invisibleunicornninja
Sights and Sounds - The cinematography for this movie is pretty bad. The camerawork isn't all the great. The visual presentation is below average and makes this movie even more boring. There aren't a lot of effects, but for the most part they are hideously bad. Characters - All the characters are actually somewhat decent. The acting is ok. Some of the actors are worse than others. This movie tries to have several very dramatic and sad scenes that are a bit undercut by the subpar acting. If the actors were better, I'd probably have been closer to tears but as-is I was laughing. Geography - For some reason the people making this movie didn't take into account the world when they were making it. Germany, Washing DC, Alaska, and California are nowhere near as close to each other as they seem to think. Also, you can't drive a car from California to Italy (which I'm assuming is what they did. There is no implication that they flew, and I'm pretty sure that Captain America doesn't have a valid passport).Plot - The plot is ok, but the problem is that its executed very sloppily. If you're not paying very close attention, nothing is going to make any sense. Overall, the sequence of events in this movie are pretty random. Language - There are a few scenes where people aren't speaking English. For some reason, only about every other line is subtitled. Just random parts of the conversation are translated. I don't care if the Germans are speaking German, just make up your mind wether or not you want us English-speakers to understand.Overall, this a poorly made, boring movie. Its not really worth to watch as a so-bad-that-its-good movie because its not even that funny except for a few "wtf" moments.
Scott LeBrun
After the Nazis have developed a process to turn an innocent boy into a super human entity, the Americans likewise experiment on average American youth Steve Rogers (Matt Salinger), who has polio. Steve develops incredible strength and resilience, is given a costume and shield, and is rechristened Captain America. The Cap fails spectacularly in his first mission, which is vanquishing Red Skull (Scott Paulin), the adult version of that Nazi experiment. He ends up frozen in Arctic ice for 47 years, reemerging in 1990 to do battle with the Red Skull once again.It may be that this initial feature film vehicle for the legendary comic book hero (after two TV movies in the 1970s) will appeal more to casual viewers than longtime fans of the character. As it is, it lacks the spit and polish of major American product, and it will come off as cheesy and tacky to many viewers. Also, the scenario requires Steve to spend more time in civvies than in costume.But this viewer didn't find it completely worthless; it's not without some amusements. Like the sight of the President (Ronny Cox), who'd glimpsed the Cap as a child, engaging in fisticuffs with various bad guys. Paulin is not a truly great villain, but he's a mild hoot anyway, and his minions include some very sexy (if inept) female assassins, including Red Skulls' own daughter (Francesca Neri). The action scenes won't blow the audience away, but they're adequate.The main draw is a remarkably sincere Salinger, who makes for an appealing hero. Kim Gillingham, who gets an "introducing" credit, plays both Caps' lady friend and her daughter, and comes off better as the older lady. A variety of familiar faces - Ned Beatty, Michael Nouri, Darren McGavin, Melinda Dillon, Bill Mumy - are kind of wasted here, although McGavin at least gets a chance to be somewhat funny (it'd be a shame if he didn't).Kids will likely be less judgmental than their adult counterparts, and might have some fun with it.Five out of 10.
ironhorse_iv
The reasons why, are very clear. This low-budget action film is one of the worst comic book movies ever made, and that's saying a lot. Loosely based on the Marvel Comics superhero of the same name by writers-artists Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. The movie tells the story of Captain America/Steve Rogers (Matt Salinger) having to save the President of the United States, Thomas Kimball (Ronny Cox) from the evil arch enemy, Red Skull/Tadzio de Santis (Scott Paulin). Without spoiling the movie, too much, this film was infamous for a lot of big changes, they did with the comic book characters. First off, they change where Steve Rogers, used to live. Anybody, who readt comics books, know that the place, where Rogers grew up has always been the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City. However, in this version, it was turn into Los Angeles, California. It was really jarring to see, Steve Rogers as a California Kid. Not only did that not help, but being played by the son of fame author J. D. Salinger made it worst. Matt Salinger was very mediocre as the lead. He has this puzzling look to him, as if he doesn't know, what he is doing. He really didn't do much, in the film, besides, looking confused, running away, badly fake-acting sick, and stealing cars/bikes. Plus, he really didn't had any chemistry, with his co-stars, at all. He was very stale. Another big change from the comics, is how they handle, Steve Roger's love-interest. While, the character of Bernice Stewart (Kim Gillingham) is a composite of Bernie Rosenthal and Peggy Carter from the comics; this new character never, share much screen time with Rogers to establish, their relationship. It really didn't seem, like they were supposed to be in love. Instead, the movie quickly, tries to force down, the love relationship with her daughter Sharon Cooperman (Also played by Kim Gillingham). Like Stewart, her character is based on a comic book character of Sharon Carter. While Kim Gillingham makes a somewhat alright female lead. She was a bit annoying at times. In the end, the worst change, these filmmakers did to the Captain America lore, was with the villain of the piece, Red Skull. Instead, of being an evil German Nazi agent and Hitler's successor named Johann Schmidt. They made Red Skull, Italian, and a tragic figure named Tadzio de Santis. Don't get me wrong, I know that adaptation have to change a few things to make it, work with the movie format, but doesn't it seem, a bit odd, to see Red Skull, not being a red skull for most of the film. I understand, they didn't had the budget for the Red Skull make-up, but couldn't they bring back, his original look, back toward the end. After all, isn't Red Skull being Red Skull, what I came here to see. Anyways, it was also odd to see that Skull was not able to conquer America, even with Captain America's absence, during most of the film's timeline. It doesn't add up. Not only that, but I really can't buy that Red Skull, couldn't get his hands on a Nuclear missile quicker, despite working for Military–industrial complex for years, before Captain America suddenly woke up. It doesn't make sense. Anyways, another problem with this film, is its tone. It's really gritty in certain scenes and way too lighthearted in others. It really feels unbalanced. Plus, it doesn't help, that the film feels foreign than American. It didn't help that most of the film was filmed in Yugoslavia and most of the supporting actors sport a European accent. If you thought, that was bad, then you haven't watch the action. Every action scene in this film was very badly edited, or too slow & dull to be compelling. It even had the nerves, to film in deep pitch black, where nowhere saw, what was happening on screen. To make it, worst, Captain America's weakness is also show to have some imbalances. A good example is how Captain America can easily get knock out by a soda, but not by a car. I guess, his weakness, only begin to affect him, when it convenience to the plot. Also, how did he survive the missile blast, and not freeze to death in Alaska. Better yet, how did, they find him in the middle of nowhere!? This movie had way too much, unrealistic conveniences, and Deus ex machina moments to make this film, seem somewhat real. Its reasons like this, is why 1990's 'Captain America' is disappointing. It's a movie, that too embarrassingly over-the-top and stupid to be seen. No wonder, why it was never given a widespread US theatrical release, & went straight to VRS/cable TV in 1992 after some financial delays. However, it was given a limited theatrical release in late 1990 in the UK, where the majority of audience kinda dislike it. I can understand, why. This wasn't the version that director Albert Pyun and writers, Stephen Tolkin and Lawrence Block wanted to put out. After conflicts during the production process, the studio altered the movie quite heavily and the final cut didn't have much in common with Pyun's original version. Furthermore, the scheduled theatrical release was postponed several until the movie was released direct-to video in 1992. In the end, this superhero movie turn out to be mostly boring. Yet, there is a director's cut, out there, and it's not any better. In the end, go see 2011 film, 'Captain America: The First Avenger' over this. That would entertain you. Overall: I really can't recommended this movie. It's not one of those, 'It's so bad, it's good' type of a movie. It's just bad. A really bad, bad film.
