What do you think about Chris Evans playing Cap?

[Venardhi]

I'm absolutely ecstatic over Evans' casting. I think he's perfect for the role: He's young, attractive, well-built and (as Hermiod pointed out) doesn't have the overabundance of muscle that would limit his agility. Cap is the prototypical American soldier, so a quarterback, not a linebacker. I'm really pumped to see what he'll do.

This myth that it is and either/or for muscular/agile really needs to end. Look at some pictures of tthe classic bodybuilders I mentioned upthread and tell me they look slow and clumsy.

 

[Admiral_Young]

I wasn't thrilled with the final candidates that we had but Chris Evans was the best choice out of them I think. I would have absolutely hated if Ryan Philippe had won the part and apparently he was very close. I think he'll do a great job. He was a great Human Torch in dreadful FF films and he's a decent actor overall who seems to love doing comic book films (FF, The Losers, Scott Pilgrim, etc) not to mention science fiction cult films (Sunshine).

 

[Shakaar]

He's okay. Didn't really care for him in FF, although that's probably more the fault of the character. He WAS good in Sunshine. I'm willing to give him a chance.

Speaking of chance, whenever I hear "Captain America" I immediately think of Mark Valley, currently playing Christopher Chance on Human Target.

 

[Admiral_Young]

^ He would have been an interesting choice. For a long time I thought that Heath Ledger would have been an excellent Captain America. Especially after seeing him in "Patriot" with Mel Gibson.

 

[Timby]

I'm absolutely ecstatic over Evans' casting. I think he's perfect for the role: He's young, attractive, well-built and (as Hermiod pointed out) doesn't have the overabundance of muscle that would limit his agility. Cap is the prototypical American soldier, so a quarterback, not a linebacker. I'm really pumped to see what he'll do.

This myth that it is and either/or for muscular/agile really needs to end. Look at some pictures of tthe classic bodybuilders I mentioned upthread and tell me they look slow and clumsy.

It's an old refrain, but I'd much rather have a good actor than a bodybuilder who "looks" the part.

 

[A beaker full of death]

He was an excellent Human Torch. If an actor can pull off both Johnny Storm and Steve Rogers, he's a good actor indeed. Hard to imagine, though, the ages and builds and nearing of the two characters are so different.

For the record, Alba was horribly cast.

 

[Venardhi]

I'm absolutely ecstatic over Evans' casting. I think he's perfect for the role: He's young, attractive, well-built and (as Hermiod pointed out) doesn't have the overabundance of muscle that would limit his agility. Cap is the prototypical American soldier, so a quarterback, not a linebacker. I'm really pumped to see what he'll do.

This myth that it is and either/or for muscular/agile really needs to end. Look at some pictures of tthe classic bodybuilders I mentioned upthread and tell me they look slow and clumsy.

It's an old refrain, but I'd much rather have a good actor than a bodybuilder who "looks" the part.

They aren't mutually exclusive. One of the most impressive performers I have ever acted with on stage looked like he stepped out of a fighting game or a comic book.

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

Cap doesn't have to be huge. Just have Chris Evans pump up his biceps/triceps and I'd buy him as a superhero. He's gotta have a lean body because Cap does a lot of running and leaping and a pumped up bodybuilder doesn't look good doing that stuff.

 

[Venardhi]

Chest, back and shoulders are more important than arms for getting that superheroic look. Arms are generally one of the least important parts to focus on, since they tend to build along with the rest of your upper body(to a point) since you have to use them for pretty much everything. I'm not particularly concerned with superheroes being cast with bodybuilder-sized actors (I'm against it as a rule, since most bodybuilders these days look ridiculous) but it seems odd how many people are so against casting anyone over 200 lbs to play someone who has always been drawn as being well above the norm. There is a middle ground, and many actors can fit into it.

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

Chest, back and shoulders are more important than arms for getting that superheroic look..

I dunno. When I think of Cap I think of his legs in motion and those big anvils of his swinging. I never think of his back and shoulders at all.

 

[Timby]

This myth that it is and either/or for muscular/agile really needs to end. Look at some pictures of tthe classic bodybuilders I mentioned upthread and tell me they look slow and clumsy.

It's an old refrain, but I'd much rather have a good actor than a bodybuilder who "looks" the part.

They aren't mutually exclusive. One of the most impressive performers I have ever acted with on stage looked like he stepped out of a fighting game or a comic book.

Cosplay at anime conventions doesn't count.

 

[Venardhi]

Yeah, 'cause conventioneers are generally known for their physique right? Not to say I haven't known some very impressive cosplayers; but douchey comments aside there simply isn't any biological, sociological or physical reason to assume there are no talented actors physically gifted/trained to have a 'superhero' physique. Argue that there aren't any who are also headliner names perhaps, but not that they don't exist at all or that their talent is any less on average than that of the 'average'-built fellas that mostly get thrown around these things.

 

[FPAlpha]

The most common complaint I've heard about Evens (although not in this thread) is that he's "Too skinny".

For those with that opinion, I direct you to this article. Scroll down to the 2nd photo.

It isn't that he is skinny, though some may not be able to articulate it any other way, but rather he has a lean, lanky, swimmer/footballer(soccer) build much like Brandon Routh, Ryan Reynolds, etc. His face is also boyish and not at particularly like the square-jawed all-American Quarterback 1940s ideal he is so often drawn as(Some longer hair might help, but his face just doesn't read 'Captain America' IMO). These aren't criticisms, just observations.

I think Evans is a tremendous talent when he has a role that suits him and writing to back him up, but I don't think he looks anything like Captain America and he seems like a 'safe' choice after some of the more 'out-there', but potentially far better names we heard along the way. Won't hurt my enjoyment of the movie if it is otherwise good, and they could have done a lot worse, but he won't be replacing my image of cap either way.

I had the exact same misgivings when i heard Robert Downey jr. would be playing Tony Stark.

Then i saw the first promo picture of him in a business suit and i was sold. The first teaser trailer and few scenes and i was convinced he'd own the role.

I liked Evans in FF (one of the very few things i liked in the movies) so i'll wait and see how that develops.

 

[flemm]

I don't see why this shouldn't work. Physically I don't think you could realistically do much better, he's known, but not overly so. His performances in FF and Sunshine (the only things I can recall having seen him in) are sufficiently distinct from one another that I can believe he has the acting skill to create an actual character as Steve Rogers, rather than merely projecting his own persona into the role.

Reservations? Spontaneously I would say that he comes off as too hip and modern for a "man out of his own era" like Cap, but that just means he's going to have to nuance his performance. Assuming he's up to that task (and I don't see any reason why he wouldn't be), he should turn out to be an excellent choice.

Frankly I think Hemsworth, Evans and RDJ for Thor, Cap and IM is about as good a trio of actors as anyone could possibly have hoped for a few years back, when these movies were first being discussed.