On the plane, I watched Captain America for the first time. I have to say I had not been keen since I read the original comics and I knew all Steve Rogers’ back story as an American patriot, self sacrifice, fighting the Nazi’s, and general sanctity…and I love it. It’s part of my childhood. Never been American; love Captain America. My main objection to not watching the movie was because I was afraid it would be yet another part of my childhood shat upon by Hollywood. I’ve already watched the two Avengers movies and Captain America is a bit of a clown everyone makes fun of, because in this day and age, being good and having principles really isn’t cool or hip or sexy.
So the movie defeated my expectations, it was really true to the original comics and…you know what? I loved it. Loved it, loved it, loved it. I had one single tiny tiny complaint at the end. Tiny tiny tiny complaint. If you know me, you know how anal I am, so you’ll realise what a big deal this is that I have only one complaint. So in the movie, Steve Rogers was filmed in a news reel with a close-up of Carter’s photo in his watchcase. That would never have happened in the war. Never. High profile target like that? The Nazis would know Carter was Steve Rogers’ weak spot and Carter would have been taken by a German spy. OK, a few points where Chris Evan’s face didn’t quite fit on the face of the body double at the beginning: still, the CGI was amazing. OK, that was two complaints. Still, this is minor minor minor stuff.
You know what? I think Captain America was pretty much a perfect movie. Great story (always number one criterion for movies). Lots of action. Great SFx. Hugo Weaving makes a great bad guy. Steve Rogers is the guy who tries his best to do the right thing. A guy who puts everyone else first, and himself last. He literally jumps on the grenade. The movie doesn’t finish on a typical Hollywood happy ending: Captain America makes the sacrifice, he doesn’t get the girl and he basically loses everything. Sure he doesn’t die, but he never again sees anyone of his friends or anyone he loves. That’s not a small sacrifice and you really really just don’t see that in superhero movies nowadays (oh it all comes right in the end and the hero walks out of the smoke and rubble holding the girl). No, it’s not about the All-American good looks (Aryan good looks, really, if you want to labour the point). Ironman is funny (yeah, I laughed, I liked the jokes), but Robert Downey Jr’s Tony Stark is basically a selfish arsehole. Thor is slapstick comedy. Chris Evan’s Captain America…if he stands for genuine American values then I’d like to be able to say I stand for them too. Genuinely. Truly. Goddamnitall, if that’s that America is about, then just tell me where to sign.
So, then I thought…those crazy videos of girls wearing the stars and stripes singing about how Trump is going to make America great again? Those lunatics who agree with Trump that Mexicans are rapists and that Muslims should be banned from the US? The repeated filibusters that make a total mockery of Congress? The people spouting unconstitutional bullshit about Obama not being allowed to nominate Antonin Scala’s replacement? The same people who claim to be defending the American Constitution? What the fuck is that about? Did they watch Captain America? Did they cheer him on? Did they stand up from their seats and applaud, shouting “They don’t make them like they used to”? Did these people watch Captain America in 2011 and drink the same Marvel koolaid I just drank? Am I a gullible imbecile? I see no conflict in the 2011 movie with the original Marvel comics from decades ago. I recognise in the movie the same Steve Rogers from the comics of decades ago. I find myself forced to conclude that in the intervening years, it is America itself that has changed, since Steve Rogers did not. Donald Trump winning the New Hampshire primary? When did this disconnect happen? How did this happen?
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