Comments on: Captain America is American, Red Skull is Main Villain & More!

By: danlister

danlister — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:03:47 +0000

@a1d2h-As to the SR members picking everything apart, it's what they did before I joined, and will do long after I become worm buffet; this is because Vic encourages active (yet decidedly civilized/non-profane) discussions of film here. If he wanted a Stepford Website, with a bunch of fawning yes-men, he'd have kicked out anybody that disagreed with him or cast aspersions upon his ego.

There are, I'm sure, those who've managed to disagree with him and still keep it friendly…and they're still here, I'll bet…of course, if you (profanely or not) say that an SR member strongly resembles the southbound end of a northbound mule, Vic MIGHT take issue with that.

By: Bill, the Wildcat

Bill, the Wildcat — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:27:53 +0000

JRose23, that's a fair question, and "book ends" don't necessarily equal sloppy writing. Sometimes, the bookends can be used as a quick fix for a story that is incomplete. Instead of rewriting the body of the story, you slap on a prologue or an epilogue or both. These fit in the information, but they don't necessarily contribute to the true story. In some cases, they can even harm the quality of the overall story.

If you want examples of this within film, then look at "Spanglish." It's pretty obvious the the bookends to that film were slapped on there, because people just didn't get what that film was supposed to be about. I'd also argue they really don't fit with a lot of the overall film either, they actually hurt the quality of the final product.

"Saving Private Ryan" also uses this technique. I think it does it in a more effective manner, although, I don't think it was necessary for the overall quality of the film.

The scenario you paint for "Captain America" has potential, but I think Cap has to be awake in both parts of the bookends in order for it to work. They might have something else in mind, but we'll see. As I said, it doesn't necessarily mean the writing here will be sloppy. They just have to make sure these bookends contribute to the film's story... not merely provide a lead-in for the Avengers, not if this film is going to stand on its own and win over non-comic book fans. There is soooo much potential for Captain America in film, especially in today's society, and I truly hope they don't ignore that. It doesn't sound like they will neglect that element, so I'm optimistic in that regard.

By: mchops

mchops — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:21:08 +0000

Kantstandya

what cable company do u have? I'm trying to find Disney HD but not having any luck. I use comcast so the numbers must be different.

By: Irene

Irene — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:40:05 +0000

I hope you are right, but the problem is that it was what Johnston said himself in the LA Times interview: “So he´s up on stage doing songs and dances with the chorus girls and he can´t wait to get out and really fight.”
So I suppose we have to wait how this all turns finally out. But one thing is sure if the Cap movie is in trouble then the Avengers have a problem, too.

By: ZombieHunter

ZombieHunter — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:41:21 +0000

True that, man. It's his persona that really has the problem. As far as the Red Skulls transformation, I can imagine Johnston deviating from the comics a bit.

By: SMatt

SMatt — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:15:27 +0000

Definitely agreed on the huge difference in character, but he seems to be a good enough actor that that's not an issue. Really though, that's as good an argument for anyone. As long as whomever they choose is a good enough actor, I'm happy

By: JRose23

JRose23 — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:55:28 +0000

I'm a big Ackles fan, but I've never thought he was all that right for the role, and that his chance of getting the part was even slimmer. He came out and denied the rumor that he was Cap by saying that they weren't going to give Captain America to some no-name off the CW.

That said, however, it's obvious they're going for a no name, and he's a much, much better choice than Chad Michael Murray. He's also 32, which just happens to be the top of the age group Johnston listed, so, you never know.

By: JRose23

JRose23 — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:50:40 +0000

How do bookends equal sloppy writing? You open up in present day, possibly even on Cap frozen in ice, then you flash back to WWII for the rest of the film, and then at the end flash forward to Stark or somebody happening upon Cap's body. It's a better way to end the movie than to just end on Cap frozen to death with no indication of what's coming next.

By: The Maestro

The Maestro — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:43:00 +0000

It would make sense for Steve Rogers/Cap to be a little older. The standard origin story says that he is an artist so he would have had at least a couple years to establish himself in a job like that. Then the USA enters WWII and he wants to enlist but gets the 4F rating. It would also make sense to get an unknown because that would parallel the character. He's an anonymous guy who's selected to become a hero, so what he was before that point is kind of irrelevant. He becomes a symbol, much like the unknown actor being selected to become a symbol.
I really hope they come up with clever way of presenting the Red Skull. It can't look cheesy or too much like a mask. I'd say do almost like a Phantom of the Opera look.

By: The Big Dentist

The Big Dentist — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:34:16 +0000

The war on grugs – fought on behalf of ventriloquists everywhere. They celegrated afterwards with a gottle of geer. Sorry, I couldn't resist!

Hopefully the “fitting in” business is just to do with Steve Rogers being scrawny enough to be declared unfit for military service before he was given the serum, then afterwards having to keep his true identity a secret.

By: MercWadeWilson

MercWadeWilson — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:16:53 +0000

Sam Niel, Daniel Graig, Viggo Mortensen, or Mads Mikleson would be my choices for Red Skull. I'm not a huge fan of Skull so I don't know about how he got the skull face and stuff, but if the movie is going into terms of realism I think the skull could be a helmet of some kind over his face with a moving jaw on it.

By: PittmanOG

PittmanOG — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:40:09 +0000

I'm looking forward to the origin story, it's sweet and simple. I'm not sure what Joe is up to with the “Steve rogers trying to fit” angle but I still have high aspirations.

I remember when I first picked up a few issues of Cap, it was always one of those titles I never bothered with. Then the whole storyline, “Streets of Poison” where Marvel realized the bad message of Steve being injected with a steroid to become a “real” american. In the Reagn-era/war on grugs, they STRIPPED steve of the super-soldier serum! I wonder if this is on the mind of Disney execs…

There was that dark period when Steve was replaced by Superpatriot and became The Captain, leading Avengers West Coast. WTF

By: Rob_Keyes

Rob_Keyes — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:35:28 +0000

The Nazi he played in Inglourious Basterds is quite a bit different from the darker Red Skull character. I can't see Waltz in the role.

By: SMatt

SMatt — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:02:21 +0000

@Rob
While I agree that Waltz is obvious, does that make it any less an awesome idea? haha

By: KanTstandYa

KanTstandYa — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:58:11 +0000

Hey just to let all the comic fans know DISNEY XD. channel 1609 in HD as well plays all the great comic shows from the 90's at 1amto4am from the xmen,fantastic 4, silver surfer, and the avengers. real nice to c those on tv again.

By: Jason75

Jason75 — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:12:37 +0000

If the early Cap comics I'm reading are anything to go by, the Red Skull was originally an ordinary (if somewhat ugly) man who wore a mask. Latter he had an accident with some his skull gas that gave him the appearance of a living skull.

Personally I'd be happier if they stuck with the original motif. The Skull's major deformity was always his twisted evil soul.

By: histeachn

histeachn — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:58:19 +0000

When I read about the USO approach I never took it as having Cap sing and dance, but doing something like they did with the US soldiers from Iwo Jima and sort of just put him on display to garner support for the war. If Cap is projected as being truly patriotic in the film, I could see him getting disdainful about the costume if he views the spectacle surrounding him at USO as some sort of mockery of the flag. The approach Johnston is making can be done and still honor the source material, I think. The iconic look of costume being maintained later on for greater function just makes sense in that era.

No red flags by me.

By: Screen Rant

Screen Rant — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 14:39:42 +0000

I believe Rob will be addressing the USO item in an upcoming article.

By: Andy S

Andy S — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:51:07 +0000

I still think McPartlin is a great choice, but after watching some of the first season of Supernatural I think Jensen Ackles would also be a good choice. I think McPartlin has more of the “look” of Cap. Both are fine actors and I think would do a great job. However, Ackles is pretty well known from Supernatural, so I think that leaves him off the relatively unknown list.

By: PittmanOG

PittmanOG — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:44:49 +0000

Cillian Murphy or Paul Bettany for Red Skull.

We'll likely see the man before, then after the accident. I can't remember, was it a weapons test or a chemical experiment or a bomb that deformed red skull?