Spoiler Free Captain America Civil War Movie Review by @eigotaku
April 29, 2016 5:54 pm | 1 Comment
Ratings System:
Toss it = Hated it
Taste it = Liked it
Tupperware = Loved it
SPOILER FREE REVIEW- Captain America- Civil War by @eigotaku
Balance.
My one major concern leading up to (and researching) Captain Ameria- Civil War, was wondering how the Russo brothers were going to spin an increasing number of character and narrative plates while presenting a cohesive, entertaining and impactful entry into the Marvel cinematic universe.
The balance of pulling from the source material, characters screen time or more fittingly, finding the middle ground due to this movie’s location in the universes chronology, combined with the precarious task of not only keeping up the emotional tempo from the personal punches thrown in The winter soldier, but delivering a knock out one-two with the introduction of the Black Panther and especially the implementation of Spider-Man, considering the missteps the character has gone through since 2007s threequel.
These concerns were further exemplified in recent times, considering the ‘mixed reception’ of 2015s Age of Ultron and the contempt for fellow ensemble confluence – DCs Batman vs Superman.
Structurally, thematically, emotionally, even historically, the odds were stacked against Captain America Civil War being anything from at best, a return to form, and at worst, damage limitation.
I walked out of the cinema speechless. Lost for words. While I desperately try to articulate and process everything I have just experienced, to say Civil War is Marvel’s Dark Knight is selling it short. It is its own conflicted and multi headed beast. And, in short, it is a masterpiece.
Obviously, dealing with conflict is at Civil War’s core, but I was not prepared for how intellegently, emotionally or how layered it would be scattered throughout its never dragging run time. Whether it’s Tony Starks personal guilt consuming him through his transition from playboy and deceived warmonger to philanthropist, or Cap’s almost unconditional loyalty to his long time friend-turned-brainwashed mercenary Bucky. Familiar with the source material or not, the liberties taken not only ground and focus the narrative, but further add emotional gravity to every characters involvement, regardless of individual motive or exposure.
After a brief catch up in Siberia, an incident involving an explosion in Lagos is the catalyst for the international referendum known as the Sokovia Accords, a bill ordering regulation and compliance from superheroes that have generated a negative public image and unanimously unified worried governments. To some they are saviours. To others, vigilantes. To Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross and the UN, the accord is necessary to establish a sense of global safety in the wake of reckless attempts at protection. This is predicated by a really emotional presentation by Stark which I don’t want to spoil, but his mantra of advocating the greater good establishes his stance, while Cap is still struggling with what happened at the end of The Winter Soldier. The resulting debates are dense, witty and harrowing in equal measure. The board room scene’s dialogue crackles with palpable tension and sharp comebacks.
Whether it is interpreted as an algorithm or expressed as diplomatic conflicts of interest, the accord, along with the whereabouts of Bucky, are the main driving force of the first third. The films globetrotting is reminiscent of Bond or Ethan Hunt, and the culminating set piece is just as thrilling, and more dynamic in terms of narrative than the winter soldier, due to the introduction and interplay between the three characters involved.
It’s time to recruit and take sides, and the trailers (if not the toy lines) have done a masterful job of tantalising the audience as to how the runway fight scene not only gets set up, but pans out without taking anything away from the full spectacle. Suffice to say everyone has their turn in the spot light- it is dynamic, funny, poignant and magnificent.
I can’t go on any further without at least mentioning Spider-Man and the Black Panther. The two could not be more different tonally but as two sides of the introductory coin, the two compliment each other perfectly. Chadwick Boseman presenting T’Challa’s regal, stern demeanour being the complete antithesis of Tom Hollands superb portrayal as the witty, wisecracking yet awkwardly teenage and enthusiastic web slinger. Some of the references and banter during the aforementioned runway scene and the meeting with stark are not only the highlights of the movie, but go toe to toe with anything in the Avengers or even Guardians of the Galaxy.
Saying that Frank Grillo’s Crossbones or Daniel Bruhl’s Zemo are the antagonists of the film is slightly missing the point, as well as going into a rabbit hole of spoilers. From the get go, you’re best going into this as cold as possible because in terms of the the ‘villain’ of the movie- the clash of ideologies between Cap and Stark both fighting for what they believe in, both torn by guilt, loyalty, and seeking vindication has more impact than any face off or show down.
Never has a blockbuster been so nuanced. Never has a super hero movie been more intimately and emotionally resonant. The many cogs, regardless of physical or emotional size, are equally important to this intricately woven and masterfully presented machine working with very relatable issues, while never being anything less than thoroughly entertaining.
Tupperware. All day.
Tags: captain america civil war
Categorised in: Movie Reviews
This post was written by Leftover Brian
Fantastic review. Echoes my sentiments about the film entirely.