A&E

Captain America: Civil War

Captain America: Civil War is the follow-up to 2014’s The Winter Soldier. Or 2015’s Age of Ultron, depending on how you look at things. I had heard that when making Civil War, the creative team did something controversial—ignoring new coming movie goers. While this might cut down the accessibility of this movie, I think it was a great call. Civil War is Steve Rogers’ fifth outing, and if the writers’ room had to keep reintroducing him and his comrades-in-arms in every film, then a significant amount of time and energy would be wasted. Civil War kicks it off with the new roster of the Avengers on a fast, high-intensity mission. The prep time needed to explain the change in rosters which occurred during Age of Ultron, or who these characters are would have taken the punch out of this sequence.

This sequence brought back Brock RUMLO, having undergone the transformation from sleek hydra agent to the villainous Crossbones. Crossbones is a simple villain just trying to steal a biochemical weapon, but his enhanced gauntlets and brutal methods leave a lasting impression. The fallout from this confrontation kick starts the main conflict. Many governments around the world take issue with the Avengers, a privately funded American super-team, operating covertly with impunity on their sovereign soil. This seems like a reasonable enough stance to me, but when global legislature is proposed to take the decision making process away from the Avengers, Divides start to form.

There is very little outright hero vs. villain conflict in Civil War, although many characters are not aware of this. Misdirection and deceit are the primary tools of the story’s antagonist, Zemo. Adapted from the comic’s Baron Zemo, a high-level Hydra member, Zemo brings something new and different to the MCU. He, like so many before him, wants to destroy the Avengers, but he realizes that he can use their own power against them. Iron Man and Captain America themselves haven’t really come across an adversary that they can’t defeat, so why should he even try? After a great deal of scheming and digging into the past, Zemo is able to find the perfect issue to wedge between the two top-tier Avengers. Daniel Bruhl doesn’t get a whole lot of screen time, but terrific writing and delivery craft an excellent performance.

Other new characters also had massive break out performances in Civil War: The Black Panther and your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man. Finally getting to see Peter Parker suit up along with the Avengers was amazing. You might have read last fall that the first comic I ever bought was Ultimate Spider-Man #1, and it is still one of my favourite series. Tom Holland gave a pitch perfect, quipping performance while suited up and an even better one while just being an awkward, teenage Peter Parker. Spider-Man had a limited performance though, so the title of true break out character goes to Black Panther.

A scientist, ruler, ambassador, and all-around good guy, the Black Panther’s inclusion in Civil War was expertly done. Seeking revenge on the Winter Soldier for a crime he didn’t commit, the warrior prince of Wakanda shows off his speed and ferocity to the Avengers and the world. Siding with Iron Man out of the classic enemy-of-my-enemy rationale he gets dragged right into middle of the fight. Chadwick Boseman gets some of the more emotional and intimate moments, when T’Challa interacts with his father as well as Zemo.

The core Avengers are showcased throughout Civil War, and it’s very clear that they are a family. They really care for each other, even when they’re going head-to-head at full steam. After the dust settles, they all know that they can count on one another. Different relationships are explored in detail throughout the film, and I enjoyed watching the dynamic between Hawkeye and the Scarlet Witch. After their heart to heart during the climactic battle of Age of Ultron (“… and I have a bow and arrow. Nothing makes sense.”), Hawkeye seems to have taken Wanda under his wing. Civil War also contains some of the best action sequences the MCU has seen, not counting Daredevil’s one-take beat down sequences. Along with the highly-publicised airport sequence, the Winter Soldier’s escape sequence, and the third act showdown between Iron Man, the Winter Solider and Cap feature the most intense hand-to-hand choreography to date. Despite all the violence, suspense, and big revelations, Civil War is still able to serve up Marvel’s almost patented brand of comic relief (ha, get it? COMIC relief) and even a bit of romance along the way.

Overall I thought it was best Marvel movie yet, 9.5/10 only because the third act could have been longer and some dramatic irony around the third act reveal would have been cool. The Russo brothers score another hit, and I can’t wait for the Infinity War.

 

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