Captain America: Civil War - Review Thread

Who would have expected the Captain America films to generally be the most consistent and interesting films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Certainly not me, in fact of all the Phase One characters he seemed the hardest to create a movie around. I can’t say Captain America: The First Avenger was a perfect attempt, but it was a fun film which made good use of its period setting and was generally better than I was expecting it to be. However the real treat would be 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, a film which managed to function as a pretty effective allegory for American foreign policy and surveillance state while still being an exciting action movie with an engaging storyline. For my money, The Winter Soldier is easily the best and most well-rounded film of the MCU and as such the prospect of that creative team returning for a follow-up film was always going to be enticing. As it turns out, not only is Captain America: Civil War a continuation of the Winter Soldier’s storyline, but also an adaptation of the comic storyline which famously pitted the good Captain against his old friend and former ally Iron Man.

The film opens with a group of Avengers thwarting the efforts of a terrorist group to steal a biological weapon. In defeat, the terrorist leader attempts to murder Captain America (Chris Evans) in a suicide bombing. Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Wilson) is able to use her powers to save Cap, but the blast is eventually released, killing innocent civilians and wounding many more. At the same time, there has been increasing concern regarding the collateral damage caused in various battles involving the Avengers. As such, General Ross (William Hurt) has come with an ultimatum; that the Avengers sign an accord which will forego the team’s independence and favour of obeying a UN panel. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is a huge advocate for this initiative, as he feels tremendous guilt for the innocent lives lost and for the destruction he caused in creating Ultron. Steve Rogers feels differently, arguing that the unknown agendas of individuals could lead to the team being unable to help those in need if the panel decrees it, or being sent on morally objectionable missions in order to further the interests of those in charge. This disagreement splits the Avengers in two sides, a problem worsened when the UN is bombed and the leading suspect is Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Rogers’ old friend who was tortured and brainwashed into becoming an assassin. This further splits the lines between the Avengers and leads to all out conflict. Behind the scenes however is the mysterious Zemo (Daniel Brühl), an individual who is manipulating events for his own ends.

That’s a pretty big plot description, one which doesn’t even factor in the roles of Vision (Paul Bettany), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), War Machine (Don Cheadle), Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), Sharon Carter (Emily VonCamp), and new characters like Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and Spider-Man (Tom Holland). This is a pretty packed movie and I do think it buckles under its own weight in a number of places. The first act, which largely dwells on the accords and the splitting of The Avengers, raises some interesting questions regarding to what extent these heroes are responsible for the collateral damages inflicted in various battles as well as whether or not the team should act independently. The film does a good job in fact of presenting both Rogers’ and Stark’s arguments in ways where you can understand both perspectives and neither are straight-up wrong. However, once the UN bombing occurs, these questions quickly disappear and the conflict becomes almost entirely about what should be done with Bucky. It’s a much more simplistic dynamic and I also don’t think the writing holds up to scrutiny. No spoilers, but at a certain point Cap suspects Bucky was framed for the bombing and if he and Tony simply discussed this rather than rushing to punch each other I feel like things could have played out a lot more smoothly.

The film’s second act is largely spent with Captain America and Iron Man building up rosters for a fight with each other that seems very avoidable and is ultimately not that important in the grand scheme of the plot. I’m also not entirely clear on some of the character motivations. Why would Iron Man, who already has War Machine, Vision, and Black Widow on his side (as well as tremendous wealth and government resources) also seek out the help of Spider-Man, a kid who he has never met and who the film makes clear has not been active as Spider-Man very long? For that matter, why does Ant-Man agree to team with Captain America? He’s never met any of these characters (apart from a brief fight with Falcon in Ant-Man) and he really has no stake in this conflict, but he still just randomly shows up and has no problem becoming a fugitive throwing away the family life he fought so hard for in his own film. These aren’t minor plot holes, but serious lapses in character motivation that rob the conflict of poignancy by illustrating just how forced the big fight between all these superheroes is. With all that said, I don’t want to give the impression that Civil War is some incomprehensible mess on the levels of something like The Amazing Spider-Man 2 or Batman v Superman. While I do think a lot of interesting elements are overlooked and that the script takes quite a few narrative shortcuts, the fact is this still holds together a lot better than it should and while there are many different tones at play the transitions between them are pretty smooth. Additionally, the plot is always clear and easy to follow.

For all its flaws, I do still think Civil War functions very well as a superhero movie. The various action scenes are all really well executed from conception to editing and are generally quite a bit of fun. The high point is probably the big airport fight between all the superheroes and while I do think the build-up has some flaws there’s no denying that the fight itself is all kinds of awesome. All of the characters and their powers are utilized appropriately, there are plenty of cool moments, the humour is strong, and generally the entire sequence is a blast to watch. In fact, I was surprised by just how humorous and often funny Civil War was. Though this was advertised as the dark chapter of the Avengers saga, and while there are plenty of dramatic moments, this still maintains the relatively light and jovial tone that Marvel usually strives for. There were a few moments where I thought the film could have embraced the darker dramatic elements more, for the most part the tone works and there are a lot of funny moments. Having said that, most of the film’s more emotional moments do work strongly enough and I really liked Daniel Brühl as the film’s villain. I do wish there was a bit more to Zemo’s plan, but I like that his goal isn’t to be some all-powerful dictator and that his methods are more sophisticated than “punch the Avengers really hard”. Speaking of new characters, Black Panther and Spider-Man are also introduced very well. Black Panther’s motivations and character fit in really well and I look forward to learning more about the character in future films. Meanwhile, Tom Holland and the film’s characterization of Spider-Man feel spot on and it was really exciting to see the character handled so well, particularly after those awful Marc Webb films.

A lot of people are viewing Civil War as a total triumph for Marvel and the best of the MCU, with some even arguing it is among the best superhero movies of all-time, but I can’t go there. For all it does well, the film squanders a lot of thematic and narrative ideas while forcing a conflict which doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. As such, the film feels as if it’s always falling short of its potential, even when functioning as high entertainment. In other words, it’s no Dark Knight, no Spider-Man 2, and no Days of Future Past. For that matter, it’s no Winter Soldier, which I still say stands head and shoulders above everything else the MCU has put forth. However I don’t want to give the impression that Civil War is a bad film or that I dislike it. If this review seems harsh, it’s only because of how high the Russo Brothers raised the bar with The Winter Soldier and the ambitions with which they’ve made Civil War. This is indeed well above the average superhero film and sits within the upper echelon of the MCU’s output. The action scenes are exciting, the humour is strong, the characters are on-point, and the drama is engaging. It may not transcend beyond just being a highly entertaining and fun superhero movie, but it at least offers glimmers of something more substantial.

B+

Because their rest aren't THAT good either. 

I think Whedon is getting the blame when he got Disney and Marvel messing with the movie. Enough to where Whedon was done With Marvel movies. If Dc is smart they would fire Snyder scrap whatever he did and see what Whedon could come up with.

I'd say it's certainly better than the Iron Man films, the Thor films, the original Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, Ant-Man, Age of Ultron, and Guardians of the Galaxy (though most people like that last one a lot more than I did). At this point I'd probably place it just below The Avengers. Civil War has a more interesting storyline, but I think The Avengers more thoroughly achieved its goals (namely to just function as a fun action movie wherein its heroes looked as awesome as possible). More importantly, while I do think The Avengers is highly flawed, it was also clearly a huge deal when released in that it clearly topped everything the MCU had been up to that point.

Going Back If You Look At Box Office Scale Iron Man was good but it didnt make Spiderman Numbers or anything. I personally like Captain America 1 As my favorite Cap. More too the fact that Im in love with Young Peggy Carter character played by Atwell. My biggest problem with Civil War is Cap and Sharon is just Grosse too me. I mean Peggy is barely cold and Cap is macking on her neice. It may be the fact I like Cap best with Black Widow cause Widow and Cap have a kid and hook up in a couple marvel current animated movies.

Civil War may be more emotionally charged, but I'd argue those emotions are often muted by the problematic script. And while the action is bigger in Civil War I wouldn't call it better. In fact I found The Winter Soldier's action to be way more suspenseful. Also Winter Soldier sticks to its themes which I think raises it above being just an action movie.

They fixed it by punching. Also I didn't find Winter Soldier was really going for twists. Civil War on the other hand tries to have a big one which I saw coming almost immediately.

I am certain the only annimosity is on Tony part with Steve. It would take a Gobal Killing Villain like Thanos to return Tony Too Caps side especially if Bucky is with Cap. Or I am betting Caps team engages Thano and their left laying and my guess is Wanda will be totally brain screwed by Thanos After Vision is left laying when Thanos rips out that Stone from his head. i Think Tony will Come after the Battle lets say happens around the middle of First Movie and we even have a couple of deaths and Tony flies in just as Cap is gonna get smashed and hits him with his veronica Armor Blast and Thanos declares earth has 24 hours to endure. Tony suggest a new team is made with new heroes Thanos would not know about after New York. Im pretty sure its gonna take Thanos to get Tony out of hermit hiding. It be nice for the first time too see Tony try and Comfort Wanda who in this he deemed a weapon but after seeing her in Chains like some animal in Civil War. I think Tony will be more of a wiser person and new members of the avengers will need training even Wanda who still is kinda young.

I dont think Cap rage was just about Bucky. Cap is wounded by Peggy death and the realization he thinks he is alone and his only purpose is to save Bucky and do whatever he thinks he can do as a Soldier no matter the laws. Cap in a since is lost and he has not formed bonds equal too Bucky is not the case. Cap just does not see he influences people to be loyal too him. Starks always been Cap wake up call that he is just a Man who got beat up in allies. Caps problem in this story is he focused on Bucky when he totally showed Howard Stark no reguard. Howard Stark made it possible that he could be more in the chamber machine and the Shield made it possible t be Captain America this long.

They probably cast him in the first few thinking it'd be a novelty as he'd be dead soon.

Little did they know that he is in fact an immortal and by 2078 all their movies will just be ongoing scenes of Stan Lee cameoing opposite himself for 2 hours.

I would agree that reliance on a future film for the current one to make sense is a bad thing.  That said however, I would argue that Civil War doesn't fall into this trap.  The fact that Steve and Tony still have issues to work out at some point by the end of the film isn't central to the plot, nor does it distract from what is central.  Steve's letter to Tony made it clear that despite their differences and all that's happened between them, he and the rest of his team will be there when needed.  Tony's response to "Thunderbolt" Ross' demand that he do something about the mass breakout from The Raft crystallized his intent to cease cooperating with higher authority.  The only real issue between the two by the end of the film is what to do about Bucky, and his status as a Winter Soldier-cicle conveniently shifts the problem to the side for as long as necessary.