The time has come. Today we officially embark on the 2016 Summer of Blockbusters, and it wouldn’t be right to start it with anything but another chapter in the incredible modern Marvel saga. On your mark, get set, let’s do this thing.
If it had nothing else going for it (and it most definitely does), “Captain America: Civil War” can claim victory (so far) in the great battle of superhero v superhero films of 2016 (because that is totally a thing). It is inarguably leaps and bounds ahead of Batman v Superman.
Turns out when you give your heroes fully informed motivations and the capacity to make logical decisions, the result can be a civil, witty, and entertaining brawl.
In fact the stakes in this film may sound vaguely familiar…tell me if you’ve heard this one: the honeymoon phase has ended for society and our heroes as civilians are starting to notice and question their heroes’ unchecked power and the collateral damage (however unintentional) that has left in their wake.
As Peter Parker’s (who’s in this movie too!) ill-fated uncle said, “With great power comes great responsibility.” And the central question of the Cap’s latest adventures (that really felt more like the Avengers or Iron Man’s adventures, but I’m getting ahead of myself) is should they be checked.
Against all odds (there are seriously a lot of superheroes happening) the plot never gets overly complicated. Although I suspect that anyone who hasn’t seen all of the Marvel films and television shows that led to this moment might feel differently.
As I alluded to earlier, this really felt like another Avengers film, Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) was there, Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), and Vision (Paul Bettany). We meet the new Spider-Man (Tom Holland) and Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman). Oh and Captain America (Chris Evans) and his formerly trusty sidekick Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan). It’s a veritable superhero cornucopia, and I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. It’s an incredibly entertaining movie. I highly recommend it, however as the next chapter in the Captain America story it feels a little flat. (Although I admit, any Captain America movie without Agent Carter actually in it is going to be lacking in my mind.)
Against all odds (there are seriously a lot of superheroes happening) the plot never gets overly complicated. Although I suspect that anyone who hasn’t seen all of the Marvel films and television shows that led to this moment might feel differently.
…bi-daily smile…
