| A Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo Starring Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., and Sebastian Stan Review by Phil Crone |  |
Captain America: Civil War is going to be a divisive movie. Even though it feels like another Avengers movie, there’s something decidedly different about it, both structurally and tonally. It feels like the first step to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) really growing up. Civil War is both reflective and forward-looking, which comes a bit at the expense of the movie itself. While there’s a great story here with one of the most inventive villains in recent MCU memory, what ultimately weighs it down most is what also props it up – connecting more threads to the conclusion of The Avengers as we know them.
The setup of the movie isn’t much of a secret, as the driving force of the action focuses on the demand for oversight of The Avengers after the catastrophic events of New York, Washington D.C., and Sokovia. There are blips of action scenes here, but in reality, the bulk of the first couple acts are subdued, with numerous characters questioning their actions and how they should be handled.
The line in the sand is drawn early between the two most dynamic characters in the MCU, namely Tony Stark and Steve Rogers. The two have always made for fantastic foils to each other, and pitting them against each other for the soul of The Avengers was only natural and perhaps necessary. Stark continues to be the most interesting character in the MCU, remaining the pragmatic harbinger in a much more direct sense than he secretly was in Age of Ultron. Meanwhile, Rogers is still the prototypical hero, more concerned with what’s right above all else. Unlike many other super hero movies, there’s no side taken by the movie itself. The evidence is presented, and it’s ultimately up to the audience to decide how they feel. Even though this is Cap’s movie, it’s hard to call him the protagonist and Stark the antagonist. Not too surprisingly, the remaining Avengers are stuck in the same boat as the audience, unsure of how they should handle the sanctions levied on them. Battle lines are ultimately drawn by personal loyalties moreso than ideals, tactics used liberally by both Stark and Rogers to fill out their respective lineup cards. Natasha winds up being the closest thing we see to an audience voice here, taking a realistic view of the world and proving to be the most heroic Avenger of the whole group.
Despite the high-minded goals of our two main characters, the running theme throughout Civil War is the premium humans place on personal vengeance over the greater good. Several characters are out for #1 here, some in a very overt manner (Black Panther, who is a welcome MCU addition). However, in the end, we all revert to our basest emotional responses. This is best represented in the main villain of the movie, Zemo. Zemo deserves a spot in the pantheon of great villains, understanding his own limitations and those of his enemies. Not to spoil anything, but his payoff is one of the best in recent memory.
While I think it’s fair to say that Civil War reaches a logical and fair endpoint, it is tough to call it “conclusive.” This was major table setting, putting The Avengers in a place they’ve never been before at the end of their journey. The MCU is starting to travel a path similar to, of all things, Harry Potter, now being more concerned with the endpoint now more than ever. I’m very curious to see how MCU Phase III plays out, and Civil War will be judged best once we see it play out.
The line in the sand is drawn early between the two most dynamic characters in the MCU, namely Tony Stark and Steve Rogers. The two have always made for fantastic foils to each other, and pitting them against each other for the soul of The Avengers was only natural and perhaps necessary. Stark continues to be the most interesting character in the MCU, remaining the pragmatic harbinger in a much more direct sense than he secretly was in Age of Ultron. Meanwhile, Rogers is still the prototypical hero, more concerned with what’s right above all else. Unlike many other super hero movies, there’s no side taken by the movie itself. The evidence is presented, and it’s ultimately up to the audience to decide how they feel. Even though this is Cap’s movie, it’s hard to call him the protagonist and Stark the antagonist. Not too surprisingly, the remaining Avengers are stuck in the same boat as the audience, unsure of how they should handle the sanctions levied on them. Battle lines are ultimately drawn by personal loyalties moreso than ideals, tactics used liberally by both Stark and Rogers to fill out their respective lineup cards. Natasha winds up being the closest thing we see to an audience voice here, taking a realistic view of the world and proving to be the most heroic Avenger of the whole group.
Despite the high-minded goals of our two main characters, the running theme throughout Civil War is the premium humans place on personal vengeance over the greater good. Several characters are out for #1 here, some in a very overt manner (Black Panther, who is a welcome MCU addition). However, in the end, we all revert to our basest emotional responses. This is best represented in the main villain of the movie, Zemo. Zemo deserves a spot in the pantheon of great villains, understanding his own limitations and those of his enemies. Not to spoil anything, but his payoff is one of the best in recent memory.
While I think it’s fair to say that Civil War reaches a logical and fair endpoint, it is tough to call it “conclusive.” This was major table setting, putting The Avengers in a place they’ve never been before at the end of their journey. The MCU is starting to travel a path similar to, of all things, Harry Potter, now being more concerned with the endpoint now more than ever. I’m very curious to see how MCU Phase III plays out, and Civil War will be judged best once we see it play out.
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