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Captain America: ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ Debuts

Film Captain America
In this film publicity image released by Paramount Pictures, Chris Evans is shown in a scene from the film “Captain America: The First Avenger.” Paramount Pictures and Marvel Studios gave distributors around the world the option of shortening the title to”The First Avenger.” The only countries that took them up on it were Russia, Ukraine and South Korea. In other territories, the movie will go out with the full title, a sign that the brand value of the Marvel Comics hero trumps any potential anti-American sentiment in some parts of the world. (AP Photo/Paramount Pictures, Jay Maidment)
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(AP Photo/Paramount Pictures, Jay Maidment)

Comic books seem to be a hot commodity as of late for summer flicks. Add another one to that list. “Captain America: The First Avenger” debuts Friday to the public, and is expected to rake in $52 million and top this week’s charts.

Directed by Joe Johnson, the film stars Chris Evans, who plays Captain America/Steve Rogers. Tommy Lee Jones makes an appearance as Colonel Chester Phillips, as do Haley Atwell and Samuel L. Jackson. The plot centers around Rogers and how he volunteers for a top-secret project that turns him into the superhero and now must defend America’s ethics and values.

“Captain America” has some big shoes to fill. According to Entertainment Weekly, “Captain America is in a very scary spot.” EW says that because Paramount picture’s latest film “Green Lantern” disappointed at the box office, the patriotic Captain America will have both the company and America on his shoulders this opening weekend.

So far critics have praised the movie. Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 70% fresh rating. “With plenty of pulpy action, a pleasantly retro vibe, and a handful of fine performances, Captain America is solidly old-fashioned blockbuster entertainment,” the review read.

View the “Captain America: The First Avenger” trailer