CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER – Page 4

'Captain America' Locations – In UK

Posted on August 3, 2010 by Tom Powers

BBC News reports that Marvel Studios’ CAPTAIN AMERICA: The First Avenger will be using locations in Liverpool and Manchester for filming to begin in the coming weeks.
Susan Williams, drama liaison manager of the Vision+Media film office said that Manchester’s Northern Quarter will fill in for New York City in a car chase scene.

“We suggested the area to Marvel as its wide streets, towering buildings and pre-war architecture will make the perfect 1940s New York.”

Stanley Docks Liverpool - MerseyGateway org

How-Do.co.uk supplied the additional information that Liverpool’s Stanley Docks area will provide the setting for an action sequence involving a large scale WWII submarine mock-up.
Since the iconic U.S. superhero film is being shot in the U.K., I guess these locations make sense. I’m more concerned with the seemingly grudging and revisionist attitude Marvel and director Joe Johnston appear to be taking to the inherently patriotic nature of the character.

Joe Johnston on 'Captain America'

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Tom Powers

The LA Times featured a few words from Joe Johnston (THE ROCKETEER) about CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER.

“We’re sort of putting a slightly different spin on Steve Rogers. He’s a guy that wants to serve his country, but he’s not a flag-waver. We’re reinterpreting, sort of, what the comic book version of Steve Rogers was.”
He wants to serve his country, but he’s not this sort of jingoistic American flag-waver, he’s just a good person.
We make a point of that in the script: Don’t change who you are once you go from Steve Rogers to this super-soldier; you have to stay who you are inside, that’s really what’s important more than your strength and everything. It’ll be interesting and fun to put a different spin on the character and one that the fans are really going to appreciate.”

Why does it so often seem that Hollywood filmmakers tend to take exactly the wrong messages from comic books?
The Captain America of the comics, particulary in the WWII era, was indeed a “flag-waver”. He should be: he’s the symbol of all the postive ideals of the country. He is also its premiere solider. This is not a conflict.
You can be a very patriotic and proud of your country without being jingoistic. Jingoism is defined as a kind of extremism, a highly aggressive or even belligerent form of nationalism that favors warfare as the primary tool of statescraft.
Patriotism on the other hand, is a variety of idealism; a loyalty to and love of your country, pride in its values and of the welfare of your fellow citizens.
And that, I think, is the perfect description of who Steve Rogers has always been, whether or not he agreed with whatever policy was currently in force.
New Promo picture via YahooMovies

'Thor' & 'Captain America' 3-D

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Tom Powers

–Plus New THOR Picture–

The L.A. Times confirmed that Marvel Studios’ THOR and CAPTAIN AMERICA will both be released — but NOT shot in 3-D, using the contraversial post-production conversion process.
THOR director Kenneth Branagh justified the descision.
“It’s another draft of the story that can reveal itself in a different way. I had a healthy degree of skepticism up front … I’ve become somebody extremely excited about working with possibilities of doing it this way.”
Also confirmed is that THOR will take place both in Asgard and in a town in New Mexico where Thor (Christopher Hemsworth) will be exiled by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins).
In the photo below are Hemsworth as Thor, Hopkins as Odin, and Tom Hiddleston as Loki. None are wearing their iconic helmets, leading me to suspect we might only see those in battle scenes.

L-R Helmsworth, Hopkins, and Hiddleston — L-R Hemsworth, Hopkins, and Hiddleston

THOR is due in theaters May 6th, 2011.
The article also revealed that CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER director Joe Johnston did in fact shoot a day of tests with 3-D camera rigs, only to reject the equipment as too cumberson and limiting in terms of filmmaking.
Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige said that the conversion of the films will be pleasing, especially as all the effects were planned for and will be executed in 3-D.

Evans On Capt. America's Look

Posted on July 8, 2010 by Tom Powers

Empire was talking to CAPTAIN AMERICA:THE FIRST AVENGER star Chris Evans about the Marvel Comics superhero’s costume and mighty shield.

Evans revealed the following:

“It’s an amazing costume. Given the fact that his costume is red, white and blue, and it’s tight, and it could be kind of flash and over the top – and given the fact that the movie takes place in the ‘40s and ‘50s – they’ve done a really good job of making it look really cool.”

The 40’s AND 50’s? Did Evans have a slip of the tongue here, or is the film’s time frame wider than expected? In the current comics continuity, the Steve Rogers Capt. America was in suspended animation from the end of WWII until being discovered and revived by the Avengers.
Various individuals donned the costume in the post-war period, though none could really fill his boots.
On Cap’s famous shield:

“We’ve been testing a lot of shields. Last time I was in London they had six shields and I had to hold each one, see if I was comfortable with each one, see which one we all thought had the right look. The thing is pretty heavy, so I’m not sure I can throw it that far! I’ll give it my best shot, but hopefully they’ll have some sort of stunt shield when it comes to actually chucking it!”

Shield-tossing could be an action highlight, likely using CGI. Has the dreaded 3-D word been mentioned for the production?

Dominic Cooper Joins 'Captain America'

Posted on June 29, 2010 by Tom Powers

Marvel.com spread the word that Marvel Studios announced today that Dominic Cooper (WARRIOR QUEEN) has been cast as Howard Stark in CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER.
Cooper joins a cast that includes Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Capt. America, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Stanley Tucci, Hayley Atwell, and Sebastian Stan.

“In the film, Cooper will portray the younger version of Howard Stark, the character which John Slattery portrayed in “Iron Man 2.” Joe Johnston will direct the film penned by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely.
Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige will produce “Captain America: The First Avenger.” Alan Fine, Stan Lee, David Maisel, Nigel Gostelow and Louis D’Esposito will executive produce. The film will be released in the U.S. on July 22, 2011 and distributed by Paramount Pictures.
“Captain America: The First Avenger” will focus on the early days of the Marvel Universe when Steve Rogers volunteers to participate in an experimental program that turns him into the Super Soldier known as Captain America.”

In the comics, Howard Stark (Tony Stark’s father) was retconned into the Captain America mythos, providing the super soldier’s indestructible shield.
A stage as well as a screen actors, Dominic Cooper was also in THE HISTORY BOYS and MAMA MIA.

Confirmed: Tommy Lee Jones In Capt. America

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Tom Powers

Variety has confirmed that Tommy Lee Jones is indeed playing U.S. Army Colonel in Marvel Studios’ CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER.
In the comics Gen. Phillips recruited Rogers to join Project Rebirth, the top secret super-soldier program.
The article suggests the character with be “re-vamped” for the film. Presumably that means the part will be larger, as it’s expected much of the plot the will center on Steve Rogers’ (Chris Evans) transformation and eventual full assumption of his duties as Captain America, after being at first side-lined by a cautious military.
Tommy Lee Jones joins other cast members Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Stanley Tucci, Neal McDonough, and Hugo Weaving.
Joe Johnston (THE ROCKETEER) directs from a screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER is set for a July 22nd release by Paramount Pictures.