![]() ![]() They also both make suspect decisions as a result of those emotions.Īll of this is deftly conveyed in the film, as Civil War gives new depth to both Captain America and Iron Man. Iron Man and Captain America are following their respective moral compasses, each is conflicted with their choices, and each shows emotional vulnerability. As the conflict relates to these characters, it builds rather well without explicit conversation of the Accords. When it comes to Captain America and Iron Man, the greatest conflicts are not physical. I think this is an appropriate expectation, because, as was Captain America: The Winter Soldier, this is an intelligent film with lofty ideas and ideals. Judged through that prism, I expected a bit more development of the central conflict over the Sokovia Accords before the action in the second and third acts kicked into high gear. The result is films that offer thought-provoking story and themes to accompany the gripping blockbuster action sequences. However, Marvel has redefined the concept. If this were an ordinary super hero film, this criticism could be construed as nitpicking. The political themes here are overt, not merely inferred subtexts, so it would be nice if the characters had motives beyond “Iron Man asked first!” In some cases, a greater understanding of the MCU provides insight into the “why,” but for a couple of characters, that’s not the case at all. This is exemplified with the Sokovia Accords (for characters not present during the initial roundtable), as supporting players choose sides without exposition, and their decisions can seem arbitrary as a result. Perhaps it’s because there are simply so many other characters, but it felt like there were a few that didn’t get a satisfying amount of on-screen attention (Hawkeye, in particular, seems superfluous and expendable to the story). The biggest disappointment for me is how little attention it gives to some of the characters beyond Captain America and Iron Man. There’s a lot to love about Civil War, but it’s not without flaws. It’s a very good standalone film, but an exceptional culmination of the stories and characters that have been developed in the films that preceded it. While The Avengers demonstrated the potential of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America: Civil War executes and delivers on that promise. The Avengers was the first film that really converged the characters’ separate stories, and it did gangbusters at the box office. As geekiness has gone mainstream, it would appear the general public concurs. This film–as with the other MCU entries–is more about storytelling than it is action.Īs someone with geeky propensities, I’ve really enjoyed how Marvel has built this universe, and used the films to engage in a sort of long-form storytelling. ![]() This lack of familiarity made me a bit apprehensive that the premise would be little more than a pretext for an undue super hero throw-down. I have no knowledge of the underlying conflict in the comics upon which Civil War is based. Point being, my familiarity with the characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe extends only to the films in which the characters appear. Rather than reading super-hero comics and watching Lord of the Rings in high school, I was reading Calvin & Hobbes and collecting Criterion Collection DVDs (that’s probably dorky more than geeky, but we’re splitting hairs). While this “never-ending” comment could be construed as a jab, when it comes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Disney and Marvel have done an excellent job structuring the MCU, creating action-packed films with heart and humor, and even different genres, all of which has helped prevent super hero “fatigue.” Civil War is no exception.ĭespite my undeniable geekiness, somehow, that never extended to some “typical” interests. This review takes a spoiler-free look at Captain America: Civil War, the latest film in what seems like a never-ending stream of super hero films. ![]()
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