CAPTAIN AMERICA CIVIL WAR Review
At two-and-a-half hours, Civil War packs in a lot. At this point, the Marvel films feel like the most expensive TV series of all time, with each movie written as just another continuing episode. The classic Syd Field screenplay structure doesn’t come close to applying. But that’s okay! Because it works! On many, many levels!
The strength of the brand is treating these characters like humans with conflicting emotional and political viewpoints. There’s humor, there’s pathos, tragedy, and heart. When it comes down to it, the film’s about two increasingly sheltered guys doing what they both feel is right for the greater good. The film’s genius is neither one’s wrong: dialogue breaks down, moral compromises ensue, betrayals loom and Civil War becomes a very mature story about guys in spandex hitting one another physically and emotionally.
I have to be truthful. After Batman v Superman, I felt the first real effects of superhero fatigue (“What the actual fuck?!” screams 15-year old me). Civil War countered that reaction. It’s very odd, Dawn of Justice has themes and ideas extremely similar to Civil War (heroism vs vigilantism, superheroes, and political responsibility). It just forgot we should care about these characters as people first before pitting them against one another. Comparing both, BvS feels like a carnival gimmick (“step right up and see two icons finally duke it out!”). Civil War felt like the culmination of eight years of organic storytelling reaching its next stage of change. Crazy.
Anyway, you also get to see a good version of Spider-Man again. And his hot aunt.
