with a story that builds on itself over time and allows for character growth those other films never bothered with.
So we knew Steve's story would continue before the movie came out. Uh, most of us were fans of the comics and we knew his story, we saw the movie anyway. Have you ever gone to a Bond, Batman, Die Hard, or Indiana Jones movie expecting the hero to die? Were the stakes any lower for you, did you have less interest in what was going on? Me neither.
1
We Know How The Story Ends
It is 2022 A.D. Marvel has produced 28 films and 19 TV shows. For fans who’re just starting, the MCU is still a treasure box of wonder and excitement. For older fans, it’s 14 years’ worth of memories and spoilers.
Fans know now Bucky’s alive, where the Red Skull disappears to, and that Steve goes back to Peggy. Captain America: First Avenger is still enjoyable, but the mystery creates a huge part of the emotional roller coaster doesn’t have the same effect. Although Steve's friends have a few surprises left in store for them, his journey is done. All that's left are old familiar paths to visit, a sweet sorrow indeed.
We Know How The Story Ends
It is 2022 A.D. Marvel has produced 28 films and 19 TV shows. For fans who’re just starting, the MCU is still a treasure box of wonder and excitement. For older fans, it’s 14 years’ worth of memories and spoilers.
Fans know now Bucky’s alive, where the Red Skull disappears to, and that Steve goes back to Peggy. Captain America: First Avenger is still enjoyable, but the mystery creates a huge part of the emotional roller coaster doesn’t have the same effect. Although Steve's friends have a few surprises left in store for them, his journey is done. All that's left are old familiar paths to visit, a sweet sorrow indeed.
Of all the author's issues, this might be the most subjective and thus the one that bothers me the least. For me, knowing what happens next actually makes rewatching it more fun. It isn't blind speculation, you're now aware of the awesomeness yet to come. I guess it's more of a personal preference as to whether or not you enjoyed his exit... But do we really think we've seen the last of this character?
Summary:
It's the kind of article that bothers me because there are two distinct possibilities: Either it's pure clickbait and the author knows people like me will do stuff like this, "Hey guys, get a load of this," and give them free traffic, which again is lazy and cynical in its own right; or the author is presenting these ideas in complete sincerity. "Oh man, the song and dance routine is so dated and cringey." It demonstrates a total lack of perspective. We can disagree on whether the music is any good, or how much fun it is to know the fates of the characters when you go back and watch the original; but complaining about character depth in an origin story as opposed to where the character is 20+ films into the greater franchise is nonsensical.