‘Captain America’ Director: ‘This is not about America…’
by John NolteWhat a shocker. Captain America: The First Avenger will be Captain America in name only. According to this morning’s L.A. Times, director Joe Johnston is currently running around Comic-Con to reassure those wringing their hands with worry over the horrible idea that his $200 million tent-pole scheduled for a summer 2011 release might be too American-y, that it won’t be.
Read it and weep you suckers who thought Hollywood might give us this one. But at the same time, don’t forget to thank Johnston for disappointing us before we spent the ten bucks:
“We’re sort of putting a slightly different spin on Steve Rogers,” said Joe Johnston, whose past directing credits include “Jurassic Park III” and “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. “He’s a guy that wants to serve his country but he’s not a flag-waver. We’re reinterpretating 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,” Johnston said. “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.” …
Much, much more predictable heartbreak below the fold:
For Johnston, the imperative is artistic one, not a commercial one. He wants a character that’s more complicated than a flag and a movie that entertains without borders.
“Yeah and it’s also the idea that this is not about America so much as it is about the spirit of doing the right thing,” the director said. “It’s an international cast and an international story. It’s about what makes America great and what make the rest of the world great too.”
America’s great … the world’s great … and therefore there’s no American exceptionalism. See how they do that? But why not remain true to this morally illiterate vision and rename Captain America something like Captain Earth? After all, why would someone who sees nothing special about America name himself Captain America and wrap himself in the red, white and blue?
Johnston can spout all the talking points off he wants about artistic imperatives, but from an artistically imperative point of view the main motivation of his protagonist now make absolutely no sense.
We should also give Johnston credit for not attempting to spin this decision into the Big Lie Hollywoodists spread in order to hide their own loathing at the very thought of portraying their own country in a positive way. You know the lie I’m talking about — the lie that says pro-American films don’t sell well overseas.
Not to pile on to your wound-licking, but those of you surprised and disappointed by this news are part of the problem. Those of you who haven’t already figured that — with rare exceptions like Jerry Bruckheimer — Hollywood is so opposed and sickened by the idea of portraying America as a uniquely special and exceptional nation that they would assure the world in advance that Captain America really isn’t, need to wake up.
Like the mainstream media, once you figure out Hollywood’s nothing more than a left-wing propaganda machine, all your confusion will lift and every seemingly counter-intuitive move they make when it comes to profits, artistic integrity,and the very basics of right and wrong, will suddenly make perfect sense. Trust me on this. Just try looking at the industry through that prism for one week and see if the clouds of confusion don’t suddenly lift.
The same industry that spent hundreds of million of dollars on a dozen-plus embarrassingly awful anti-American flops that were specifically designed to undermine morale at home so we would lose the war in Iraq is now putting the brakes on the Americanism of a character named Captain America?
Makes perfect sense to me.
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63 Comments
Might as well call the movie "Captain France."
Captain America isn't about America. ???????????????? Will he wear red, white, and blue costume with stars, or green with a recycling logo?
Frankly, given that Joe Johnston made the very pro-American "The Rocketeer", and he and Stephen Summers don't really seem like America-hating lefties, the "more global than American" approach of Captain America and G.I. Joe may be more driven by the money men. They want global sales and THEY fear that a "jingoistic" movie will confine their profits to America only.
I suspect that the producers are the ones insisting that the directors go and allay the fears of all the America-haters and international ticket buyers. And yeah, it's probably driven more by a belief than by fact. (They THINK being pro-American will hurt sales, and nobody is pointing them to Iron Man and National Treasure.)
Well, they just decided the newer Captain Americas (and their rewritten histories) made more sense to them than the original CA and his story. But the original was a flag-waving patriot who wanted to fight the Nazis– I thought Nazis were e-v-i-l+++? Of course too many of the Arabs thought the Nazi's were the greatest thing since the Koran! Marvel has been moving towards the left for years, why should they necessarily be any different this time? Iron Man 1 and 2 were probably just flukes, anyway.
Bleah.
As someone who has been a fan of the character since I read my first Captain America comic, I'm a little disappointed in this news though sadly, not surprised. This sort of thing is what fuels my cynicism about the entertainment industry which saddens me since I don't consider myself a cynic, but facts are facts. As for the idea of Captain America who is a "jingoistic American flag-waver", it's preposterous. You might be able to make that claim of the WWII-era Captain, but the modern age Cap (after his resurrection from the ice by the Avengers) was someone who believed in America and everything it stood for. He considered himself the "Sentinel of Liberty" and actually fought against the corrupt within the government, not a fan of the bureaucracy and rebelled just recently against laws that limited personal freedoms. Now, I'd like to see a filmmaker have the balls to make a film which glorifies THAT Cap.
It'll bomb and Hollywood will proclaim that the public is tired of super hero movies. It's the same rational they used to justify the failure of all the anti-US Iraq War movies they foisted upon the movie going public, "People are just tired of the war." No, people are just tired of seeing their heroes denigrated by a bunch of limp wristed twats who make films as the price of admission to the right parties.
"'You see we wanted to make a wishy washy liberal film based on a hard edged nigh conservative hero"
If so, why would they pick the neither conservative nor hard-edged Captain America?
"And he punched Hitler in the face."
Indeed he did. Big moment. Here's a few others:
He's abdicated the mantel – and the flag-based uniform – twice: During the Nixon and Reagan administrations.
During those times, he dropped the "Captain America" name in favor of "Nomad" and "The Captain."
Led an armed insurection against the U.S. Government over an initiative to "draft" superheroes.
Look, all I'm sayin' is… if you're looking for this guy to be a less-complicated Jack Bauer in a flag costume; even if it was a 100% accurate-to-the-source translation, you're not gonna get that guy. That's not what Captain America "is."
I stopped collecting because they went too leftist. I started collecting when I was about 8 and quit because it was easy to identify the political bias. I've 60 boxes of the damn things chilling in my man cave. Drives my wife nuts because they take up so much space but I figure I'll pass them on to my kids. Marvel really went leftist when Quesada became editor-in-chief.
Eh… I don't know that it's as complicated or downbeat as all that.
Look, the problem with this movie was ALWAYS going to be that Captain America is like Wonder Woman in that EVERYONE knows the character by sight and has a rough idea of what they "think" they're about… but the "real" characters and their histories are a lot different than what you might assume (for example: Wonder Woman is made of clay, vaugely asexual, will lose her abilities if she takes any subserviant position to a man up-to-and-including marriage, the daughter of a woman who was raped by Heracles, and her appearance was based on the girlfriend/bondage-submissive that WW's creator shared with his wife. Gee, WHY has it been so hard to make a movie out of this??)
In Cap's case, people see the character and assume that he's this "Team America"-type nationalistic firebrand because… well, look at him. Now, a lot of people make that assumption and go "Awesome, that's my kinda hero!" And that's fine, though they'll be dissapointed if they ever open one of the comics. The problem is, THAT segment of the audience is probably small compared to the combination of Americans who find that sort thing silly or dated (I don't like it any more than you, but there it is) and international audiences who don't really give a damn.
In other words, it was ALWAYS going to be "on the agenda" for Marvel to get right up front making it clear that this is not an "America, we rule!" character but a guy who rules because he embodies symbolic American ideals. I've been following the production of this one closely – the whole arc of the story supposedly involves Rogers coming to understand that the "symbol" part of his identity IS important above and beyond just the deeds. The director previously made Hidalgo, October Sky and The Rocketeer. It's NOT going to be "anti-American." Calm down.
killed due to our presence overseas
It is tired logic and real egotism that lays the blame for terrorist acts at our feet because we are present overseas, as if the type of person who blows up cars in marketplaces or cuts the heads from live human beings only does so because of the power and influence of America.
What was shocking about shock and awe was how complete it left Iraqi infrastructure and how few civilians it killed while targeting their military operations. The neocons actually cooking up the war (yes, I know about the Project for a New American Century) is x-files caliber paranoia and hinges on whether or not one is a truther nutbag and believes we engineered 9/11.
and kill for national security's sake
This is bad?
I am not surprised. This is why Marvel NEVER gets any of my money. They killed Cap as a political statement about the War on Terror and now this. A pox on their house!
"He made some excellent points about the nature of the character, but it bothers me that he is being portrayed – at least from what I can tell – as a peace nik during WWII, and he certainly was not."
Not to tell tales out of school or spoil things that may or may not wind up in the final movie, but nothing I'm hearing about this project has much to do with the idea of a "peacenik." Take from that what you will.
You are right. The writers at Marvel long ago abandoned the patriotism and the heroism of Captain America in order to push their American hating agenda. Some body needs to horsewhip Joe Quesada!
Marvel went downhill when Quesada became editor-in-chief.
They based the costume on the "Ultimate" version of Capt. Am. The Marvel movies have been hybrids of the original heroes and their "Ultimate" versions.
Didn't mean to post this twice. It's strange, but at first I couldn't see my comment above.
Yah Bo's right here. Captain America has never really been an analog for good ole conservatism, or even pro-Americanism. Its ironic, but that's the reality. He's more or less what leftists think America values are.
Remember, even they can wrap themselves in a flag.
Curiosity got the best of me and, taking a chance, I opened this to see what all the hubbub was about.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII LIKE IT!
Didn't Darth yell this when Darth Sidious told him that he had killed Padme?
And that's why it will suck!
Ya know, Captain Mediocrity just doesn't have the same ring to it as does Captain America.
Not only will I NOT be seeing this movie, I will NOT even download it via alternative means.
A movie has to be really and truly a big, steaming, pile of dog excrement if people refuse to even download it via the aforementioned alternative means. :p
Captain America has been irrelevant for a long time. Not even in the Civil War storyline, in which he was all but central: tortured Iron Man and conflicted Spider-Man were the real stars.
The same industry that spent hundreds of million of dollars on a dozen-plus embarrassingly awful anti-American flops that were specifically designed to undermine morale at home so we would lose the war in Iraq is now putting the brakes on the Americanism of a character named Captain America?
John, this is an incredible article. Hollywood continues to hire these self loathing Americans who are all damn cowards and they are nothing but high paid whores. Captain America isn't about America, then why use this character? Can't these brain dead no talents come up with something new? They just want to tear down all these American Icons that have been part of the pop culture for decades.
These people are A-holes of the highest order. All we can do here is not to go see this lump of crap that will come out. Hurt the in the pocket book. BIG HOLLYWOOD must go after this film and director all the time on here, get the word out the way the leftist traitors did with the Rodney Kind Video. They want to damage America, we are the marketplace lets damage their product. All of us here must go after this film and this scum bag director all over the internet.
Time we fought back and give these bastards a bloody nose. Who the hell does this sack of shit director thinks he is.
Maybe he'll be Captain Americas, with a mable leaf on his chest, and a Che hat.
Save 10 bucks and speak to a REAL CAPTAIN AMERICA.
Any vet will do.
He wants to make an artistic statement? It's a COMIC BOOK character, JoJo.
Who wants to bet that in this storyline, the Captain America name only comes about because some "ZOMG CORRUPT MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX HURRR" General forces it upon him as a propaganda tactic; and that Cap is a whiny, emo doofus about out?
I'm also willing to bet that they tie in some of the drug testing done in the 50's and 60's into it somehow too…
"Captain France" – What's his super power? Can he surrender quicker than anyone else?
Or, they could go the environmental route. You know: Captain France – Planting trees along all the streets. (So the Germans can march in the shade)
His super power is he can uncork a bottle of beaujolais nouveau by sucking the cork out.
sometimes I roll
"For Johnston, the imperative is artistic one, not a commercial one. He wants a character that’s more complicated than a flag and a movie that entertains without borders."
Captain America IS more complicated than a "flag". Captain America believes in the American Dream and holds true to the Constitution. He opposes actions by the US government that he feels are contrary to the founding of the nation. He's supposed to be the ideal American, physically and mentally. Captain America would be at the Tea Party protests giving barn burner speeches, not kowtowing to Obama and finding himself unable to fight follow one of Obama's speeches due to his leg tingles.
Actually, I take it back. Captain America is supposed to be a living American Flag. The living symbol of what the founding fathers would have wanted every man, woman and child to be.
Anytime. I find this tool very cathartic.
An essential addition to one's desktop items.
that's the scene. I like having this button handy.
LOL oh, indeed one can go for much longer, but after a week it gets redundant.
BOOYAH!
God forbid they make a movie without a political agenda.
IMO Captain America should be to patriots what Mr. Rogers was to Christians. All of the good that comes of believing in the potential of your country and its capacity for good, none of the xenophobic jingoism that sometimes comes with it.
"America is nothing! America is a piece of trash! a flag is a piece of cloth!"
–Captain America
/Breitbarted
Or just solidify the stellar Robert Downey Jr's portrayal of Tony Stark as the most honest showing to date of what actually does make you Yanks at the same time so annoying and so damned likable. I really hope this turkey of an idea in "Captain California" fails miserably which I believe it indeed will.
Strangely enough most miss that Captain America was less a flag waver or whatever than the living embodiment of FREEDOM. That was his mantra and his weapon wasn't as much muscles as it was being the coolest head when everyone around him is panicking or indecisive.
You gotta love the Marvel universe where American heroes have to worry about political correctness and Canadian ones just pop out a set of claws an start shredding baddies.
Might not be as bad as you think? So we're to assume the director is lying? Of course the costume and name remain. Marvel has not renounced capitalism, just Americanism, and there are trademarks to consider. The director obviously believes that he cannot tell a story wherein the hero might have an allegiance to his country (unless that country were NOT the USA), and that tells me all I need to know. Then, again, as a Captain America fan from way back, I knew there was trouble afoot when they miscast Chris Evans. I can't wait to see which caricature of middle American Tea Partier or militia group will be the film's Big Bad! I won't be attending.
I still don't see what ya mean, what the director said hardly suggest anything. From the snippet here its hard to draw a positive conclusion of what he ment. I certenly didn't read anything that suggests "the hero might have an allegiance to his country" please if your getting this from another source let me know. I only have this and splashpage.mtv.com to go off of for info. (yes I have read the newsbusters article as well). So far every comment against this movies seems to be based in speculation not in fact. Show me where the director said that Captain America will have no love for his country and he'll be fighting against Tea Party knockoffs. All I got from what the director said is that the character will not be overtly patriotic.
To me as long as the story is accurate to the comic and the character's personality is close to spot on what does it matter? I think every one is over reacting, we allowing our own distrust of Hollywood cloud our judgment. I trust the people involved to be true to the character and that Marvel wouldn't let them change it to much.
Have a nice day
BTW I don't know if you where being sarcastic with the line "I can't wait to see which caricature of middle American Tea Partier or militia group will be the film's Big Bad!" or not. But I was sure I read that he would be fighting the Red Skull and the Nazis in WW2 overseas not Americans at home in present day. And whats wrong with Chris Evans? If he bulks up a bit I think he could pull the roll of quite well.
Have a nice day
dude I loved the rocketeer. Good point
Isn't that Captain Planet?
Oh well, regardless of the director I was waiting for this shoe to drop the moment Disney bought Marvel. I've been to the theater about half a dozen time in the last ten years because of the kook left's influence so it might be that I may never return. One more institution ground up and spit out by the Hollywood PC thought police – RIP Marvel.
So he'll be smelly and surrender throughout the entire film? And will he fight using a giant baguette? Maybe throw some snails?
Y'know, I'm tired of all these "complicated" characters. Your opening paragraph was enough to make me sigh and throw the prospect of seeing this not-yet-made flick in the crapper before it was even released. Give me something straight-forward, uncompromised, and unashamed. Give us another "Independence Day!"
*Channels the Kool-Aid Man*: OHHHHH YEEEEEAAAAH!
While I appreciate a lot of the anger in these comments, they honestly show people haven't read Captain America the comic in decades. He hasn't been the strong-willed American ready to fight those Ratzis since the forties-era comics by Kirby, Simon, Stan Lee and others.
The modern Steve Rogers has became a character much more about doing the right thing even when it's not popular. Sadly this had led to some ridiculously liberal storylines when he's written by liberally inclined writers, including a seventies story where a thinly veiled Richard Nixon is the leader of an attempted takeover of America by domestic terrorists (while still president).
But as long as they don't actively try to make him not an American hero, I really don't have a problem with this. If he's there to fight evil Nazis because it's the right thing to do, I don't think you can argue that that was the reasoning of a lot of Americans to sign up for WW2, not just some American pride.
Make mine grape. ;o)
I am pretty sure it is. "When your powers combine, I am Captain Planet". ::Starts singing the theme song to myself::
Haha my mom got me and my 2 siblings pinky rings for christmas that kind of matched and we put them together and started singing that song. A really stupid cartoon in my opinion and really thick with the pro-environment message. But we still watched it sometimes!
Marvel already published "Truth: Red, White and Black," in which it was revealed that the super-serum which turns Steve Rogers into Captain America was first tested on black soldiers, many of whom were killed by it.
So I wouldn't be surprised.
I like the plot! A lot!
And that brings us all back to the question of Salt Lick or County Line?
But we've already been there…
Yes we have, and I am biased toward the only one I've been to!
I'll have to add yours next to this one:
http://www.khaaan.com/
Another piece of leftist hollywood crap I wont be paying to see. Captain America TOO American? Aw, c'mon.
As usual,kneejerk Tea Party-ish reactions to words taken out of context and a complete unfamiliarity of the source material. Way to go!
Just wondering how many of the people angsting over this have read a Captain America comic in the past, oh, 40 years? He's never been a right-wing conservative. He's gone through endless cycles of self-doubt, cynicism, and loss of faith in America, abandoning his name in the 1970s for a time to become "Nomad". During the recent "Civil War" story in Marvel, he was firmly opposed to the government. Feel free to dislike this and criticize it, but, for God's sake, if you're criticizing any kind of art, you owe it to yourselves and your audience to know the art. Seriously, whenever conservatives comment on comic books, I want to cry, since it's painfully obvious few of them have any idea what comics are, what stories they tell, what's happened in them since the early 1960s… it's like, to most of the right, comic books stopped around Mort Weisinger's Superman and the Batman TV show. You cannot defend conservative ideas when you come off so astoundingly clueless. You want to attack modern culture? Fine. But understand what culture you're attacking. You would never take seriously, say, a leftist's criticism of Ayn Rand based on what they think they heard someone once say about her; why should anyone take your criticisms of comics seriously when it's painfully obvious you have no idea what you're criticizing? If all you want to do is stand around "Harrumph!"ing to each other and making yourselves feel good, you're succeeding well. If you want to communicate ideas in a way that will convince those on the fence… you're failing miserably. Conservatives are supposed to be the SMART ones, the ones who study, think, and consider, instead of reacting with knee jerk emotion. Live up to that standard.
the movie is going to be released outside of the US. it had a budget of $140M. maybe if they want to make money theyd want it to appeal to a worldwide audience??? i think youre a jerk for your articles that cause all of these ignoramuses to freak out.
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