Eight years in, the
Marvel Cinematic Universe is firing on all cylinders. From all the way back in
2008 with Iron Man until now, the audience has been around these characters to
see them grow and evolve into well rounded emotional characters. To see them
come to this point is heartbreaking and the film benefits greatly from
utilizing this attachment the audience has.
The Avengers
involvement in world affairs has drawn political pressure to install a system
of accountability. The new laws divide the team down the middle. Captain
America (Chris Evans) believes that the safest hands are the heroes own,
without any interference. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) stands on the other side
and supports oversight of some form. As the debate escalates, the other heroes
are forced to choose a side.
If anything can be
said about Marvel Studios it’s that their casting is impeccable. Chris Evans is
Captain America. Robert Downey Jr. is Iron Man. And so and so forth all the way
down the list. The relationship that Evans and Downey share in this film feels
real and it’s heartbreaking to see them torn apart. Sebastian Stan, as the
Winter Soldier, is able to showcase his abilities more throughout this film.
Bringing a vulnerability to the role, Stan really draws sympathy from his
performance as the lost man that Bucky Barnes has become.
Although the three
above get the most to do, there isn’t a weak link among the cast. All the returning Avengers are fantastic with
Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch and Paul Bettany as Vision receiving a little
more fleshing out from their first appearances in last year’s Age of Ultron. The villain of the film, Helmut Zemo played
by Daniel Brühl, is among the better villains the MCU has featured. He is cold
and calculating without being over the top or mustache twirling in any way.
The two standouts
everyone will be talking about will be the newcomers. Chadwick Boseman’s Black
Panther may be the most interesting character the MCU has had in a while and
the film does nothing but build excitement for his solo endeavor in 2018. And
then there is Spider-Man played by Tom Holland. The third incarnation of
Spider-Man this century finally got both aspects right. Holland is not only a
great Spider-Man but serves as a good Peter Parker as well. It’ll be
interesting to see what he is capable of in his own film in 2017.
The real heroes of
Captain America: Civil War aren’t even in front of the camera. The directing team
of Anthony and Joe Russo has now produced two of the greatest superhero films
of all time. They understand these characters and how to blend action and story
for a cohesive and entertaining time at the theater. And while they deserve a
lot of the credit, there is also the writing team of Christopher Markus and
Stephen McFeely. The two have worked on all three Captain America films and
have such a huge hand in making the trilogy the heart of the MCU.
Overall Captain
America: Civil War is the best of the best. Everything works together to create
a near perfect film with emotional weight and drama. It’s a perfect sequel to Captain America: The Winter Soldier as
well as Avengers: Age of Ultron,
while also starting Phase Three off with a bang. The cast is tremendous and the
writing, while the story could be better, is off the charts with dialogue and
characterization. The film builds anticipation like nothing else has, setting
excitement for solo films, Black Panther and
Spider-Man: Homecoming, and future
Avengers installments, in the hands of the Russos, while telling it’s own
story. The MCU just recently turned eight years old but it’s clear it’s only
just getting started. (9.5/10)
So what did you think of Captain America: Civil War? Have you seen it, and where does it rank among superhero films for you? Subscribe, share, comment below, and don't forget to return to I Am Sam for weekly reviews and insight.
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