Back in 2008, Marvel Studios released two movies, which were their first in-house film projects. The first Iron Man was a surprise success that was bolstered by an instantly iconic performance from Robert Downey Jr., while The Incredible Hulk was only a moderate hit that never ended up receiving a sequel. Although it was established that these two films existed in the same reality, the idea of developing a cinematic universe had not been attempted for almost seventy years, with the first one being the crossovers featured in the classic Universal Monsters series. Despite Marvel's early success, no one really had any idea if the “Marvel Cinematic Universe”, as it was called, was going to end up being more than a failed experiment. Eight years later, not only has the MCU become a successful franchise, it's the premiere entertainment enterprise of the modern cinematic age.
Regardless of any issues that certain fans may have with individual films or creative decisions, there is no denying the staying power of the Marvel movies, and how they have irreversibly changed the film industry. We now live in a time where developing a continuing storyline not just within one trilogy, but between interwoven narrative arcs across multiple franchises that coalesce into a greater whole is a feasible concept, and where top shelf actors are hired for film contracts that can go up to nine instalments. Kevin Feige spoke the truth when he said that a greater ensemble of characters, actors and stories has never been assembled in film history, and the sheer volume of material that Marvel Studios can deliver without slowing down is perhaps their greatest strength.
The reason I am bringing all of this up is because Captain America: Civil War is a movie that proves that not only does the MCU work, but that a story like this could not have been told without the exponential increase in narrative output that Marvel has created. This is the thirteenth film in the franchise, and it truly does feel like it, because many of the characters involved are people who the audience has gotten the chance to know and love over multiple years. The Avengers have been established, were brought together by the threat of a god from another dimension, went their separate ways, were forced to deconstruct their worldviews by a megalomaniacal artificial intelligence, and now, their relationships to each other are being tested by the greatest crisis they've ever faced. Without seeing the journeys for all of these characters over so many films, much of the emotional impact of Civil War would have been lost, and the film's story is a testament to the narrative power of the MCU.
The film opens a while after Avengers: Age of Ultron, with Captain America leading the New Avengers as they hunt down Crossbones, who has been embarking on a terrorism spree. The hunt for the supervillain leads them to Lagos, Nigeria, but the battle goes south when over a dozen civilians are killed. This proves to be the last straw for many of the governments of the world, who have witnessed civilians die in the Battle of New York, the fall of SHIELD in Washington, D.C., and the Battle of Sokovia. 117 countries draw up the Sokovia Accords, which would make the Avengers sanctioned agents of the United Nations who would only be allowed to use their powers when given approval from a committee. Driven by guilt because of his role in creating Ultron, Tony Stark approves of the decision, while Steve stands against it, with the rest of the Avengers choosing sides. Matters are complicated by the arrival of the Wakandan prince known as Black Panther, the return of the Winter Soldier, and the master plan of an enigmatic enemy named Zemo, who may just be the most devastating threat the Avengers have ever faced.
Make no mistake, there is a lot going on in Captain America: Civil War. There are more major characters in play here than in Age of Ultron, but the film is also clearly a Captain America story, and not an Avengers one. The Avengers are present, and they have important roles to play, but the focus is almost always on Steve's journey, and the way that he reacts to the events that are transpiring around him. His relationships with Bucky and Sharon Carter receive more development this time around, and the interactions he has had with his fellow Avengers in the past informs much of the character work in this film. Not surprisingly, the most critical relationship is the one between Steve Rogers and Tony Stark, which is one of real tragedy and fallen friendship. These are not enemies who are trying to kill each other, but rather comrades forged in the fire of battle who are forced into a situation where neither one wants to hurt the other, but neither can they back down. This emotional core drives the entire conflict of the story, and makes this possibly the most personal narrative in the franchise.
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The film's ability to balance so many characters at once is a testament to the strength of the script, which deftly manages to move the story along at a brisk pace while also giving almost every character a small emotional arc. If this is the type of writing and direction that can be expected of the Russo Brothers when they handle films with large ensembles, then Infinity War is truly in the best of hands. Of course, the directors are helped by the incredibly talented cast, with nearly everyone at the very top of their game. Chris Evans is still the embodiment of Steve Rogers, and Robert Downey Jr. manages to bring genuine pain to his portrayal of Tony Stark, who has evolved a great deal from the frivolous billionaire playboy that he was in the first Iron Man. The rest of the Avengers also fill out their roles quite well (with Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch being particularly strong), with each and every one getting a moment to shine.
There are also multiple new players, and they're all winners. Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther brings a persona of regal responsibility but also cynical rage, creating a character who will likely be very much a fan-favourite as the franchise moves forward. Tom Holland as Spider-Man is simply perfect. It is a modern miracle that, with less than twenty minutes of screentime, Holland has become the best live-action interpretation of Spider-Man we have ever seen. Daniel Bruhl is excellent as Zemo, who is a very unexpected but also very effective villain who enhances the tension between Steve and Tony in a smart way. He has a sense of understated malice and a very personal stake in the conflict, and it will likely take multiple viewings to fully appreciate the complexity of the minimalist villain that Bruhl has created. All three are definite highlights, and I can't wait to see them all return in the future.
As expected, there are quite a few action sequences in Civil War, and they all manage to showcase the individual skills and powers of each character involved while also feeling like necessary parts of the narrative. The opening battle with Crossbones is brutal and bone-crunching, a highway chase involving Captain America, Black Panther and the Winter Soldier moves at terminal velocity, and the gargantuan battle between Team Cap and Team Iron Man at an airport is undoubtedly the single greatest action sequence ever put into a comic book film. However, the most emotionally affecting action scene is the final confrontation, and while I do not want to give away any details of what happens, it's the most powerful climax in the MCU because the scale is so small, but the personal stakes for the people involved are enormous.
Despite everything the film accomplishes, there are still a few minor issues. A certain character decision regarding Black Panther feels like a missed opportunity, a couple characters who didn't appear really should have, and the musical score doesn't leave much of an impression. None of that changes that Captain America: Civil War is the greatest achievement so far in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and while much of that is thanks to the people involved in making the film, the importance of all of the films leading up to it cannot be understated. A movie like this could simply not exist without the cinematic universe to support it, and there is no doubt that the plot developments here will have dire ramifications on that universe going forward.
If this is the level of quality we can expect from the rest of Phase Three, then we're in for one hell of a ride.
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