THE ANTICIPATION
(skip down to THE GOOD for the beginning of the review)
Trouble seems a likely prospect for Cap 3 as the film is featuring an unprecedented number of characters in a story that pits hero against hero. So far this year audiences have had mixed feelings about their heroes fighting each other and not the badguys. This is also Captain America's third film, a trilogy capper. But Robert Downey Jr is costarring in the film as IRON MAN. Given Downey's previous film portrayals as Tony Stark there is a distinct possibility that Iron Man will hijack the film and Cap 3 will either be Iron Man 4 or Avengers 2.5. Again, this film's prospects seem equal in that it could succeed beyond our wildest dreams or plummet southbound fast.
Captain America may not be the most beloved of Marvel's super heroes and Civil War may not be the most anticipated of Marvel's upcoming films. But Captain America: Civil War will be the most telling of Marvel's upcoming films for what we can expect from AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, the duo of films that will be ending Marvel's first Phase Trilogy, the culmination of eleven years of filmmaking and a saga spanning 23 films. What does Civil War have to do with Avengers: Infinity War?
Basically Civil War is a scaled down version of what Infinity War will likely be. Both films will be overloaded with characters and directed by Joe and Anthony Russo. The Russo Brothers directed CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER and the film was met with outstanding reviews and financial success, many reviews claiming Winter Soldier to be Marvel's finest film to date. Afterwards, in the wake of Joss Whedon's departure, the pair of directors were given the daunting task of helming perhaps the most important film in Marvel's movie line-up, Avengers: Infinity War. Simply put: If the Russo Brothers can pull off Civil War, producing a film of equal or near equal or greater quality than The Winter Solder, logic dictates that Infinity War should be great.
THE PLOT
The Avengers are torn between doing their job and coming to terms with the innocent lives lost as a result of the ever growing conflicts arising since the alien attack in New York. The governments of the world are demanding the Avengers and all super powered people answer to a higher authority. Tony Stark, guilt ridden after having created Ultron, agrees to place the Avengers under United Nations authority. Captain America views this as another way of shifting the blame and potential for even more problems in the future. The Avengers split into two factions once news breaks of a bombing at the UN naming the Winter Soldier responsible. Cap knows Bucky is innocent but Iron Man's order are to bring Bucky in dead or alive.
THE GOOD
(Spoiler Free)
Cap, Iron Man, Bucky, Scarlet Witch, Ant-Man, Black Panther, Hawkeye, Spider-Man, and on and on. Almost every character in this movie is executed very well, given their moments to shine, with show stealing scenes. This is the largest number of comic book characters ever assembled in one film, a film barely over two hours long (a relative short amount of time). How this movie juggles so many characters, giving just about all of them their due, while introducing new characters, is a miracle.
Truthfully there is so much in this movie that multiple viewings are essential to absorb it all but never does this film feel out of control. If anything, this movie doesn't give us enough. Marvel Studios has never released an extended edition or director's cut of any of their films. I absolutely want an extended cut of Civil War just so I can see more of these characters that the movie executes so very well.
From the initial trailer for the film we learn that Bucky is the focal point of the film. That is true. Cap and Iron Man both see Bucky from two different points of view. These view points extend to the overall broad questions drawn in the film: Should humanity be aloud to brandish deadly weapons under each individual's own judgement or should the usage of weapons be under the authority of a higher power? The film approaches this conundrum from a grounded, personal point of view. It feels real and it feels believable.
THE BAD
The Vision... or lack their of... not the vision for the film, but the character The Vision. When Paul Bettany is on screen he's wonderful. In fact everything with Vision is great. It's when Vision isn't there that there's a problem. Vision is one of the two most powerful characters in the movie, Scarlet Witch being the other (whom I love). When the major throwdown happens the first thing to be established should be what to the two biggest power players are doing. Vision could take out everybody on the playing field by himself except for Scarlet Witch. Those two going head to head should have been the beginning of the fight. With those two in a deadlock, that's when the others fighting each one another decides the outcome.
It's like Fandral said in Thor: The Dark World, "We should start with the big one." You always send in Thor or Hulk first. If they fail (you know you're in trouble) then you send in the little guys (little by comparison). I'm probably making a big deal about something small and some might say I'm nitpicking. But seriously, where was he? I know he was there. What was he doing? He's gone for nearly all of the fight. It's the same as having Hulk or Thor there and asking, "So why is this battle taking so long? Why isn't everybody knocked out already?"
What the directors did with the Airport Battle sequence is truly remarkable but there is a major plot hole that effectively neuters it in my opinion. That plot hole's name is The Vision. It would've been an easy subject to handle too, that's what's so irritating about it. All you would need is to open the fight with Vision and Scarlet Witch squaring off with everybody watching in dread and awe. When the two fall into a stalemate then Cap and Iron Man can take the rest of the teams and go head to head. The Airport Battle is the main action set piece of the film. This is the only aspect of it that keeps me from buying into it all.
THE VERDICT
I need to see the film again as I've only seen it once but upon my initial viewing I did not have the utter joy I felt when watching Iron Man, Avengers, Thor: The Dark World, or Winter Soldier. There is so much about this movie that was done well, really well. It is a true testament to the capability of the Russo Brothers. And maybe I missed it. Maybe they explain what Vision is occupied with during most of the Airport Battle. I'll say it again that I need to watch it once more. I want to watch it again and that is a testament to how good this movie really is. Otherwise I feel this is the next best Iron Man RDJ has done since Iron Man 1. All the actors do some of their best work. I like this movie but I wanted to like it so much more. The plot hole in the airport battle is what I keep coming back to.
**UPDATE**
All right, I've have now seen Captain America: Civil War a total of three times in theaters. I am happy to report that this movie gets better and better every time I see it. Everything is accounted for save for Nick Fury and Maria Hill (not even a mention of them at all). Aside from that the directors have crossed all the T's and dotted all the i's.
In regards to my major qualm, that of Vision's lack of participation in the airport battle sequence, they still don't fully explain why he hangs back during the majority of the fight. After talking with many others who have seen the film I have realized I am one of the few who have a problem with this. Most seem to have inferred from Vision's earlier dialog, that of conflict causes catastrophe, as the reason why he doesn't fight as much. That and possibly being afraid of the Infinity Gem in his forehead, possibly being afraid of his own power, possibly being distracted by Wanda the whole time, and not wanting to really hurt his friends. Others believe he is purposefully holding back for the reasons above and so I have come over to this belief as well.
One can theorize why he doesn't majorly take part in the fighting and have it make sense but the film still doesn't come out and tell you why. Call it a flaw, call it an oversight (wasn't "oversight" the impetus for the plot?) or whatever. Maybe I'm simply too dense to pick up what was clear to everybody else (it's very possible). That aside, upon watching the movie more and more it becomes strikingly apparent how masterfully balanced and intricate the plot and characters are. It is literally and figuratively a Marvel of super hero filmmaking. Thus it earns another point up the scale and it is easily the best film I've seen all year in a theater.
**UPDATE**
Overall Ranking: 8 out of 10
**updated after two more viewings**
For more of the Marvel Cinematic Universe check out these other posts reviewing MCU movies and television...
Jessica Jones Season One
Also check out what's coming with Marvel Studios full schedule for Phase Three
Also check out what's coming with Marvel Studios full schedule for Phase Three
****UPDATED****
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