Went with friend over the weekend to see the latest Marvel movie. Completely enjoyed it.
Despite some waffling on the part of the people behind the movie (who for some perverse reason refused to openly embraced the American values of their title character), things still turned out very well indeed.
Indeed in a bit of irony, their attempt to downplay patriotism really only highlighted it. Having been raised by a member of the Greatest Generation, I'm familar with some of their traits. Understatement, deeds instead of words, and doing the right thing flowed naturally while lofty speeches were left to generals and Politicians.
At times they claimed that they were making a movie not about an American, but about a good man. They forgot to mention that he was a good man because of his American values. This may have been intentional, so as to not damage their future in the very left wing Hollywood. If so, good job. If that wasn't the case and they really were attempting to remove America from Captain America, one can only be amused at their failure.
On other matters, they used the World War III German 'future weapons' look very effectively. Chris Evans was perfect in the role, and I never once saw the human torch. Hayley Atwell was amazing as Peggy Carter, and was one of the few superhero romances I've believed in while watching a film.
I give it a strong thumbs up.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
6 comments:
I believe the downplaying of America in Captain America was less about Hollywood and more about marketing this movie overseas where the most movie dollars are coming from these days.
But yes, it was an enjoyable movie.
Hollywood is more interested in its own bias than the real world overseas. Strong American movies actually do quite well over there.
For example, they were so scared that they offered every overseas the option of getting the movie and marketing materials with either the Captain America title or First Avenger as the title.
All but two picked Captain America.
Not to split hairs (and I could just make this point this weekend) but your point about them being American values first and a good man second is backwards I think.
From the perspective of the character and the movie, one may feel free to associate Steve Rogers's ethics with his American upbringing. However, it should be pointed out that there were good men, willing to die for their brethren and countrymen, brave and noble, long before there was an America.
These have become synonamous (for the most part) with the true American hero (especially Cap) but in this case the chicken and the egg debate should be clear. Being good is not because one is American, even if one argues that being an American hero is the same as being good. Being good came first, and left in issolation, would be noble regardless of what country is associated to it.
One can be an American without being good. One cannot be a hero without being good. Hero is hero regardless.
Having said all that, I am certainly glad they unintentionally reinforced the concept of the American hero as good and true. No such thing as too much of that. Too much of the ambiguously moral American hero these days.
Nightwing4911:
Speaking in very broad strokes...
Of course there were good men before America. There is little doubt of that.
But they were not as good as those Americans who came after.
And too many Americans today are not as good as those who came before.
Speaking as a Canadian, I feel no less moral for having been born north of the border. I suspect a great many Englishmen, Australians and others who hail from countries which have consistently found themselves on the right side of history would feel similarly.
Oh yes, a fine film.
The Anglo-sphere has much to be proud of, and America was its best offspring.
However it has forgotten most of it, and is well on its way from moving from the right side of history to just plain history.
Post a Comment