Joe Johnston (1) (1950–)

I always really liked this film, but repeated viewings has taught me I actually love it. Witty without undermining the drama, full of heart without getting (to me, anyway) corny, and with the rarest of things: a superhero origin story that feels neither trite nor impersonal. I genuinely like the Steve Rogers I meet in this film, and I'm very happy to be spending two hours with him. The third act is a fair bit weaker than what comes before it, but some nice heart-string tugs ("I had a show more date...") hauls it in for me in the end anyway. show less

Acting: 4.5; Theme: 4.5; Content: 4.5; Language: 3.5; Overall: 4.5

Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is a failed military soldier. He has been ridiculed and mocked most of his life due to his lack of stature and size. After failing over and over to enter the military with falsified records, Rogers is noticed by Dr. Abraham Erkskine (Stanley Tucci) who is working at developing an army of super-strengthened soldiers. Rogers finally enters the military after he is injected with a serum that makes him show more super strong. The experiment works and Rogers must go to battle for America after being transformed into Captain America. Very good with many fantastical turns. There were at least 12 uses of vulgarity throughout. Highly recommend.

***July 3. 2023*** show less

The idea that children had to fulfill the commands of a board game in real life in nice. But it's a pity that they are repetitive as the Plagues of Egypt.
I liked that in the end all animals were drawn back in the board and that the grown-up pair saw the children, with whom they played the game, back in the 'real' time.
The change of the boy's attitude towards his father after his adventure was for me to abruptly and not believable.

****1/2 for the original, *** for the sequel, ***1/2 for the last one, which gets an extra * because they had to have Sam Neil, and he got a whopping paycheck. I've loved dinosaur flicks since I was in short pants, from the stop-motion animated to the lizards with funny hair pieces, and these were a whole new thing when they first came out. Still love 'em and anxious to see the new one.

I'd take half a star off for the dopey packaging if I did that kind of thing.