As promised -- Captain America: The First Avenger character review. In this post, I am mostly going to focus on Steve Rogers character development throughout the movie and make some side notes on how this movie will connect to others. Enjoy -- plus one me at the side, leave a comment if you want, like and share it.
**
WARNING!
SPOILERS AHEAD
WARNING!
**
Steven Grant "Steve" Rogers is introduced as a scrawny man who is eager to serve his country, no matter what it takes. Steve ends up in a movie theater after being denied entry into the US Army. In the theater a man is booing towards a military support video. After trying to shut the man up, the man takes Steve out of the theater and proceeds to beat Steve up.
However, Steve doesn't back down, despite him clearly losing the fight --- THIS IS A CHARACTER TRAIT THAT DEFINES STEVE.
Steve's best friend, James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, appears, and saves Steve. Steve and Bucky then go to the Stark Expo and see Howard Stark and his genius for the first time. Despite trying to help Steve have a good time at the Stark Expo, Steve goes off to try and enlist again. Bucky tries to persuade him to stop trying to enlist - I assume this is because Bucky cares about his friend, not wanting to see him killed in Europe. Well, Steve made up his mind and he continues to try to enlist again under a fake name.
Steve soon meets Dr. Abraham Erskine, a genius of a scientist working for the Strategic Scientific Reserve (SSR).
Steve soon meets Dr. Abraham Erskine, a genius of a scientist working for the Strategic Scientific Reserve (SSR).
--- Side Note ---
Dr. Erskine was a former German Scientist forced to work for a man named Johann Schmidt, the leader of the Nazi SS Weapons Research Division known as Hydra-Abteilung (or just Hydra). Dr. Erskine was on verge of creating a serum that would enhance human strength and abilities to superhuman levels. Johann Schmidt injected himself with the formula, which worked - except for the burning sensation that would turn him to the villain known as the Red Skull.
--- Back to Steve ---
So anyway, Steve meets Dr. Erskine, who asks asks Steve a very simple question: "Do you want to kill Nazi's?" Steve replies by saying, "I don't want to kill anyone. I don't like bullies. I don't care where they're from." --- THIS IS A CHARACTER TRAIT THAT DEFINES STEVE.
From this, Dr. Erskine takes a gamble. He gives Steve a chance.
From this, Dr. Erskine takes a gamble. He gives Steve a chance.
Next, Steve Rogers arrives at the SSR Camp Lehigh, where he meets the awesome MI5 Agent Margaret Elizabeth "Peggy" Carter. Peggy Carter was an advisor to the SSR. We also meet Colonel Philips, the Director of the SSR:
During the training scenes, Steve manages to pull a flag off a pole when the other soldiers can't. He doesn't use raw strength or anything like the other soldiers attempt to do. He uses his head. He sees the situation from a different angle or perspective that no one else thought of. THIS IS A CHARACTER TRAIT THAT DEFINES STEVE.
Shortly after, Colonel Philips continues to fail to see why Dr. Erskine would pick Steve. He throws a dumby grenade after saying, "You win wars with guts." Steve immediately, without thinking, throws his body against it, believing he is protecting everyone. THIS IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT CHARACTER TRAIT.
Dr. Erskine then talks to Steve about why he was chosen - explaining who Johann Schmidt and Hydra is, and what happened to Schmidt. Dr. Erskine continues to say that the Super Soldier Serum will enhance personalities as well - "Good becomes great and bad becomes worse." He says the reason why Steve was chosen was because Steve knows the value of strength and has compassion for others. Then Dr. Erskine makes Steve promise him that no matter what happens Steve will stay who he is. "Not a perfect soldier, but a good man." --- A promise that Steve will let guide him for his whole life. ALSO, THESE ARE TWO MORE CHARACTER TRAITS.
Steve is brought to the location where he is to be injected with the Super Soldier Serum. On his way he talks to Peggy in the car. He tells her that almost every place they pass he was beaten up there. When Peggy asks why he never ran away, Steve replies, "Start running, they'll never stop. You stand up and push back, they can't say no forever." --- this is his character trait of never backing down.
Steve is then injected with the Super Hero Serum. It was a success, making Steve into the worlds second Super Soldier, Johann Schmidt being the first. However, the celebration of the success is cut short when a Hydra agent sent to stop Dr. Erskine from recreating the serum and creating a threat for Schmidt ends up fatally shooting Dr. Erskine. As the Hydra agent makes his escape, Steve goes to Dr. Erskine's side. Erskine reminds him of his promise to him to be a good man before he dies.
Steve runs outside of the SSR facility to capture the Hydra agent, just as Peggy ends up shooting the driver of the Hydra getaway vehicle. Steve begins to chase after the Hydra agent through the city. This scene shows off his enhanced speed, jumping, swimming, and strength. He stops to make sure that a kid is alright when the Hydra agent throws him in the water --- STEVE'S PRIORITIES.
Steve eventually catches the Hydra agent. He doesn't beat or torture him. He just asks him questions. The agent simply says the Hydra slogan as he chows down on some cyanide --- "Cut off one head, two more shall take its place. Hail Hydra."
After Dr. Erskine's death, Steve ends up as an actor for the governor of New York. What follows is well... a painful montage... I can only imagine that Steve hated it at first, and grew accustomed to it eventually. However, when he ends up in Italy in 1943, performing for battle hardened soldiers, I believe he grows to hate --- even drawing him self as a performing monkey. However, Agent Carter's return to his life brings light back to Steve. She reminds him who he is and that he was made for so much more. It is Peggy who brings back that spark in Steve's life --- his desire to do good and stop the bullies. To serve and never give up. --- Peggy tells Steve that the division that his best friend Bucky is in had just return from terrible attack by Hydra. Steve is called to action to do something. I believe that it is in this moment that Steve truly becomes a hero --- the first hero; the first Avenger. Captain America.
With the help of Howard Stark and Peggy Carter, Steve manages to drop in on a Hydra base. Steve easily takes out Hydra soldiers and frees the captured soldiers of Bucky's division. As the base begins to fall into chaos, Steve searches for his best friend. He finds him in a room where Bucky is repeating his name and rank over and over, which suggests that he was being tortured. One can only imagine what was going through Steve's head when he rescued Bucky.
As Steve and Bucky attempt to escape the Hydra base that is currently imploding, Steve runs into Johann Schmidt. Schmidt then pulls off his face and reveals himself as the Red Skull. After a short fight and talk, Schmidt escapes with his top scientist, Dr. Arnim Zola.
Steve saves the captured soldiers of Bucky's division and returns to Colonel Philips. Steve also delivers some of Hydra's weapon technology to Howard Stark who begins to test the source of these weapons power. Steve also gains his iconic emblem. His shield, which is made entirely of Vibranium. He also learns not to make Peggy jealous.
Steve puts together a team of soldiers, including Bucky, known as the Howling Commandos. Steve and his team are then sent to destroy every Hydra base they run into. Hydra begins to lose a lot of ground during the next few years. In 1945, Steve and the Howling Commandos begin an operation to capture Hydra's greatest scientist, Dr. Arnim Zola. This scene is critical to Steve's development. During the operation, Steve and Bucky are attacked by Hydra soldiers. Steve is able to knock out his opponent before being able to rejoin Bucky. However, part of the train is destroyed by that same Hydra soldier, and Bucky is eventually knocked off the train and "dies"... When Bucky falls, Steve's face says it all.
Steve is devastated by Bucky's death. He starts to give up, and blames himself for his best friends death. But Peggy comes in again. Peggy tells him that if he believed in and respected his friend then he needs to stop blaming himself -- and that Bucky must have thought that Steve was worth sacrificing his life for. Steve then vows he'll bring down Schmidt.
Steve then decides that the best way to get to Schmidt is to get captured. So he does just that. After a conversation with the Red Skull, the Howling Commandos and SSR soldiers break in to the Hydra base. The Red Skull begins his escape aboard a ship called the Valkyrie. After reaching the Hanger, Steve eventually makes it onto the Valkyrie. He fights his way to the bridge.
Steve and Red Skull have a final fight. As their fight comes to end, Cap throws his shield at Red Skull knocking him into a large device containing a powerful artifact --- the Tesseract. Steve sees the cube begin to light up the place and notices that Red Skull is clearly afraid of what is happening to the cube. Red Skull picks up the cube, and Steve watches astonished to see the Red Skull disappear. He sees the cube melt through the floor and fall down into the ocean.
Then we see Steve's sacrifice. The Valkyrie is loaded with bombs, meant to help Hydra conquer the world. Steve decides to crash it into the ground rather than letting "a lot of people" die. This goes back to that scene with him jumping on the dumby grenade --- his willingness to sacrifice himself for others. As Steve and Peggy basically declare their love for each other, Steve crashes the Valkyrie into the ground, "dying."...
Shortly after, Colonel Philips continues to fail to see why Dr. Erskine would pick Steve. He throws a dumby grenade after saying, "You win wars with guts." Steve immediately, without thinking, throws his body against it, believing he is protecting everyone. THIS IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT CHARACTER TRAIT.
Dr. Erskine then talks to Steve about why he was chosen - explaining who Johann Schmidt and Hydra is, and what happened to Schmidt. Dr. Erskine continues to say that the Super Soldier Serum will enhance personalities as well - "Good becomes great and bad becomes worse." He says the reason why Steve was chosen was because Steve knows the value of strength and has compassion for others. Then Dr. Erskine makes Steve promise him that no matter what happens Steve will stay who he is. "Not a perfect soldier, but a good man." --- A promise that Steve will let guide him for his whole life. ALSO, THESE ARE TWO MORE CHARACTER TRAITS.
Steve is brought to the location where he is to be injected with the Super Soldier Serum. On his way he talks to Peggy in the car. He tells her that almost every place they pass he was beaten up there. When Peggy asks why he never ran away, Steve replies, "Start running, they'll never stop. You stand up and push back, they can't say no forever." --- this is his character trait of never backing down.
Steve is then injected with the Super Hero Serum. It was a success, making Steve into the worlds second Super Soldier, Johann Schmidt being the first. However, the celebration of the success is cut short when a Hydra agent sent to stop Dr. Erskine from recreating the serum and creating a threat for Schmidt ends up fatally shooting Dr. Erskine. As the Hydra agent makes his escape, Steve goes to Dr. Erskine's side. Erskine reminds him of his promise to him to be a good man before he dies.
Steve runs outside of the SSR facility to capture the Hydra agent, just as Peggy ends up shooting the driver of the Hydra getaway vehicle. Steve begins to chase after the Hydra agent through the city. This scene shows off his enhanced speed, jumping, swimming, and strength. He stops to make sure that a kid is alright when the Hydra agent throws him in the water --- STEVE'S PRIORITIES.
Steve eventually catches the Hydra agent. He doesn't beat or torture him. He just asks him questions. The agent simply says the Hydra slogan as he chows down on some cyanide --- "Cut off one head, two more shall take its place. Hail Hydra."
After Dr. Erskine's death, Steve ends up as an actor for the governor of New York. What follows is well... a painful montage... I can only imagine that Steve hated it at first, and grew accustomed to it eventually. However, when he ends up in Italy in 1943, performing for battle hardened soldiers, I believe he grows to hate --- even drawing him self as a performing monkey. However, Agent Carter's return to his life brings light back to Steve. She reminds him who he is and that he was made for so much more. It is Peggy who brings back that spark in Steve's life --- his desire to do good and stop the bullies. To serve and never give up. --- Peggy tells Steve that the division that his best friend Bucky is in had just return from terrible attack by Hydra. Steve is called to action to do something. I believe that it is in this moment that Steve truly becomes a hero --- the first hero; the first Avenger. Captain America.
With the help of Howard Stark and Peggy Carter, Steve manages to drop in on a Hydra base. Steve easily takes out Hydra soldiers and frees the captured soldiers of Bucky's division. As the base begins to fall into chaos, Steve searches for his best friend. He finds him in a room where Bucky is repeating his name and rank over and over, which suggests that he was being tortured. One can only imagine what was going through Steve's head when he rescued Bucky.
As Steve and Bucky attempt to escape the Hydra base that is currently imploding, Steve runs into Johann Schmidt. Schmidt then pulls off his face and reveals himself as the Red Skull. After a short fight and talk, Schmidt escapes with his top scientist, Dr. Arnim Zola.
Steve saves the captured soldiers of Bucky's division and returns to Colonel Philips. Steve also delivers some of Hydra's weapon technology to Howard Stark who begins to test the source of these weapons power. Steve also gains his iconic emblem. His shield, which is made entirely of Vibranium. He also learns not to make Peggy jealous.
Steve puts together a team of soldiers, including Bucky, known as the Howling Commandos. Steve and his team are then sent to destroy every Hydra base they run into. Hydra begins to lose a lot of ground during the next few years. In 1945, Steve and the Howling Commandos begin an operation to capture Hydra's greatest scientist, Dr. Arnim Zola. This scene is critical to Steve's development. During the operation, Steve and Bucky are attacked by Hydra soldiers. Steve is able to knock out his opponent before being able to rejoin Bucky. However, part of the train is destroyed by that same Hydra soldier, and Bucky is eventually knocked off the train and "dies"... When Bucky falls, Steve's face says it all.
Steve is devastated by Bucky's death. He starts to give up, and blames himself for his best friends death. But Peggy comes in again. Peggy tells him that if he believed in and respected his friend then he needs to stop blaming himself -- and that Bucky must have thought that Steve was worth sacrificing his life for. Steve then vows he'll bring down Schmidt.
Steve then decides that the best way to get to Schmidt is to get captured. So he does just that. After a conversation with the Red Skull, the Howling Commandos and SSR soldiers break in to the Hydra base. The Red Skull begins his escape aboard a ship called the Valkyrie. After reaching the Hanger, Steve eventually makes it onto the Valkyrie. He fights his way to the bridge.
Steve and Red Skull have a final fight. As their fight comes to end, Cap throws his shield at Red Skull knocking him into a large device containing a powerful artifact --- the Tesseract. Steve sees the cube begin to light up the place and notices that Red Skull is clearly afraid of what is happening to the cube. Red Skull picks up the cube, and Steve watches astonished to see the Red Skull disappear. He sees the cube melt through the floor and fall down into the ocean.
Then we see Steve's sacrifice. The Valkyrie is loaded with bombs, meant to help Hydra conquer the world. Steve decides to crash it into the ground rather than letting "a lot of people" die. This goes back to that scene with him jumping on the dumby grenade --- his willingness to sacrifice himself for others. As Steve and Peggy basically declare their love for each other, Steve crashes the Valkyrie into the ground, "dying."...
--- SIDE NOTE ---
After the crash, Howard Stark, who by now had become good friends with Steve, begins a long search for Steve. Howard finds the Tesseract in the ocean and takes it --- this will be important for later. Many years later (from the opening of the movie) we see scientist uncovering the snow covered wreckage of the Valkyrie. As they enter it, they find Captain America's frozen body. The organization known as SHIELD (the new version of the SSR essentially) recovers Steve's body and takes it back to New York. Eventually, Steve is thawed out and he wakes up seventy years after the Valkyrie crashed. Steve then wakes up.
--- Back to Steve ---
Steve waking up in 2012 is an interesting thing. He runs out into New York only to be stopped by the Director of SHIELD, Nick Fury. Fury explains what happened to Steve. Steve finally agrees to go with the SHIELD agents back to their base --- and roll credits...
Overall, Captain America/Steve Rogers is amazing. It's funny cause his story, in my opinion, really fits into the the 1940s timeline near flawless - just a few exceptions :)
Steve's character is fascinating. He doesn't give up. When he gets in a fight, he doesn't back down - He can "do this all day." Steve understands the value of strength. He has compassion for others and is willing to lay down his life to save others. And in the end, he truly doesn't want to kill anyone. He wants to stop bullies, regardless of where they come from. Steve also tries to see situations from a different perspective, which makes him into a great leader when he strategizes plans of attack. He is a natural leader, as seen throughout the movie --- his role in the fall of almost all Hydra facilities is a complement to his abilities as a leader and of course to his Super Soldier strength. Steve also has a deep loyalty and care for his friends, which is something that will come back to him later. Finally Steve Rogers is defined by a promise he made to Dr. Erskine. That he will stay who he is; not a perfect soldier, but a good man. --- This promise is something that guides him through the movie and will be something that will come back later.
Captain America folks:
Next time I will be doing a character review based on Iron Man 1 --- Over Tony Stark. This one will be a doozy, but it'll be interesting to see where it goes...
*******************************************************************************************************
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Picture 4
Picture 5
Picture 6
Picture 7
Picture 8
Picture 9
Picture 10
Picture 11
Picture 12
Picture 13
Picture 14
Picture 15
Picture 16
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Video 4
Video 5
Video 6
Video 7
Video 8
Video 9
;)
