Best Of The Bunch

While I love movies, I'm not usually a patron of movie theatres. I prefer to start the movie when I'm ready, make my own snacks, pause the production should nature call and spread out on a comfy couch. But, should a really good movie or some production that seems very special-effects driven come out I will make an exception because even though TVs have come a long way, there really is no replacement for the full movie theatre experience. The again, there are downsides of the full movie theatre experience, which was what I got this afternoon.

We headed out to see "Captain America". I know, not exactly high cinema, but I wanted to see it, and it's been out for a couple of weeks, so I thought the theatre would be mostly empty. At first, I was right. When we initially showed up there was only one other person in the seats and by the time the lights dimmed for the previews there were only seven people in the entire place and nicely spread out, so I figured we were good. I was wrong. Not only did more people come in after the lights were out, but directly behind me sat a man with his two young, loud-popcorn-chewing, louder-talking, kicking-the-back-of-my-seat kids and then a couple who brought in the crunchiest nachos ever and who looked at my 98% empty row and decided that one seat away from me was the best seat in the house. Suddenly, I remembered why I usually stand to wait for stuff to come out on video.

Still, it is so rare that I can give you a review of a movie that is actually still in theatres, I figure I'd better get while the getting is good. While my group was split on whether or not this was a good movie, I liked "Captain America". First off, I'm kind of a sucker for WWII movies, which is just what this is. Despite the lasers and improved special effects, it still felt like a throwback of a film. The ending left me with a few questions that do not seem to hold up to the "common sense" test (that would be anything that immediately makes you go, "Wait, why would you do that? Wouldn't you do X instead?"), but I understand every movie makes a few of those. (Still, you just really shouldn't end a movie with one, as it taints the rest of the film.) Also, as a side note, do not wait through the credits for the extra scene, as the minute clip is not interesting enough to off-set sitting through 5 minutes of names scrolling on a screen.

Keep in mind, I wasn't holding this film up to normal scrutiny. Obviously, it isn't going to stand against some dramatic role where the lead actor is openly trolling for an Oscar nomination. At this point, I think so many superhero movies have come out that they make for their own category. And if you are judging it strictly by a jury of its peers, then "Captain America" stands up very well. It's certainly the best superhero film I have seen in the last few years. Now, at this point it has been in theatres for a few weeks and if you haven't gone out and seen it by now then that is because you don't want to. But, if you like superhero movies then add it to your rental list in a couple of months. I'm sure it won't be the worst movie you have ever had sent to your home.