"Captain America: Civil War" Review

Title: Captain America: Civil War

Directed by: Joe Russo and Anthony Russo

Screenplay by: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely

Year: 2016


The Captain America films are interesting in that they seem to set up the big events or include major events. Captain America: The First Avenger introduced the tesseract; The Winter Soldier showed the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D.; and Civil War presents the rift that divides the Avengers. Does Civil War deliver a franchise-changing story, or is it a forgettable and uneventful entry?

Following a mission during which the Avengers caused some casualties, the world's leaders believe the Avengers have operated without authority long enough. A document is proposed whereby the Avengers operate under the government and can only act when allowed. Iron Man takes the side of the Sokovia Accords, believing the heroes need to be put in check. Captain America however believes the Avengers should act on their own. As the arguments rise, so do the separations, which leads to a battle that may change the team drastically.

Civil War features a huge cast, filled with both old faces and new. But this is still a Captain America film, so it is only right to begin with Chris Evans. Evans has made this character his own. He is a revelation in the role and sells Steve Roger's morals and standpoints with conviction and ease. The same goes for Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man. Tony is the character that has changed the most over the course of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Downey has adapted to each stage of Tony's life. He nails the big dramatic moments as well as the smaller more nuanced moments. And when Evans and Downey are on screen together, the chemistry is electric. You do not see the actors, you see the characters. What is interesting is the sides the characters take. If this were Iron Man and Captain America from their first films, they would be on opposite sides. But because of what they have gone through and how they have changed, they take sides that illustrate their evolution as characters. Evans and Downey command the screen, but equally impressive is the cast that surrounds them.

Sebastian Stan returns as Bucky/Winter Soldier. His character is vital to the plot and Stan gives a performance equal in quality to his importance in the story. Anthony Mackie is really good as Sam Wilson/Falcon. The character's relationship with Steve Rogers comes down to Mackie's acting, and he does a damn fine job. He is also very entertaining when acting with Stan, as their characters share some great moments. In Avengers: Age of Ultron, we did not see much of Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch. However, in this film, Olsen truly comes into her own. Wanda is actually a rather important character in the film and Olsen brings powerful emotional stakes to the character. Jeremy Renner is as good as ever as Clint Barton/Hawkeye. In addition to having some good quips, his stakes and responsibilities in the film are very well done. Paul Rudd reprises his role as Scott Lang/Ant-Man from last year's picture. Rudd is hilariously charming in this movie. Every line he has has been perfectly written for the character and some of the biggest laughs come from him.

Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow is great as per usual, balancing both the snarky wisecracker as well as the serious agent. Don Cheadle brings his lovable comedic timing and superior acting abilities to the character of Rhodey/War Machine once again. Much like Olsen, Paul Bettany did not have plenty of time to expand on the character of Vision in Age of Ultron. In Civil War though, Bettany brings a certain charm and earnestness to Vision, which makes him a remarkable and likable personality despite being synthetic.

Some of the smaller roles in the film include Thunderbolt Ross, Agent 13, and Everett Ross, played by William Hurt, Emily VanCamp, and Martin Freeman respectively. It is nice to see Hurt return, further implementing the happenings of The Incredible Hulk into the MCU and he does just as good a job as he did in that film. VanCamp has an interesting role, playing both Captain America's love interest and his informer. She does a fine job and we will probably see more of her. Freeman adopts an American accent this time around and though he is not featured heavily in the film, I get the feeling we will see more of him in future installments. So far, he has left a good impression and I am curious as to how this character will be handled.

The villain, Zemo, is played by Daniel Bruhl. He does a fine job and as far as MCU villains go, Zemo is closer to the top ranked ones because of his motivations. They are purely emotional. That being said, the movie would have benefitted from not having a villain at all. Zemo is just above serviceable and he does not detract from the picture in any significant way, but it seems that Civil War did not need a villain. The two opposing teams of heroes is enough and the film might have been better without Zemo.

Now for the newcomers. Chadwick Boseman plays T'Challa/Black Panther and he owns the role. He has a captivating presence and T'Challa's motives come across so well because of Boseman's performance. As for the character, Black Panther was portrayed perfectly. He moves silently but quickly. His fighting style is very much like a dance, done with tremendous grace and accuracy. But I will touch more on the action later. Tom Holland makes his debut as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and he absolutely nails the role. It feels as if Peter Parker has walked right out of the pages of the comics and into this film, and most of it comes down to Holland's performance, in addition to the script. It is too soon to say whether he is the best on-screen Spider-Man we have had, but Holland is off to a tremendous start. I will also say that this is the Spider-Man we have all been waiting for, and the bar has been set high for the standalone film.

The film is interesting in that is is equally driven by the plot and by the characters. Basically, the film strikes the right balance of a character driven story and an engaging plot. The story is well realized with a great conflict and even greater characters. Everything is given reason or motivation, be it a plot point or a character. The Sokovia Accords come about because of the destruction caused by the Avengers not only in Sekovia, but across the globe. It puts a different spin on the heroes we have come to love and admire. It makes you realize that while you cheer for the Avengers during a destructive action sequence, people are dying as a result of their actions.

One of the greatest factors of this film is how it presents both sides of the debate. Captain America argues his side with unwavering conviction, doing what he thinks is best for team and for the people they protect. Iron Man feels guilty for what happened in Sokovia, seeing as how he helped create Ultron. He feels accountable and believes that the Avengers need to put in check so that they do not go too far again. Furthermore, not only is each side represented equally well, but your allegiance will most likely change throughout the film. No matter whom you side with walking into the movie, do not be surprised if you begin to switch sides multiple times as the film plays out. But the brilliance of the film is that it does not favor one side. It presents the audience with the viewpoints and allows them to decide, which not only makes for a more personal and enjoyable time, but also ensures a different viewing experience upon re-watching the movie.

One of the strengths of the MCU is how well it handles its characters and that carries over into Civil War. For the most part, the characters are what drive the films toward success because they are loved by fans. The writers know how to craft each person's dialogue to match their personality. For Civil War, if you were to take a look at the script with all of the names blocked, you would most likely be able to identify who said what line. This is a major credit to the screenwriters because it demonstrates how well defined the characters in the film are. Even newer characters such as Ant-Man, Black Panther, and Spider-Man are given such incredible attention during the writing process that they are given perfect dialogue for their characters. The script has been meticulously polished to a blinding shine, which becomes obvious as you watch the film.

Civil War has a very distinct style to it. There have been many jokes that this is essentially "Avengers 2.5" and while I can see the argument for that, the picture still feels like a Captain America movie, just on a much grander scale. Actually, a better description would be that the film feels like it is its own event. While it does have the air of a Captain America film, Civil War comes across as its own picture, simultaneously attached and detached from the MCU. That might sound odd, but those who have seen the film will understand what I mean. Also, many classify The Winter Soldier as a political thriller, including the directors of the film. Oddly enough, I do not view it that way, but I do see Civil War as a political-action-thriller. The years and locations are shown with large white lettering that takes up the entire screen. This stylistic choice is seemingly minor but actually goes a long way. It is sleek and makes the adventure feel epic while also elegant. It also helps add to the political-thriller vibe that I get from the film.

Another reason the film feels more like a political thriller than a comic book movie at times is that, aside from an opening scene in Lagos, the first 45 minutes of the film are void of any action. The first act of the film is mostly setting up the eventual battle between the two teams. But the setup is done so well. The dialogue and meetings are engaging; hearing what the characters have to say is captivating; and seeing the plot slowly unfold is intriguing.

While I am on the subject, I should elaborate on the editing. This movie is paced magnificently. The runtime is around 147 minutes, but by the end, it feels as if only 10-15 minutes have passed. Every scene is relevant and is shown at the right moment. Sequences follow each other with grace and fluidity, which benefits the pace. The first act of the film could have dragged horribly but it did not. While many factors played into this, the editing helped a great deal. Scenes are placed where they work best, which results in a film with many slow moments that move very fast.

But how about the big question: how is the titular fight? Well, the action overall is extremely impressive. The opening action scene is very well choreographed and edited, and although there was shaky-cam during the opening scene, the focus was kept in the center of frame, which allowed the audience to follow the action. The opening sequence was so good that I found it hard to believe that any fight following it would be able to top it. I was wrong. There is a great chase sequence that ends the first act and it is incredibly thrilling. But the major takeaways are the two fights near the end. The 17-18 minute action sequence amongst all the heroes at the airport is not only the best action in the MCU, but one of the best action scenes in cinema history. It is endlessly enthralling, filled with creative and clear cinematography and perfectly written dialogue. You will be kept on the edge of your seat, gripping your arm rest with adrenaline and your eyes glued to the screen to a hypnotizing degree. Every character has a moment to shine and the fight alone is worth the price of admission. I cannot stress enough how satisfying that battle is.

*SPOILERS AHEAD* The airport action sequence has many surprises that need to be experienced on the big screen, but I will elaborate on a few here. One of the most memorable moments is when Ant-Man turns big. In the comics, he was also able to do this. Personally, before seeing this film, I was hoping Marvel Studios would not incorporate this power with Ant-Man. But seeing how it was done here, and how Lang can only hold the form for a limited amount of time, I am actually glad they went for it. It is a crowd pleasing moment and allows for a great Star Wars reference. Another great thing about the sequence that we get to see Spider-Man in action. The camera weaves its way around him much like a fly. It is quick and it circles about Spider-Man, making him the center of attention. The quips that were written for the character are suitably cheesy and faithful to the character. This Spider-Man has left such a good impression and I hope Spider-Man: Homecoming will be able to live up to the hype.

*SPOILERS AHEAD* Now about how the fight ends. We watch as a helpless War Machine falls to the ground from a great height. We quickly learn that he survives but at the end of the film we see that his legs are paralyzed. There is a good scene between him and Tony that highlights their friendship. Does this mean we will no longer have War Machine? I think the suit will give him the ability to move, but he will have to rely on Tony's tech to walk outside of the suit. Either way, this was an interesting and bold move from the filmmakers that shows the battle did have some negative effects on those who fought.

*SPOILER FREE* The fight between Captain America and Iron Man, as well as Bucky, is just as well done. The punches feel heavy and real, it is appropriately brutal, and the emotion behind it is in full force. The frozen base makes for a great backdrop for the physical and emotional battle occurring. The witty and comedic dialogue from previous fights is thankfully absent, as it would have taken away from the emotional stakes. It is at this point that you do not know whom you want to win the fight. There is also a great moment that mirrors a scene from Captain America: The First Avenger, but with a bit of a twist.

*SPOILERS AHEAD* The scene I am referring to is when Steve is getting beat up in the alley but Bucky comes to save him. In this film, Steve is getting beat up by Tony, but Bucky is lying on the ground, unable to help him. The camera set-up is quite similar and shows how far Steve has come since the first film. Speaking of twists, I have to bring up the game-changer that leads to the final fight between our beloved heroes. We find out that Bucky, during his brainwashed years, killed Tony's parents. It is a plot twist that is hidden in plain sight, and even if you figure it out early, you will not see the second twist coming. Of that I am sure. The fact that Captain America knew about this redefines the character in several ways. He is not the honest man we believed him to be. He feels he did the right thing by not telling Tony, but owns up to his mistake by the end. This depicts him as flawed as the rest of us, even though he is the best of us. This causes Tony to lash out in uncontrollable rage, which gives us our final fight.

*SPOILERS AHEAD* The film ends in an interesting way. Tony claims that the shield does not belong to Captain America because Tony's father made it. Captain America seems to agree and drops the shield. He then breaks out his friends from The Raft and offers Tony assistance if he should ever need it. My question is how Captain America will get by without his iconic shield. And having two separate teams that oppose each other protecting the world is an interesting dynamic to explore. The ending encourages thought and speculation, and improves with every viewing.

*SPOILER FREE* The music is a triumphant achievement. Henry Jackman does a terrific job incorporating many themes and making quite a number of memorable tracks. They accompany the film wonderfully and underscore the action and the drama masterfully. The visual effects are top notch, with nothing looking overly CGI or fake. The costumes all look marvelous, particularly those of Iron Man, War Machine, Vision, Black Panther, Spider-Man, and Ant-Man.

The Russo brothers, who previously directed The Winter Soldier, also directed this film. While many were singing praises when they were announced to be directing Infinity War, I was a bit skeptical. I really liked The Winter Soldier, but I did not love it like most, so I had my doubts. But after watching Civil War, I am confident in their directing capabilities. These two are comic book fans and know what they are doing. They know how to film action as well as deliver an engaging story. Their love for the genre is apparent and I believe the next Avengers films are in good hands.

Captain America: Civil War completely blew me away. I expected to really enjoy the film, but not this much. The characters are lovable and written by people who understand them entirely. The script is impeccable, making room for action, drama, thrills, and comedy with ease (this film is unexpectedly hilarious). The cast is solid all around, without a single weak link. The action is spectacular across the board, with the final two battles being the standouts. While this is a damn entertaining and fun picture, the drama and emotion are just as powerfully represented, which makes for an emotional journey that will have you fully invested in what is happening. The direction is some of the best in the franchise and expertly helmed.  The film is technically proficient and gets better with repeat viewings. I have nothing but positive things to say about this movie. Captain America: Civil War is not only my new favorite MCU film, and it is not only the best MCU film, but I would rank it in the top three comic book films of all time, right beside X-Men: Days of Future Past and The Dark Knight. It is everything you could want and more. Do yourself a favor and watch this movie. I can guarantee that you will not regret it.

Grade: A+