"Captain America: The First Avenger" (Marvel Studios/Paramount)
The best defense is a good offense, and for Captain America that has meant seven decades of slinging his indestructible shield in the face of foes. The red-white-and-blue disc looks so good flying through the air that they even made a song about it.
But director Joe Johnston says fans shouldn’t expect too much shield-throwing when ”Captain America: The First Avenger” arrives in theaters July 22 with Chris Evans in the starring role. The reason? It should be a truly special moment when Steve Rogers lets it fly.
70 years, 70 covers
“The whole thing about throwing the shield was given a lot of thought,” Johnston said. “And you know he just doesn’t do it a lot in the movie. I’d say maybe four of five times? But when he does, it’s a big deal; he really saves the day.”
In the pages of Marvel Comics (and the Golden Age pages of Timely Comics before that), one of the most dynamic visuals was the flight path of the hero’s spinning shield as it slashed across a page, especially when the character’s co-creator, Jack Kirby, was the one putting pencil to paper.
The power of that translated image is valuable to the new Marvel Studios film — especially considering the movie is in 3-D — and Johnston believes that overuse would undermine the thrill.
“He’s not slinging it around all the time and using it randomly,” said the filmmaker, whose credits include “Jurassic Park III,” “Jumanji” and “The Rocketeer.” “He throws it when it’s the right thing to do, and those are special moments. We opted to preserve those moment just to make them so special.”
Johnston added: “He uses the shield a lot for protection, as you would expect, and as a weapon, like a battering ram; he slams it down almost like an ax of sorts, and he uses it as a pry bar. But when he throws it, those are the highlight-reel moments.”
– Geoff Boucher
RECENT AND RELATED
Johnston’s darker plan: ‘Our Bucky isn’t a sidekick’
Johnston: This movie will surprise people
Win limited-edition “Capt. America” crew poster
PHOTOS: 18 images from the Captain America film
Capt. America film gets title change in Russia, Korea
Captain America will be a USO performer in movie
Johnston: Steve Rogers won’t be ‘flag waver’
Stark Expo links ‘Iron Man 2′ and ‘Capt. America’
Feige: Captain America as moral compass
Billy Corgan: Cap is a ‘symbol of faith’
Scott Ian of Anthrax on spider bite vs. solider serum
Fraction on Cap’s appeal — and Brubaker’s talent
Comments
Print
Read Later
Our legion of super contributors is led by Hero Complex editor Gina McIntyre and 
As it should be. If every problem Cap faced was solved with a super plothack boomerang shield throw the movie would suck.
Also, overuse could lead to undermining the really suspenseful moments when you could just think, "Well why doesn't he just throw his shield at it? That solves everything."
Good read, I am looking forward to this movie. It's too bad they didn't release if on the week of the 4th. seems fitting.
Theresa, Marvel Studios would have loved to release it on July 4th but “Transformers” had that weekend locked in and Michael Bay’s movie is a box-office monster that “Captain America: The First Avenger” did not one to go head-to-head with…
I can understand that. Thank you for the reply, I didn't know that Transformers had it.
I have always liked Cap in the Marvel comics, but this adaptation looks plain ridiculous.
Captain America is just beginning to look cheesy and ridiculous. I really can't say I am not surprised. I think Chris Evans is terribly miscast. They should have chosen an actor with true talent that could handle a lead role. Marvel appears to have made this movie a comedy of sorts from the jokes in the trailers. Captain America was not a comedian he was a serious leader of men, not a jokester. This is not impressing me at all. The more I see, the less I like.
What trailer have you seen that has a lot of jokes in the trailer? The ones that I have seen have had a very serious tone to them. Them may have been an occasional one-liner, though nothing of the nature that you're talking about.
I have to agree with Brian, I didn't see a comedic trailer and I was very impressed with Chris Evans. Not once did I see Human Torch, which I was expecting, so I was pleasantly surprised.
Good point, Theresa Z. I have wondered the same thing myself. I assume that it's because it's not ready yet, but that would be a very cool idea.
Oh great another attempt at shoving the 3D scam down our throats. Great!