100 Days of Marvel: Road to Infinity War - Day 1: Captain America: The First Avenger

If by some miracle you have been following my blog, you know that I do what I like to call "Heroic Analyses" of characters from films, books, television and other narrative types that are soon to come. This time, and for the next 100 days, I wanted to try something a little different. Across the next 100 days, I will be taking daily dives into everything Marvel. The movies, the shows, some of the books, as much as I can before the cinematic release of "Avengers: Infinity War." I have no plan, and am only going on whim and a collection of timelines I can find on the internet. What better way to start a daily blog about the Marvel Universe than with the First Avenger!

Now, I certainly plan to do a Heroic Analysis on Captain America. Once I get to the 3rd film, I will take a deeper look at all 3 movies and analyze across the three. So, stay tuned for that. For now, these are just my thoughts from re-watching the movies, shows, etc. Without Further ado...

Captain America: The First Avenger

Honestly, there has never been a Marvel movie or show that I did not like. I have not seen everything, but all that I have, I like. I say that because I know a lot of people don't like this film. However, I really like it. Not my favorite of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it is a perfect journey for a hero, or rather it begins the perfect journey. 

In this film Steve Rogers' (Chris Evans) has his Call to Adventure and a lot of other archetypal moments of the classic heroes journey are set up. We learn in the beginning of the movie that both of Rogers' parents were war heroes in some type of way. Witnessing Roger's determination to be a part of the war efforts is easily an attempt to make his parents proud of him, and him achieving this is a direct correlation to values instilled in him from those very same parents. The moment in the film when Evans acts this out, he does some great emotional acting, which is underrated in the film. 

This also begins his path for Atonement, as that usually follows some Mysterious Parentage where the hero must make meaning of the absence of the family - typically father - figure (more on that in the analysis, but it is something we see with almost EVERY marvel hero). Black Panther's Father dies in the films, and in his movie I suspected there will be a lot of atoning to do. Peter Parker / Uncle Ben and/or his biological parents. Iron Man and his father. Honestly, at the moment of writing this I cannot think of single other hero who simply has both parents, or has both parents still alive and is on good terms with them. It is almost crucial for a hero to be, metaphorically speaking, on his own at some point. What better way than ditching the natural protectors?

Rogers' chemistry with Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) is really enjoyable to watch, and was one of the first things I knew I wanted to discuss while watching the film. I have not seen the television series "Agent Carter" yet, but it is next on my watch list, and I will review season 1, or as much of it that I can get done tomorrow. But their moments in the film are made painfully sad when you know the outcome, that their love can never be fulfilled because of what happens to him in the end of the movie. It is all for the best, in the end, but that first moment with the two of them together in the cab - heartbreaking.

Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci) serves as an early Mentor figure for Rogers. I am amazed at Tucci's ability to character act. When I first saw this film in theaters, I had no idea who Tucci was, and knowing what I know now, he is probably one of my favorite character actors of all time. Caeser Flickerman from "Hunger Games," Nigel from "Devil Wears Prada," and even Merlin from "Transformers the Last Knight" - OBJECTIVELY the only good part of that movie.

Two of my favorite moments from the film occurred in the scene where Rogers chases down the Hydra Agent who kills Erskine. Rogers picks up a cab door from the Lucky Star Cab Company. He uses it as a shield to deflect some gunfire, and little did he know that the shield would become his symbol. Not only that, but the design on the door is much like the one on his future shield. I wonder what his "Avengers: Infinity War" shield will look like, you know, once Black Panther's guy gets it for him. The other moment is the one line said by the kid after the chase. "Go get him. I can swim," is one my favorite moments in any movie, but I am easy to please. It is just nice to see. In the theater, I was like "Oh shit. Now he is going to have to go and save this little kid, because 'you know, Captain America' and all that," but he doesn't have to. Way to go kid! He saved the moment from the Batman cliche.

The movie goes on and Rogers does some heroic things. I never felt any sense of danger for Rogers when the war scenes were happening. Partly because I know what comes next (so there is no tension of him getting seriously hurt) and I can't remember if I felt that way during my initial viewing. It's like how I know that Black Panther can't die in his movie, so he is, for all intents and purposes, safe, because Infinity War occurs after Black Panther in the cinematic timeline. Already, that will relieve some of the tension in the movie and allow it to focus more on whatever political struggle the trailers hint at. But I digress, I know that Captain America doesn't die.

Marvel movies get crap for their poor Villains, and rightly so because most of them are not very well done. However, I enjoy the Red Skull, Johann Schmidt (Hugo Weaving). Without beating us over the head, we know that Dr. Erskine created two super human characters. I LOVE a well done story of "brothers-at-odds" and when two folks are pupils of the same master, if you will, they represent a very cool sibling rivalry of sorts. We see it with Ken and Ryu from Street Fighter. Or Beatrix and that lady with all the snakes from "Kill Bill Vol. 2." In this movie, we get 3 very strong brotherly relationships. Rogers and Barnes, Rogers and his unit, and the one that falls under brothers of the same teacher - Rogers and Schmidt.

This film is basically the Initiation / Separation phase of Captain America's heroic journey. The entire film is a set-up for him to get his abilities, learn how to use them as they are his Supernatural Aid, and for him to meet his Villains, Allies, and begin his Tests, such as the brief moment with a Woman as Temptress that Agent Carter sees him kissing on the base. At the end of the film, Rogers Crosses the First (real) Threshold, and ends the film at a point of no return.

In regards to James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, he is certainly in the movie. It is also great to see Tommy Lee Jones reprise his role as Colonel Tommy Lee Jones.