Avengers disassemble
This review contains minor spoilers.
Capitalising on eight years of shared universe filmmaking, Captain America: Civil War successfully crafts a politically driven action blockbuster which tugs at the heartstrings while satisfying your need for a crazy, over the top superhero battles — but your enjoyment may hinge wholly on your investment in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Civil War takes place after the events of The Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, where the government seeks to enforce a government legislation to restrict the freedoms of superheroes following the disasters of New York, Washington and Sokovia. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) supports the move while Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) opposes it, which eventually escalates into a large scale battle of political ideals. Things are made more complex when Bucky (Sebastian Stan), The Winter Soldier, holds personal conflict for Cap, and is blamed for a terrorist attack.
Steve continues his reign as one of the most likeable and enjoyable heroes in the MCU, who stands by his ideals and what he believes is right. His dedication to his friend Bucky is the chink in his perfect armour, and the bond between the two provides us a relatable and personal ground for audiences to invest in the characters even further (especially since here, The Winter Soldier undergoes his “redemption” arc). Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) gain more character development in Civil War than their introductory Avengers flick, forming an enjoyable mutual bond over the magnitude of power they possess.
New to this entry are Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther, an integral part of this story, fuelled by revenge over the loss of his father. Tom Holland’s new version of Spider-Man also appears thanks to an agreement with Sony Pictures, allowing the character to be shared between the two studios. Both characters are executed fantastically and are a joy to watch, arguably to the point of being the highlights of the movie. Black Panther has a powerful presence on screen with his vibranium woven suit and incredible agility, while Spider-Man provides a humourous balance for Team Iron Man with a character personality lifted directly from his comic roots.
Civil War balances most of the character’s screen time very effectively and demonstrates fantastic possibilities for the new Russo directed Avengers films. Almost every hero is given plausible motivation for the team they choose to side with, and each side is given fair balance to keep the conflict unbiased. It’s very possible for you to walk into Civil War on Team Cap, and leave with your friends debating which side was really right all along. Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) gets the short end of the stick again here unfortunately, seemingly popping up out of nowhere with no real motivation to do so since he went into retirement to be with his family. Ant-Man also has little motivation to participate, but his appearance and introduction to the plot fit so well with the comedic character you can’t help but enjoy him regardless.
When the tension accumulates into the much advertised airport showdown, we’re treated to one of the best action scenes in recent memory. It’s a comic book fan’s wet dream to watch, with heroes mixing and matching who they fight, a conflict driven with purpose and fantastic choreography. Subtle differences in the way the characters fight and the way they match up helps keep the battle continually engaging, like a well balanced fighting game in a free for all match.
When the movie comes to its third act, plot threads are tied up neatly with a few twists here and there (alongside a major twist which is both slightly absurd and brilliant). A climactic and surprisingly emotional battle follows, which will get your heart racing until the action finally lets up and the dust settles. Never at any point does Civil War feel downtrodden or stuffed for a longer run time — editing is tight and the flick has great pacing, balancing high octane action with the political subtext at hand successfully. It should be noted that the outcome of all the fighting leaves little lasting consequences, aside from a few cuts, bruises, and strained friendships.
Civil War will likely be enjoyed at different levels by the amount of investment an audience member has with the Marvel Cinematic Universe itself. On a surface level, it’s a great action flick with an ensemble cast, boasting political subtext about the responsibilities and consequences of power. But on a deeper level, you’ll find a deeply personal conflict between beloved characters you’ve come to know over the years — which makes the conflict that much more engaging and powerful when these heroes come to blows.
Verdict
The Russo Brothers strike gold once again in Captain America: Civil War, using eight years of shared movie universe to create a fantastic superhero story. Great action scenes bolster a grounded political story with characters you’ve grown to love. It’s a story which pushes the entirety of the Marvel Cinematic Universe forward, despite it not leaving quite the lasting imprint it should. But some small niggles here and there can’t sway the fact this may be the strongest MCU movie yet, and a glimpse at what could be the groundwork for amazing Avengers films ahead.
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