Captain America (1990)- Marc Sallinger (1 ½ )

Director: Albert Pyun

Stars: Matt Salinger, Ronny Cox and Ned Beatty

Genre:  Action | Sci-Fi

MPAA Rating:  PG-13

Running Time: 97Mins

Tagline: None

Synopsis:

{According to IMDB}

Frozen in the ice for decades, Captain America is freed to battle against arch-criminal, The Red Skull.

discussion:

 

After two failed attempts during the 70's to bring captain America to the screen, studios thought it was time to give it one more try in the 90s. But when you see a name like Roger Corman attached to this project, you know they are not giving it their best try. For those who don't know Roger Corman, he is considered, even to this day, the king of B-movies. He has produced films like Death Race 2000, Galaxy of Terror, Humanoids From The Deep and most recently Sharktopus.  Having that type of producer/director aboard this project meant that this movie is going to be pure cheese.

 

Comparing this movie to the other Captain America films from the 70s... I personally think that this one is in fact better. I mean not better in terms if story or style, but better in sense of entertainment. This adaptation has to be taken as comedy honestly. I couldn't watch this without laughing from time to time. It at least entertained me, as a comedy ofcourse.
Now one of the things I enjoyed most from this version was that red skull actually looked menacing. His portrayal was corny, but the makeup was actually well applied and neatly designed. Unlike the newer captain America in which he looks like a rubber red head doll. However, Hugo weaving gives a better performance light-years away from the dude on this film.

Movie begins with men arriving at a village in Italy during the 1930's. Invading later a house and abducting a child. The child who will become later Red Skull. Off the bat, from what I recall the character of Red Skull is not Italian, he is in fact German. I quickly dismissed it, again I was taking the movie for what it was, a comedy. Then after skulls transformation, 7 years pass. Steve Rogers is off to the military to serve his nation. Without much buildup or real explanation, they put him in the chair and place him under the serum. He  transforms into a stronger, more agile man. Yet I see him with the same physique. In the newer adaptation he actually starts off skinny and then is transformed; Here the "transformation" is not noticeable. After the transformation he faces of Red Skull and ultimately fails. The captain is later tied up to a rocket which is launched into destination towers the White House. Somehow, just by kicking the rocket, Captain America manages to divert the rocket. It eventually lands in Alaska, where it stays buried for 46 years.

 

What I liked was that not much was changed  from the comic or cartoon. by that I measn: He wakes up in modern times to find a very different world, His girlfriend is now an old lady, married and with children. The thing that made me laugh was the make up for the girlfriend. The worst make up I have seen to make someone look older. Yet somehow the make up for Red Skull look decent...doesn't make sense. The movie later concludes with Captain America having to find and save the president o the United States. Who is being held prisoner by Red Skull. He has a maniacal scheme under his Sleeves, but we never really understand what it is or his motives. How the Nazis are tied up into this? No clue. They mention more Mussolini and fascism then they do Nazis.

Like I Said before this movie is to be taken as a comedy. It’s just campy fun. Not to say that the 70s version wasn’t campy, it was too. But this 90s version is exceptional at being what it is: an epic cheese fest.  I you want to watch the movie, I am sure they probably have a torrent somewhere online were you can view it.  This movie has never been released officially to the market.  You can find it on DVD in conventions or at flea markets like I did. I got it on VHS and transferred it to DVD. If you need a copy of it, leave me a comment or email me I will gladly make u a copy