Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Ebert enjoyed the film as a real movie with texture and a hero who has dimension, praising its period settings, narrative propulsion by director Joe Johnston, and first-rate CGI, especially the seamless transformation of Chris Evans.

The critic finds it a fast, thrilling and unashamedly old-fashioned adventure that falls in with Marvel’s best, thanks to great performances and pitch-perfect tone. Evans excels as the likeable hero and Johnston handles the conventional story well, though 3D and the Red Skull are drawbacks.

It balances crowd-pleasing elements like action, humor, and sincerity into fleet, gleeful fun with strong set pieces and cast support, though the ending miscalculates and the lead loses nuance after transformation.

The review notes that the film succeeds in focusing on individual pluck rather than flag-waving, with Evans delivering a strong turn and Johnston handling the origin story pacing reasonably, though the Red Skull falls short as a threat and the setup for sequels is handled unevenly.

It captivates with spectacle and thrills as a solid superhero origin story better than some recent Marvel films, but lacks depth in character development and emotional engagement.

The critic calls it one of the more joyful superhero films thanks to its World War II period setting and old-fashioned Saturday matinee spirit, praising the fun direction and production design while noting the lack of real tension once the action begins due to excessive CGI.

Johnston and the writers craft a nifty, highly entertaining pulpy action film that makes the divisive hero relatable via its period WWII setting and witty jabs at patriotism. Action and characters are well handled but can feel slight or overcrowded, with blurry 3D and an unsatisfying Avengers-setup ending holding it back.

The first half excels with classical pacing, wonderful production design, and old-fashioned craftsmanship evoking 1940s newsreels, but the story is nothing special and later action feels by-the-numbers once effects dominate.

Turan found the film familiar and pro forma as a Marvel origins story and Avengers setup, but singled out Chris Evans for bringing appealing earnestness and humility to Steve Rogers that stands out in the superhero genre.

It gives sturdy treatment to the jingoistic hero with strong early humanization of Steve Rogers and flair in set pieces, but is unremarkable overall due to a bifurcated structure where the origin half outshines the generic later combat.

The review highlights the retro-sincerity and brand piety of the origin story, singling out Chris Evans' touching and engaging performance across both weakling and super-soldier phases, while criticizing the lack of irony and genuine patriotism.

The big showdowns may be run-of-the-mill but a clever postmodern twist pushes Captain America to the front of the superhero pack this summer. The stylish origin myth explaining the hero's comic-book beginnings is smart and inventive, though the later action sequences are competent but unremarkable.

Johnston's film is praised for its confident start, retro-futuristic look, and Evans' transformation, but criticized for choppy plotting, pedestrian set-pieces, and a stiff hero once in battle, with modern bookends undermining the climax.

The film leads with old-fashioned charm and a knowingly corny, sweet nostalgia rather than pyrotechnics, embracing a square, amiable tone with some heart. It lacks narrative ingenuity and a compelling central character beyond the iconic elements, making most action set pieces mundane and the overall result rather ordinary.

The film sticks to simplistic patriotic origins and delivers competent comic-book action with a strong cast led by Chris Evans, but feels routine and unremarkable compared to other recent Marvel entries like X-Men: First Class.

Debruge called the film red, white and bland, a by-the-numbers prequel that comes across as remarkably flat despite earnest direction and a strong cast, criticizing the transformation of the relatable Everyman hero into a dull meathead.

It is hard to find a good thing to say about this prequel except the steak-eating scene with Tommy Lee Jones. The film is an abomination filled with arbitrary chases, pointless dialogue, endless montages and vacant lead performances.

The critic loved the film and felt it captured Captain America and Steve Rogers perfectly. It is entertaining, witty, and the most complete Marvel movie since Iron Man, with strong fan service and humor.

The critic praises the film's speedy action-adventure, strong cast, charming period aesthetic, and even-handed portrayal of WWII, noting it entertains without insulting intelligence but lacks depth. They single out the first hour's exploration of Rogers and the overall entertainment value.

It is a genuinely enjoyable film that ranks high among summer blockbusters thanks to Joe Johnston's direction and Chris Evans' performance, getting right much of what Thor and Green Lantern could not. Evans is fantastically well-cast, making the audience believe in him as both character and hero.

It is a well-paced, classical, muscular and sturdy superhero tale that is handsome, earnest, and delivers an old-school adventure with strong visuals, art design, and action sequences. The period WWII setting and grounded motivations make it effective and stand-alone, though sometimes facile.

The review criticizes the film as dull, straight-faced, and earnest, lacking humor and depth compared to other Marvel films or Indiana Jones; Evans' character is bland, and it fails to engage dramatically. They single out the absence of the fish-out-of-water scenario and comparison to lesser films like Green Lantern.

The critic views the film as another labored and unoriginal superhero effort in a weak summer slate, with the big emotional moments falling flat despite some effective details. Special effects transforming the hero and the 1940s USO sequences are singled out as highlights amid the familiarity.

The film feels like watching a trailer for a much better movie it wishes it had made, existing mostly as setup for The Avengers with little character development beyond Cap. Tommy Lee Jones gives an excellent performance with some witty lines, but Evans lacks the needed charisma.