Captain America: Civil War
Go! Marvel's platoon, well-groomed and fine-tuned.
Jets v Sharks, superhero style.
Just four weeks after DC’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, aka. Rock v Hard Place: The Dull Thud; the shiny marbles of Captain America and Iron Man tumble out of Marvel’s little pouch to start clinking in Captain America: Civil War. Its release marks the beginning of the Marvel Universe’s ominous “Phase Three”, which will add ten more films to our actual universe between now and 2019. By that point, we will almost certainly have an actual Captain America programme, as orange crackpot President Trump seeks to implement the cornerstone of his “mainly-based-on-the-movies” foreign policy before the end of his first term. Until that inevitable doomsday, Chris Evans (the other one) returns as the virtuous, superhuman (and fictional) soldier who began his march against tyranny in 2011’s The First Avenger and then again in 2014’s The Winter Soldier.
Civil War does what you would expect – it pits El Capitán against El Hombre de Hierro, each of whom forms their own mini-gang of super-banditos to fight alongside them. The tiff is instigated by their vilest nemesis yet – bureaucracy (dum dum duuuum). After accidentally killing a bunch of innocent civilians again, this time in Lagos, an accord is drawn up by the UN that would see the Avengers managed by a committee. In a reverse of their normal positions, Iron Man thinks they should sign, Captain America thinks not. Things are tense but amicable, until the Winter Soldier (Cap’s former Army pal and bad-guy super-soldier, Bucky (Sebastian Stan)) is accused of blowing up the UN In Vienna. Believing that Bucky is innocent and has changed his ways, Captain America sets out to protect him, while Iron Man aims to kill him and comply with the establishment’s demands. Cue: epic battle.
Civil War does what you would expect – it pits El Capitán against El Hombre de Hierro, each of whom forms their own mini-gang of super-banditos to fight alongside them. The tiff is instigated by their vilest nemesis yet – bureaucracy (dum dum duuuum). After accidentally killing a bunch of innocent civilians again, this time in Lagos, an accord is drawn up by the UN that would see the Avengers managed by a committee. In a reverse of their normal positions, Iron Man thinks they should sign, Captain America thinks not. Things are tense but amicable, until the Winter Soldier (Cap’s former Army pal and bad-guy super-soldier, Bucky (Sebastian Stan)) is accused of blowing up the UN In Vienna. Believing that Bucky is innocent and has changed his ways, Captain America sets out to protect him, while Iron Man aims to kill him and comply with the establishment’s demands. Cue: epic battle.
Civil War has too many characters for it to honestly be a "Captain America" movie, but as a “Half-vengers” film it is arguably the most successful of Marvel’s ensemble outings so far. Frankly, this is welcome, since Captain America has always been the least charismatic of the Avengers. With his straight-laced do-goodery and three facial expressions of sober concern, righteous indignation and smirking satisfaction, he can seem a bit like smug Captain Auditor, with super-human buzz-killing skills. This time out, he is given a darker edge while Downy Jr.’s well-practiced routine of arrogant hyper-activity is softened, giving us a less predictable conflict between the two than might have been expected.
The story is about as thin, flawed and short on detail as a UKIP manifesto, but Winter Soldier directors Anthony and Joe Russo sensibly divert focus towards underlying ideas of guilt and retribution. Once that foundation is set, it becomes all about the stylised globe-trotting action. Not only have they created a jolly play-pen full of Marvel action-figures, they have also succeeded in producing a visually-impressive, internationally-staged action-film in its own right. Fluid camera-work and dynamic choreography is an Avengers signature, but it hits impressive new heights; bravely focusing on Bond-style physical combat and balletic motion rather than relying too heavily on special effects. Unlike the drudgery of Batman v Superman, it also remembers to be entertaining. Tom Holland (In the Heart of the Sea) is youthful and charming as Spiderman and Paul Rudd crawls in to make Ant Man better-than-he-was-in-Ant Man. They both contribute to the numerous comedic and “for-the-sheer-fun-of-it” moments, adding levity to a story of stern moral posturing.
The story is about as thin, flawed and short on detail as a UKIP manifesto, but Winter Soldier directors Anthony and Joe Russo sensibly divert focus towards underlying ideas of guilt and retribution. Once that foundation is set, it becomes all about the stylised globe-trotting action. Not only have they created a jolly play-pen full of Marvel action-figures, they have also succeeded in producing a visually-impressive, internationally-staged action-film in its own right. Fluid camera-work and dynamic choreography is an Avengers signature, but it hits impressive new heights; bravely focusing on Bond-style physical combat and balletic motion rather than relying too heavily on special effects. Unlike the drudgery of Batman v Superman, it also remembers to be entertaining. Tom Holland (In the Heart of the Sea) is youthful and charming as Spiderman and Paul Rudd crawls in to make Ant Man better-than-he-was-in-Ant Man. They both contribute to the numerous comedic and “for-the-sheer-fun-of-it” moments, adding levity to a story of stern moral posturing.
What should also be applauded is Civil War’s probable claim to being the most diverse superhero film ever made. The Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman, Get On Up) becomes Marvel’s first African superhero, joining the Falcon (Anthony Mackie, The Hurt Locker) and War Machine (Don Cheadle, Miles Ahead) to - quite amazingly - make a trio of non-white super-faces. Even if their stories sit well behind others’, their mere presence is a big step in the right direction. Similarly, while it is still short on female numbers, Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow is a strong and highly prominent character, and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olson, Avengers: Age of Ultron) is perhaps the most powerful superhero on show.
That said, this brings us to the main criticism of Civil War. Like virtually all superhero stories it is still a film about little more than the egos of two white men and their coincidental mummy/daddy issues. It may well be a solid, engaging and entertaining film, but it is part of a repetitive franchise that varies little from episode to episode. Each Marvel film offers a bigger lesson in marketing than artistry, rehashing variations of the same theme each time; so far to the tune of $9.1 billion over 8 years. Civil War is therefore Marvel’s thirteenth attempt at turning good business into a good movie, and progress has certainly been made. But like virtually all Marvel films (with Guardians of the Galaxy a probable exception), Civil War will still have more financial success than its relative long-term creative and cultural impact; evaporating into the ether as another, relatively forgettable, Marvel-movie-by-numbers. For all its criticism, at least Batman v Superman tried.
Nevertheless, go. You might not be overwhelmed with amazement, but what Captain America: Civil War lacks in depth, it makes up for in poppy action and remains an enjoyable 2.5 hour play-date with Marvel’s toy box.
That said, this brings us to the main criticism of Civil War. Like virtually all superhero stories it is still a film about little more than the egos of two white men and their coincidental mummy/daddy issues. It may well be a solid, engaging and entertaining film, but it is part of a repetitive franchise that varies little from episode to episode. Each Marvel film offers a bigger lesson in marketing than artistry, rehashing variations of the same theme each time; so far to the tune of $9.1 billion over 8 years. Civil War is therefore Marvel’s thirteenth attempt at turning good business into a good movie, and progress has certainly been made. But like virtually all Marvel films (with Guardians of the Galaxy a probable exception), Civil War will still have more financial success than its relative long-term creative and cultural impact; evaporating into the ether as another, relatively forgettable, Marvel-movie-by-numbers. For all its criticism, at least Batman v Superman tried.
Nevertheless, go. You might not be overwhelmed with amazement, but what Captain America: Civil War lacks in depth, it makes up for in poppy action and remains an enjoyable 2.5 hour play-date with Marvel’s toy box.
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