CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016) Movie Review
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo
It has been 8 years since the Marvel Cinematic Universe was launched and everyone was so pleased with what they have achieved. Marvel manages to keep every title released coherent with the world or rather universe they are building, stories they are telling, characters they are presenting. And what they are doing is no joke, and the fans are thrilled with every film they release.
From Captain America: The First Avenger, to The Avengers, to Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Avengers: Age of Ultron, Steve Rogers’ story is about choices and the consequences it gives. All of those choices has lead to Captain America: Civil War, it is quite a remarkable feat for a series to have a variety of themes, quite different from one another.
It all comes down to this, every choices that ended a disaster and had caused lives of people all over the world, the consequences are upon the Avengers now. This is the thing about Civil War, it pushes its characters to have these motives that are clear and all of them are pressured by something they don’t want but the world needed to because of the threat the Avengers has been even if they’re intentions in saving the world is pure.
Captain America: Civil War is a very personal film. It cuts deep to anyone who loved these characters as they witnessed the friendship, the family that was built. This bond is formed because of the same intentions of saving the world from the ones normal human can. It is an emotional ride as the story rips the bond because of the conflicts that are presented to the team. But it all makes sense, why they need to choose sides. Because even if you’re not an avid follower of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Russo brothers made it sure that you won’t get left behind or that the movie can stand alone on its own. It’s just a more pleasurable experience knowing how these characters all came together.
Though there are too much storyline to consume, the motives of each characters are clear which makes the whole film effective in every way. From newcomers like Spider-Man and Black Panther, to the main characters like Captain America and Iron Man, all of the have motives, have a reason for their actions, their choices. This isn’t easy for the viewers but the end product is as remarkable as putting this film up.
The story is more serious than other Marvel films but its treatment is close to the Captain America series. But that won’t be an issue for those expecting a fun and action-packed events because the film has everything. The writers know these characters, they know that even with the events needed them to be serious, the film still shows why we love Tony Starks’ sarcasm, Ant-Man’s wit and the best Spider-Man we may have seen in the big screen.
The film wants us to choose sides, but while watching it, you can’t choose a side. The politics and the conflicts made these characters clash and it’s heartbreaking. It’s uneasy to see people fight for what they think is right because of things they don’t have the authority to. And it’s easy to root for Captain America because Iron Man is mostly a jerk but he has his reasons, it might not be the best for the team but all of the consequences their actions have done, he wanted to do it for all of them.
With Marvel, surprises will always be there. And even though Spider-Man may have already been in the trailer, the way the film introduced him and the amount of screen time he has is actually the biggest surprise of the film. Yes, the action set pieces the film has is as impressive as The Winter Soldier, The Russos definitely has a good taste in making the action sequences long but not tiring.
It’s an exciting yet emotional film, one that changes everything about Marvel Cinematic Universe when it ends. It’s far from everything Marvel has done, the complexity of its conflicts is within its characters not a new villain that just wants to rule the world.
Captain America: Civil War is Marvel’s answer to those who say they only make light and fun films. It’s their ultimate plan being made into something they wanted, having these beloved characters be something more than just superheroes, that they have conscience, and their actions may not result to something the world hopes for, they know it and they live with the consequences of it.
4.5 OUT OF 5 STARS
“Captain America: Civil War” opens April 27, 2016 in Philippine cinemas nationwide. Available in 2D, 3D, Dolby Atmos 2D/3D, 4D and IMAX 3D. Rated PG by the MTRCB.