The superhero fatigue was starting to hit me hard. I’ve fallen off the DCTV train with the latest seasons of those fairly decent CW shows, Batman V Superman was not as good as I was hoping it would be, and Daredevil Season 2 was just kind of okay after closer examination of the series. So, when I went to go in to see Civil War I expected the worse. The movie had done nothing wrong, in terms of marketing, for me to warrant this expectation. But, after Batman V Superman, I was left wondering if ensemble hero films were still a good idea.
Avengers 2 was particularly bad at introducing new characters in a way that made sense for the plot of the film, and I expected that to occur with Black Panther and Spider-Man in Civil War. I went it expecting this film to be a disappointing sequel to the Winter Soldier, which is my favorite movie Marvel has made (surpassing Guardians to this day). I’m glad my expectation of a terrible movie were proven wrong by seeing what should have been Avengers 2 from the beginning.
Civil War might easily be one of the better films Marvel has made. Now don’t go in expecting an instant classic in the way Winter Soldier was””tapping into a number of modern-day political issues in a metaphorical sense””but rather just go in expecting to have a good time. There are a number of stupid instances in the film that even the film directors acknowledge the ridiculousness of, which the actors portray perfectly, as well. The first Team Cap Vs Team Iron Man fight is the one I’m talking about (you’ll know it when you see it).
However, you’ll also witness a deep character drama about the human heart in conflict with itself. You’ll be watching a film about two friends being driven apart by different ideologies about what the Avengers organizations place in the world means, and the meaning of the friendship in the first place. The problem with both of their sides is that they’re both right. Both of they’re fighting for is the correct answer to a problem that certainly exist. I went in siding against oversight and halfway through the movie I found myself understanding where those who would want it are coming from. It’s interesting too. There’s a moment in the movie where the two almost reach a compromise, but it’s driven into the ground by an unfortunate event. Said event is what drives Tony and Steve apart, and what brings in our new allies.
Black Panther and Spider-Man are introduced in this film. First and foremost: Black Panther is a badass and his role in the film is crucial. Chadwick Boseman portrays the African Monarch as a vengeful warrior throughout the entire movie, and you also get the sense there’s a sense of nobility to the man. Most of this movie features Black Panther in a sense and he never seems forced into the fold. Then there’s Spider-Man who’s given a reason for being in the film, but his reason for being involved is nothing crucial compared to the Black Panther.
Tom Holland does a great job as Peter Parker and he adds great comedic relief during a rough moment in the film, but there’s not a particular reason for him being there other than Stark needing more bodies. Also, the hesitant father role Tony Stark takes to Peter Parker is great. The two really meld well together in a way I’m sure comic book readers will appreciate. It’s nice to hear that RDJ is going to take a major role in Spider-Man: Homecoming. I can see a number of comedic instances happening between Aunt May and Tony Stark.
If you were on the fence with superhero movies like I was, you can wait until the crowd dies down for Civil War, but you should definitely go see it. I’m probably going to end up seeing it twice anyhow. So, yeah, go check it out.
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