Minute Twenty-Two: From Training Montage to Flagpole Shenanigans

Joining us on the episode is Father David Mowry, chaplain of the movies-by-minutes community!

In the twenty-second minute of Joe Johnston’s 2011 film Captain America: The First Avenger...

We’re gonna need a montage!

We continue that training montage that we started with Steve in the last minute. Col. Phillips continues monologuing over it and we get a sense as to how inept Steve really is. But what are they looking for exactly? Is there a reason we only see basic training types of strength and agility tests? Shouldn’t we be seeing other types of tests as well for this particular recruitment? And are they getting eliminated as this goes along? Or are they here until Erskine picks someone? But to that point – they’re picking in just a week?!?

As for the montage, we lose track a bit of what Col. Phillips is saying because we’re so focused on the images. Could they have done that better? We also have Sergeant Duffy yelling at Rogers, competing against Phillips. But Duffy’s a lot of fun and clearly the actor is having fun. The fact that he’s more concerned about the rifle in the mud than with Steve says a lot. But why doesn’t Hodge get reprimanded for knocking the beam out of the obstacle course?

They get to the flagpole which turns into a Mulan flag moment. Is this a trope? Turns out, it’s a real military thing.

Lots to discuss in today’s montage minute. Tune in!
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