4/8/2014
“Spine-tingling” was an oft-used phrase in 1950s and '60s movie advertising. It was generally followed by words like “thrills,” “chills” or “excitement,” depending on the sort of film to which it was being applied. (“Spine-tingling chills” was generally reserved for horror movies, if I'm not mistaken).
Maybe you have enjoyed some spine-tingling moments when watching a movie: Perhaps when the flying monkeys appeared in “The Wizard of Oz.” Or when Julie Andrews raced across the meadow, proclaiming gloriously in song that the hills were alive with the sound of music.
How about during that car chase in “Bullitt"? Or when Indiana Jones thrashed the abusive overseers of the enslaved children? Or when Luke Skywalker hurled his light saber to the floor? Those were all spine-tingling movie moments for me.
But “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” marks a first. It is the first time I can recall having had my spine tingled by a preview. It was a few months back, during a viewing of the first trailer released. Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) is showing Captain America (Chris Evans) some new aspects of (government anti-terrorist organization) S.H.I.E.L.D.'s massive arsenal in the war on terror (and on super villains and evil aliens!).
He tells Cap, “We're gonna neutralize a lot of threats before they even happen.” A clearly concerned Cap turns to Fury and exclaims, “This isn't freedom! This is fear!”
Yeah, that's right. He's playing the freedom card! And it's far from the first time.
Conceived in 1941 by comics writer Joe Simon and legendary artist/creator Jack Kirby (who would go on to bring the vast majority of Marvel Comics' most beloved characters to life) Captain America was a man on a mission of singular focus: freedom. And not just for Americans but for all who sought it.
When in the first movie Captain America was asked if he wanted to “go to Europe and kill some Nazis?,” he replied, “I don't want to kill anyone. I don't like bullies.” He still doesn't.
Apparently, neither the war nor the 70 years he spent frozen in ice changed his attitude. But in a time when the lines between good and evil seem to be a lot less clear. The bullies are a little more difficult to discern from the “good guys.”
I remember clearly when Captain America became my favorite comics hero. It was 1968, and I was 10 years old. I was reading "Captain America" No. 105. A French mercenary named Batroc (a version of whom is featured in the latest film) had been hired by a foreign power to recover a seismic bomb, powerful enough to destroy New York.
The bomb, which had been hidden somewhere in the city, had been activated but would cause three small shocks before full detonation. Batroc and his pals were searching for the weapon in time to deactivate and make off with it. But the military was aware of the situation and called on Cap to find it first. All of which led to a breathless tale of Cap's confrontations with the criminals during the race to find the weapon.
Kirby, drawing his creation again and at the peak of his artistic powers, presented an action-packed depiction of the ongoing battles, but now his artwork was driven by the urgent prose of his Marvel co-creator Stan Lee. By the time Cap had defeated the henchmen and fought Batroc to a standstill, the bomb, contained in a briefcase and hidden in a sewer, was moments from leveling Manhattan.
Realizing that time was about to run out, Batroc fled, leaving Cap to “stupidly risk his life for the undeserving masses.” As our hero lowered himself into a manhole, he mused: “There was another who gave his life for the masses…many centuries ago…and though he was the wisest of all…he never thought of the humblest living being…as undeserving!”
Cap located the bomb and activated the self-destruct mechanism. New York was saved!
And I was hooked! This was no being with godlike powers from another planet nor an obsessed vigilante seeking endless vengeance for the murder of his parents. This was a man (albeit one enhanced by science) who fought only to prevent horrible things from happening. And, most of all, to prevent those who would oppress others from doing so. His uniform may have been modeled on the flag, but this was no super-patriot, no love-it-or-leave-it, my-country-right-or-wrong war hawk. This was a hero that stood for what America, ideally, was supposed to stand for.
Freedom, honor, courage, equality. A hero that lived those ideals in every panel of every comic-book in which he appeared.
I have no idea how often 10-year-olds in 2014 are exposed to those sorts of ideals. Or from what sources. I do recall that I was a lot more interested as child in ideas that came from the movies, comics and novels that I enjoyed, rather than those presented during lectures by the authority figures in my life. (No offense, parents, teachers and members of the clergy!).
Last week, one of my adult daughters took me to see a double feature, 2011's “Captain America: The First Avenger,” and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” I'm a great fan of the earlier film, and I enjoyed the new one equally, if not more. I had a terrific time.
In the lobby, folks flocked to get refreshments during the intermission. As I waited in line at the concession stand, I saw a boy, probably 8 or 9, fully costumed as the star-spangled champion and carrying a big plastic shield.
When it comes to emulating a hero, he could do a lot worse.
Maybe you have enjoyed some spine-tingling moments when watching a movie: Perhaps when the flying monkeys appeared in “The Wizard of Oz.” Or when Julie Andrews raced across the meadow, proclaiming gloriously in song that the hills were alive with the sound of music.
How about during that car chase in “Bullitt"? Or when Indiana Jones thrashed the abusive overseers of the enslaved children? Or when Luke Skywalker hurled his light saber to the floor? Those were all spine-tingling movie moments for me.
But “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” marks a first. It is the first time I can recall having had my spine tingled by a preview. It was a few months back, during a viewing of the first trailer released. Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) is showing Captain America (Chris Evans) some new aspects of (government anti-terrorist organization) S.H.I.E.L.D.'s massive arsenal in the war on terror (and on super villains and evil aliens!).
He tells Cap, “We're gonna neutralize a lot of threats before they even happen.” A clearly concerned Cap turns to Fury and exclaims, “This isn't freedom! This is fear!”
Yeah, that's right. He's playing the freedom card! And it's far from the first time.
Conceived in 1941 by comics writer Joe Simon and legendary artist/creator Jack Kirby (who would go on to bring the vast majority of Marvel Comics' most beloved characters to life) Captain America was a man on a mission of singular focus: freedom. And not just for Americans but for all who sought it.
When in the first movie Captain America was asked if he wanted to “go to Europe and kill some Nazis?,” he replied, “I don't want to kill anyone. I don't like bullies.” He still doesn't.
Apparently, neither the war nor the 70 years he spent frozen in ice changed his attitude. But in a time when the lines between good and evil seem to be a lot less clear. The bullies are a little more difficult to discern from the “good guys.”
I remember clearly when Captain America became my favorite comics hero. It was 1968, and I was 10 years old. I was reading "Captain America" No. 105. A French mercenary named Batroc (a version of whom is featured in the latest film) had been hired by a foreign power to recover a seismic bomb, powerful enough to destroy New York.
The bomb, which had been hidden somewhere in the city, had been activated but would cause three small shocks before full detonation. Batroc and his pals were searching for the weapon in time to deactivate and make off with it. But the military was aware of the situation and called on Cap to find it first. All of which led to a breathless tale of Cap's confrontations with the criminals during the race to find the weapon.
Kirby, drawing his creation again and at the peak of his artistic powers, presented an action-packed depiction of the ongoing battles, but now his artwork was driven by the urgent prose of his Marvel co-creator Stan Lee. By the time Cap had defeated the henchmen and fought Batroc to a standstill, the bomb, contained in a briefcase and hidden in a sewer, was moments from leveling Manhattan.
Realizing that time was about to run out, Batroc fled, leaving Cap to “stupidly risk his life for the undeserving masses.” As our hero lowered himself into a manhole, he mused: “There was another who gave his life for the masses…many centuries ago…and though he was the wisest of all…he never thought of the humblest living being…as undeserving!”
Cap located the bomb and activated the self-destruct mechanism. New York was saved!
And I was hooked! This was no being with godlike powers from another planet nor an obsessed vigilante seeking endless vengeance for the murder of his parents. This was a man (albeit one enhanced by science) who fought only to prevent horrible things from happening. And, most of all, to prevent those who would oppress others from doing so. His uniform may have been modeled on the flag, but this was no super-patriot, no love-it-or-leave-it, my-country-right-or-wrong war hawk. This was a hero that stood for what America, ideally, was supposed to stand for.
Freedom, honor, courage, equality. A hero that lived those ideals in every panel of every comic-book in which he appeared.
I have no idea how often 10-year-olds in 2014 are exposed to those sorts of ideals. Or from what sources. I do recall that I was a lot more interested as child in ideas that came from the movies, comics and novels that I enjoyed, rather than those presented during lectures by the authority figures in my life. (No offense, parents, teachers and members of the clergy!).
Last week, one of my adult daughters took me to see a double feature, 2011's “Captain America: The First Avenger,” and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” I'm a great fan of the earlier film, and I enjoyed the new one equally, if not more. I had a terrific time.
In the lobby, folks flocked to get refreshments during the intermission. As I waited in line at the concession stand, I saw a boy, probably 8 or 9, fully costumed as the star-spangled champion and carrying a big plastic shield.
When it comes to emulating a hero, he could do a lot worse.
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