Captain America [Blu-ray]

The price of a 2011 DVD, the quality of the 1992 LaserDisc
Let me start by saying this review has nothing to do with the movie itself. For better or for worse, this movie is what it is...and if you don't know what that is, you probably shouldn't make this a "blind-buy". I grew up with it, so I happen to like it...but I do not like this DVD.

Immediately, it starts out with a warning, claiming something along the lines of "This is the best source we could find." TRANSLATION: "We couldn't be bothered to make a new transfer, so enjoy this old one. And, thanks for the cash."

As far as I can tell, MGM's MOD edition recycles the one made for the 1992 VHS and LaserDisc versions. Video is a cropped 4x3 full screen presentation. I had hoped it was open-matte, but after comparing it to a UK edition, I am certain it has been cropped.

And, like the '92 VHS and LD releases, quality is quite poor. Colors are washed-out, the picture is soft, there is heavy grain, and loads of rainbow-artifacts grace the image...

Blu-Ray Finally Does this Flawed Super-Hero Adventure Justice
A strong Shout! Factory Blu-Ray of Albert Pyun's comic-book production that was shot for Menahem Golan's post-Cannon Group 21st Century Film Corporation but never theatrically released.

Matt Salinger (nephew of J.D.) plays Steve Rogers as he fights the Red Skull both in the `40s and again after he's frozen in time; Scott Paulin essays his arch-nemesis while a better-than-the-movie-deserves supporting cast includes Ronny Cox, Ned Beatty, Darren McGavin, Michael Nouri and Melinda Dillon. "Captain America" does move along briskly and has a few fun moments but is basically let down by threadbare production values (there's a WLVI TV-56 Boston microphone during a White House press briefing!) and terrible editing. Pyun further claims his film was ruined by Golan in post-production, but this charge isn't entirely supported by his recent so-called "Director's Cut" that the director sold a couple of years ago on his website (sadly I was dumb enough to buy a copy; the Blu-Ray version...

Captain America: The Star Spangled Avenger Almost Makes it to the Big Screen; but Has to Settle for VHS
I always liked this movie. It was Marvel's answer to Tim Burton's big budget Batman. Although it received a European release, it was shelved in the U.S. until 1992. I thought it was a good low budget attempt to bring the Joe Simon-Jack Kirby comic book character to life. I can remember seeing the movie poster for it at the theater and being excited, "Captain America: Coming in 1990". This movie has a great cast: Matt Salinger, Scott Paulin, Ronny Cox, Ned Beatty, Darren McGavin, Carla Cassola, Melinda Dillion, Michael Nouri, Kim Gillingham Francesca Neri and Billy Mumy. It was directed by Albert Pyun.

In Italy during WW2, Dr. Maria Vaseli (Carla Cassola) creates a process which transforms child musical prodigy Tadzio de Santis into the hideously scarred 'Red Skull' (Scott Paulin) for the Nazis. Dr. Vaseli escapes to America where she perfects the process and helps the American Military transform Polio-ridden Steve Rogers into the Star Spangled Avenger 'Captain...

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