Captain America: The First Avenger: Joe Johnston

So how DO you make a movie intended for international audiences about a character who is literally the embodiment of American patriotism?  The answer, as Captain America: The First Avenger proves, is VERY CAREFULLY.  First, make it so that Steve Rogers, the mild-mannered weakling who becomes Captain America through a Super Soldier project, never once mentions that he's fighting for America or the American way.  Instead, make his motivation the fact that he hates bullies and feels that he needs to pull his own weight.  Then, for your German and sensitive European viewers, rarely mention the Nazis and make the villains of your World War Two period drama a mysterious cult-like organization bent on world domination.  And most importantly, don't make the film about America winning the war.  Make it a film about the triumph of the human spirit in the face of tyranny, oppression, or, more realistically, bullies.  Because this is a modern superhero film that isn't directed by Christopher Nolan, make sure that the last third of the film descends into a crazy, over-the-top action sequence with CGI out the wazoo.  Insert headstrong love interest who eventually falls for your everyman and a supporting cast made up of European and ethnic stereotypes who weren't in the comics and...VOILA!  Instant superhero movie.  But most importantly...don't worry if its rough around the edges or the ending is too abrupt.  After all...it's really just a two-hour set-up for The Avengers, anyway.

7/10