Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) Dir: Joe Johnston

The build up to next year's Joss Whedon helmed Avengers movie gathers pace with this historically set comic book romp.

The plot:
As the USA is plunged into the hell of World War II one potential recruit, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is turned away, told that he is a little too wimpy. As luck would have it, a German scientist in league with the Allies is working on a serum that will turn a test subject into a super-soldier and, through reasons too implausible to go into here, Rogers is selected for the programme.
Now injected, the once skinny body of Rogers - well, a normal man's body, really, just skinny in comparison to the goons that infest this type of movie - is transformed into a muscle-bound brick shithouse, with the power of swift regeneration and superhuman speed, otherwise known as Captain America.
So equipped, Rogers is set to work to take out the German black ops. unit known as Hydra, led by Hugo Weaving's delightfully maniacal Red Skull.
Will Captain America save the day?
Will Steve Rogers get the girl?
Will anyone outside of America be able to take this character seriously?
Yes, yes and no.

Whilst this is far from terrible, there are a few problems, not least the ultra-patriotic nature of the character which, to those of us who dwell on shores other than those that the eponymous character captain's comes across as vaguely ridiculous.
It's like if James Bond were called Johnny English.
No, hang on.....
Plotwise, this begins to drag as the action proceeds to the point that, ultimately, I just wanted the damned thing to end.
Additionally, lead character Chris Evans as Captain America has already played a lead role in a superhero movie, as The Human Torch in Fantastic Four. Now, call me a dunderheaded twatnick if you must but, as a result, this just seems like a bit of bad casting. Indeed, irrespective of his appearance as another superhero, I found his character to be utterly unlikeable, and was little surprised he used to get his head kicked in on a near nightly basis when he were but a wimp.
In summary, then, this is not a patch on Thor, is roughly as good as Green Lantern, but leaves Daredevil and Catwoman in the dust.

3 out of 5

Iron Man 2 (2010) Dir: Jon Favreau

The inevitable sequel to the surprisingly popular Iron Man hits the screens, all tangles of flying metal and squirtings of testosterone.
But is it any good?
Well, yes, quite simply.
Though not quite as engaging as the original, it is difficult not to enjoy this comic book romp that achieves something so few effects laden movies do: create characters that you give a damn about.
Robert Downey Jr. has made the role of Stark his own, all brash confidence and abrasive smugness in public, riven by complexities and fears when in private, and even the relationship between Stark and his ever present assistant, Miss Pepper Potts, played by that walking tumour Pwyneth Galtrow, is enjoyable enough as they banter ceaselessly.
Normally about now I would detail the plot but, truthfully, here it isn't necessary as there is next to no plot to speak of. Well, a vengeful Russian played with delightful menace by Mickey Rourke, a man whose face looks as if his skin is actually rejecting the skull beneath it, wants to exact his revenge on Stark for the apparent role of the Stark family in his own fathers death.
He's got Iron Man technology of his own, and he's not afraid to use it, striding through the Monaco Grand Prix, wielding his electro-whips with genuine zeal, slicing Stark's car in two with ease.
That's about it for the plot, besides some guff about Stark becoming increasingly erratic due to prolonged exposure to the technology itself.
Inevitably, the last fifteen minutes or so degenerates into a CGI-fest, but it's well executed, and at least has a sense of geography, so you can see what is happening at all times.
Marvel seem to be spunking forth more hits than misses these days, and here's another that falls into the former category.
Very enjoyable indeed.

4 out of 5