I fully intended the first review to be the Blade Runner final cut, as I finally got around to watching the gorgeous blu-ray version, sans voice over. But alas, it will have to wait, for this week brought us a miracle of cinema. The best comic book movie yet made, Captain America: Civil War. Perhaps it is not the best film made from a comic book property,(see The Dark Knight) nor the most interesting film made from a comic book property,(see Batman Vs. Superman) but it is the purest example of a comic book put to film. This film embodies what it feels like to actually read a comic book, better than any film prior. The Russo brothers are to be commended for accomplishing such a feat. It is indeed, no easy task, as countless others have tried, including themselves, and countless others have failed. Although perhaps all others who have braved these particular waters prior were stymied by loftier goals.
Nevertheless, what I witnessed in that theater was breathtaking, exciting, heartfelt and hilarious. Nothing feels out of place, nothing feels at odds with the promise of the film, and of the pulp comics whose pages these heroes have been ripped from. From the opening action sequence, to the second and final stinger at the end with the words, Spider-Man will return following the scene, this movie knows exactly what it is, and who it is playing for. Though it feels familiar to every fan who grew up flipping the pages of a Cap comic, its success and broader appeal is owed to its accessibility to a broader audience.
This is a fun film. It is meant to be a good time for as many people as possible. That is a difficult prospect, when saddled with the hurdle of some 10 heroes, and a complex and twisting plot, weaving in new characters, bouncing from origin story to origin story, laying the foundation for the next phase of Marvel films, alluding to past Marvel films, dropping in a few easter eggs for hardcore fans, and giving proper screentime to each character, providing each a satisfying and believable arc, including a villain who ties up the third act with a nice colorful bow. This film is stuffed. But stuffed in a good way. Like a kid after Christmas dinner and dessert, and a stocking full of candy, arms full of toys. It’s too much of a good thing, and that’s a good thing.
There is no less than 10 action beats that I for one have never seen in any film, digitally enhanced or not, and being this is my first review for the site, you’ll have to take my word for it that I’ve seen quite a few action beats. All this is not to say the film is perfect, but in a world where this film can exist right alongside something more ambitious in terms of narrative choices like Batman vs. Superman, what does perfect even mean? Perfect for whom? Do some of the older Avengers get short shrift due to extra attention paid to the newer additions? Absolutely. Does the film suffer for it? I’d argue not. Is this truly a Captain America film? It certainly begins with Iron Man, but many films begin with the antagonist, even a pseudo-antagonist like Tony Stark.
Somehow the film juggles a timely plot about the powers that a unilateral organization like the Avengers, or America, with the ability to wipe out any enemy, perceived or otherwise, without oversight from anyone, anywhere. Should an organization or an organism exercise this power just because it can? That seems to be Captain’s position. Or should that organization give up some of this power in order to limit the civilian casualties, the collateral damage in the fog of war, in order to police the world in a safer more transparent way? That’s Iron Man’s position. The villain is a terrorist, the personification of blowback from an Avenger mission that killed innocent people, including children. How many hospitals have been destroyed by American missiles containing Doctors without borders in the past year?
This is how villains are created, how terrorists are created, it’s not always a power hungry madman that needs to be stopped, sometimes it’s just a grieving father and husband with the heart for revenge. And is he not right? Should there be no justice for his dead family. A family killed at the very least because of the actions of the Avengers? Cap says some innocents have to die so that many more may live. These are some of the messy politics that the film plays with, that are believable and timely while also a backdrop to amazing action and beautiful choreography and cinematography. It is a candy colored feat to behold when the avengers meet up for a sparring session in an airport. An action set piece that is worth the price of admission alone, and serves as an all time moment in the history of the field.
Even the relationships have begun to twist and turn on each other, as the Winter Soldier’s actions while under Hydra’s spell becomes a plot turn that further antagonizes Tony Stark and complicates the relationship between he and Cap. The climax of the film is set up to be yet another big action showdown, but is only a red herring as the true climax, refreshingly, is an emotional climax, backed up by an awesome fight sequence, but the core of the resolution is an emotional core. A resolution that ends with Black Panther hugging our terrorist villain to keep him from killing himself. Finally a marvel film gets the third act right. 13th time’s the charm.
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