Like Punch usually says given half the chance: “That’s the way to do it”.

A vast improvement on The First Avenger, this sets the precedent now for all Marvel films.
None of the previous ones have come close to the intelligent composition of this film.

The directors-Joe and Anthony Russo (Arrested Development, Community) have raised the bar as far as these kinds of films are made. You can cram in all the set pieces in the world but if there are no real stakes for characters that you don’t care about then all you have is a very shiny empty shell.
The set pieces in this one really deliver, one, which shall go un-named due to lack of wanting to spoil, is probably something I have never seen before, at least with that level of stakes and was hugely enjoyable.

Chris Evans builds on his previous ventures as Steve Rogers and cements the character as one equal to if not greater than all the others. Scarlett Johansson secures her place in the universe and it’s only a matter of time before Black Widow gets her own screen outing. A nice addition to the big screen Marvel characters is Anthony Mackie as Falcon.
It’s great that the lesser known heroes and villains are being introduced.

Samuel L brings his Nick Fury back to the table with a little more depth than usual and Robert Redford brings old school Hollywood weight as Alexander Pearce, another S.H.I.E.L.D. member.

The best thing about this film is that it doesn’t treat its audience as a bunch of idiots.
There is an intelligent script at the heart of it and it is directed with assurance and confidence.

All the previous Marvel films (this time around) have been deeply unsatisfying, Iron Men, Thors, Spidermen, Avengers, X-Men (although First Class was pretty good), and it is definitely a style over substance problem.

Maybe they were just too big for the silver screen or at least too big for the mere humans trying to make them.

Maybe this will be the start of a beautiful friendship.
Let’s hope so.

3.5/5

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