Captain America – The First Avenger

BENDIGO’S residential Strategy will be reviewed because of greater than expected growth.

The State Government has announced a grant of $50,000 to carry out the review.

The review is needed because, according to the State Government, 40 per cent of the forecast growth between 2006 and 2031 had already been realised.

Regional Development Parliamentary Secretary Damian Drum made the announcement this morning.

Mr Drum said the Bendigo Residential Strategy Review would deliver greater community and investor certainty, helping the region grow.

“The Bendigo Residential Development Strategy was adopted in 2004 and is currently being audited because of the faster than anticipated growth that has occurred in Bendigo in recent years,” he said.

“Strong residential growth has many flow-on economic benefits and having a clear framework for future development will position Greater Bendigo City Council to undertake more detailed, place-based planning in the future.”

Deputy Premier Peter Ryan said about 40 per cent of the forecast growth between 2006 and 2031 had already been realised.

The Residential Strategy impacts directly on where and how property developments use “infill” parcels of land, range of housing styles and also on housing affordability.

“This project will review the strategy, assess current and estimated land supply and demand and consider various legislative and policy changes,” Mr Ryan said,

“It will also consider the latest demographic data and establish a new strategic framework to guide the long-term residential growth of Greater Bendigo.

“The project will result in a revised residential strategy that will give developers, the community and service providers greater surety and confidence about where land can be developed for residential purposes, and that sufficient land is available to accommodate the City of Greater Bendigo’s future growth.”

Mr Ryan said a contemporary strategic planning framework was essential to the economic development of a large regional centre like Bendigo.

“Clearly identifying future growth options and supporting infrastructure needs will enable the Greater Bendigo City Council and other infrastructure providers to plan their capital works programs well in advance,” he said.

“Identifying long-term growth areas will enable the council and other service authorities to start planning for the delivery of services, thereby minimising the lag time between when residential development occurs and when the services need to be in place.”

Anthony Radford | Bendigo Weekly | 05-Aug-2011

THERE is an unusual and a disturbing component of the big screen comic adaptation of Captain America.

Unusually, it does not become apparent until the very end that this is a franchise with more chapters to come.

Disturbingly the screenplay writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely insert a dramatic kiss between the leads in this most inappropriate moment of the film – detracting from the project’s admirable entertainment value.

To its credit, the movie manages to confine the US flag waving and chest-beating to a manageable level which is commendable considering the original comic character was invented during World War II specifically to target American patriotic fever when the country was faced with the horrors of the Axis powers.

Director Joe Johnston does justice to the character, producing a project that is more war movie than superhero adventure.

Perfectly cast, Chris Evans (Fantastic Four fame) stars as the puny New Yorker Steve Rogers who is transformed by scientists into a super soldier with the strength of eight tough guys.

While Rogers fights the Nazis, the writers pit him against arch villain Johann Schmidt who later becomes Red Skull. Aussie Hugo Weaving nails the evil character.

Supervising art directors John Dexter, Chris Lowe and Andy Nicholson cleverly shy away from the over-bearing swastika emblem as they adapt the Nazis symbol to a stylised version to represent a break-away sect created by Schmidt and his cohorts.

The team of eight art directors is also responsible for wonderfully futuristic weaponry and industrial technology.

Like the second incarnation of the Batman franchise, Captain America is purposely dark and dirty, adding to war movie feel.

Cinematographer Shelly Johnson heavily relies on low light filming whether it is in 1940s New York or the forests of war-torn Europe.

The film’s battle scenes are extraordinary, combining sci-fi weapons set against the old-fashioned WWII European theatre of conflict.

Sarah Finn, Randi Hiller and Priscilla John’s casting is a winner – using a group of big names like Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci and Samuel L Jackson and adept character actors including Toby Jones as the Red Skull offsider Dr Amim Zola.

Hayley Atwell as Captain America’s love interest Peggy Carter is also a good choice and as an English character, she is the perfect foil for the empathetic but powerful Captain America.

Atwell and Evans cannot be blamed for the ridiculous screen kiss when Captain America faces imminent death – as if!

Unlike the majority of my fellow moviegoers, don’t leave as soon as the credits roll as there is a bonus scene and trailer for the next project in the franchise.

Captain America is impressive and is one of the best comic book adaptations. While I understand Chris Evans reluctance to initially take on the role of the superhero, especially after already playing another and the prospect for being tied to the character for many years to come, I am glad he relented, as he is the king pin to the film’s success.

7 ½ stars out of 10