Captain America: Civil War

Captain America: Civil War is the latest entry into the Marvel cinematic universe. It picks up after the events of both the previous Captain America films and Avengers: Age of Ultron. In the wake of destruction left by events of any Marvel moment when someone throws a superheroic punch, the Avengers are being held accountable for their actions and are asked to sign a U.N backed accord. Iron Man agrees and becomes the figurehead of the new act, Captain America doesn’t and the heroes from previous films, plus new additions Black Panther and Spider-Man, choose sides.

What do you expect from a Marvel film?

Whatever you answer with, guaranteed, this movie has it. Marvel has got its formula for pleasing all audiences 100% right by now. They’re the new Pixar. They can do no wrong.

The action set piece in the center of the film is more satisfying than anything in the whole two hours and 21 minutes of Age of Ultron. This is THE definitive example of the spectacle you sign up for when you pay to see these films.

The performances from the entire cast exceed excellently. There needs to be a new term to replace “scene-stealer” because this film goes beyond that.

You will admire Paul Bettany’s portrayal of Vision trying to understand his humanity.

The internal conflict you will feel when deciding who to side with will tear you apart.

You will go back and watch Ant-Man again after this and love it more than you did before.

You will look (even more) forward to the coming Spider-Man film and will wonder why you ever questioned plans for a Black Panther movie.

You’ll even watch Hawkeye and wonder where the hell THIS was in both Avengers films and why he hasn’t had his own film yet.

It’s not riddled with faults. There are no questionable editing decisions or cheesy sound choices. It doesn’t suffer from bad writing or confusing cinematography. It’s clean. It’s polished… And when your excitement dies down. When you leave the cinema, get back in your car and stop gushing about it with your friends or online for five minutes you’ll realize this movie is just “process” now. There’s no real ultimate consequence…

I mean… There is implied consequence… (Cant…go… into detail…trying…not… to spoil). But it lacks change.

It’s just another of the now numberless moving parts of the mighty Marvel movie money-making machine.

Civil War, The comic that this movie gets its title and basic framework from on the other hand. That was a game changer.

There WERE consequences.

The story world landscape was changed for a long time afterward.

There’s a reason it’s widely considered in the world of fandom as the greatest Marvel universe story of the last thirty years.

Civil War the comic follows the same major plot as its film version. After a disastrous, destructive event… the heroes of the Marvel universe are asked to register their powers and identities with the government. Heroes (and villains) choose sides.

Villains (and heroes) switch sides.

People die. (No…NO!!! no spoilers…NO SPOILERS DAMN IT!)

The art was incredible… clear, detailed, emotional… The writing had gravity and rang surprisingly true for something based in such a fantastical world. It was born out the events of 9/11, it placed a real problem into a fictional world and asked how heroes define themselves, where their conscience lies in the face of a world that has never been further from black and white. It treated its themes with dignity, with respect and honesty that most people wouldn’t expect from the four colour medium of comics, but by now probably should.

Captain America: Civil War is a well-made meal.

You’ll eat it, even if you weren’t hungry, even if you didn’t NEED it… You’ll eat it all up. But you won’t be dying for another serve afterward.

You’ll just feel like… “I’m full now. What else is there to do?”