Captain America: The First Avenger

As the U.S. enters World War II, a 90-pound wimp (Chris Evans), unfit for military service, is recruited into a scientific program that turns him into a virtual superman. Jack Kirby and Joe Simon’s early success for Marvel Comics becomes, under writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely and director Joe Johnston, the best superhero comic-book movie since … well, ever. The movie honors the story’s WWII roots (with a splendid villain in Hugo Weaving’s Red Skull), while moving it into the present day with a poignantly satisfying conclusion (deftly setting up next year’s Avengers). The action is vigorous, the graphic look pitch-perfect, and Johnston is a rare director who knows how to use 3-D properly. The fine cast includes Hayley Atwell, Tommy Lee Jones, Toby Jones, Stanley Tucci and Sebastian Stan.