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MCU Revisit: Captain America: Civil War
Written by Christian Garcia
Introduction:
Today we're looking at Captain America: Civil War.
I'm jumping the gun; this is my favorite Marvel film that is not an Avengers film. When the trailer first came out, I lost my mind. All the Marvel heroes (minus Thor and Hulk) in one film battling it out and against each other.
My friend Steve who made me aware of Marvel comics, told me about the Civil War storyline years before the MCU even began. So, when I found out they were making a film version, I was excited!
I loved it so much the first time and wound up seeing it again. Aside from Infinity War, this was the movie I was most excited to show to my girlfriend. Watching it again was a special treat for me and for her. This film does still hold up and here's why.
And before I get into it, I am going to issue a courtesy SPOILER WARNING to anyone new to the MCU or someone who is looking to get into the MCU. I highly recommend watching the other films before this one so you can get the full experience. Trust me, the wait will be worth it.
The Hero’s Journey:
The main theme of this film is division. The opposing views of Steve Rogers and Tony Stark finally come to blow and tear the Avengers apart. After a mission results in the death of civilians, the United Nations decides to step in and put the Avengers under regulation with the Sokovia Accords. The Accords immediately divide the team as Rogers is against them while Tony believes that the Avengers need to be kept in check.
While watching the early films with my girlfriend, we always made comments and jokes about all the damage and possible injuries the Avengers' battles caused the locals and how it was good to finally have it acknowledged and for there to be consequences. It shows that there is still a heavy price to pay even for Earth's mightiest heroes.
I remember the division this film created among fans as to whom they sided with either Stark or Rogers. I know this is a Captain America film, but I found both of their points of view interesting. So, for this review’s edition of the hero’s journey, I have decided to analyze the journeys of both Rogers and Stark.
Captain America’s Journey
Steve Rogers’ arc of fitting into a new world continues and gets more complicated and traffic. He mentions in his letter to Tony that he has been on his own since he was 18 and never really fit in anywhere. That sense of aloneness is made worse by the passing of Peggy Carter. At her funeral, he mentions to Black Widow how he was just lucky to have Peggy still there as one of the last remaining remnants of his former life. With her passing, he feels more alone than ever. It’s that feeling that drives him to find Bucky and protect him.
He also mentions in his letter that he’s always believed in people, in individuals. He knows the real Bucky is still inside the Winter Soldier and goes to great lengths to reach him and bring back his friend. After the bombing in Vienna, Rogers goes rogue and tries to capture the Winter Soldier himself and was quick to defend him. His loyalty to Bucky puts him at odds with Tony and the rest of his team. His choice to remain loyal is his attempt at hanging onto the last remnant of his former life and in a way reject the new world that he doesn’t fit into.
Another arc that continues for him is his arc of trust. The events of Winter Soldier have made Steve wearier of who he can trust and have made him very distrusting of government organizations. This distrust of such organizations makes him opposed to the Sokovia Accords. He believes that signing them takes away the Avengers' ability to choose and will make things more difficult for them. He worries following them will keep them from going somewhere they need to be or will send them somewhere they don’t need to be based on the government’s agenda. His opposition leads him to conflict with Tony and his reluctance to fall in line slowly tears the Avengers apart.
This shows a big change in Rogers from how he was in the first Avengers film. Back then he was all about following orders and going by the book but his experiences since have taken him down a different path. Ironically Tony has gone through a similar switch as he has gone from defying authority to falling in line. It’s interesting to see how they’ve switched positions based on their experiences.
An important choice that upset many fans and changed how people saw Rogers is his choice to not tell Tony about what happened to his parents. Both my best friend and my girlfriend were angry when they found out that Steve knew. Many people I asked had similar reactions. I agree that it was messed up for Steve to not tell Tony and is hypocritical of him for having done so. Given his distrust of people with ulterior agendas, he didn’t tell Tony to spare himself from the reality of what his friend did. While of course, I do not agree with Rogers' choice, I do like that Marvel decided to give the morally pure Captain America a flaw. He's always been a stand-up man who plays by the rules and it's nice to see him show a moment of immorality. It reminds us that he is human and that nobody is perfect.
Iron Man’s Journey
Tony Stark carries a lot of guilt, and that guilt is what drives his actions throughout the film. In the beginning of the film, he looks back at his final moments with his parents and admits his guilt for not telling his father how he felt before he left. He is later confronted by a woman whose son was killed in Sokovia because of the Avengers’ battle with Ultron. The guilt of this as well as the continued guilt he feels over the harm his technology has caused causes him to support the Sokovia Accords. Tony is put in a tough position as he is fighting to do what he feels is right and trying to keep the Avengers together.
The manhunt for the Winter Soldier Bucky Barnes puts him in further conflict with Rogers. At first, he is trying to follow orders and capture Barnes after the bombing in Vienna. He tries to appeal to Rogers again to sign the Accords but once he reveals that he has Wanda Maximoff confined to the Avengers compound, Rogers refuses again. Before the Avengers do battle amongst each other, Tony reaches his boiling point with Rogers ordering him to come with them and not tear the Avengers apart. Rogers refuses again and they come to blows. The ensuing conflict leads to the injury of Stark’s best friend Colonel James Rhodes.
A glimmer of hope appears when Tony learns that Cap was right about Zemo framing the Winter Soldier. He tries to tell Ross what he’s learned but is ignored which causes him to take matters into his own hands. This proves Rogers’ issue with the Accords to be true. He takes off to Siberia to aid Rogers in the anticipated conflict with Zemo and other super soldiers. However, things take a shocking turn when Zemo plays security footage from 1991 that reveals that The Winter Soldier murdered his parents. His guilt and his anguish cause him to attack the Winter Soldier. Rogers attempts to stop him but only makes matters worse when he reveals that he knew about what Barnes had done. This is the final straw for Tony and he and Rogers battle it out. Rogers bests Tony in this fight and as he walks away, Tony calls out that he does not deserve the shield that his father made him. Rogers drops the shield and leaves with Bucky.
At the film’s end, Tony receives a phone and a letter from Steve apologizing for everything that happened and for not telling him about his parents. He stands his ground on not accepting the accords but says that when the time comes that the team needs to assemble again, he will be there. Although the team is left heavily divided and fractured, it is not destroyed and there is hope that the Avengers will assemble again.
The Villain:
Helmut Zemo is a former member of the Sokovian Armed Forces. He lost his family during the Avengers' battle with Ultron. He blames the Avengers for his family's death and grew a hatred for them as enhanced individuals. He believes they lack care for the innocent, and he swore to tear the Avengers apart from within.
Zemo is different from other Marvel villains. He admits himself he is no physical threat to the Avengers and that he could not kill them himself. He serves as a catalyst that sets the events of the film in motion. What also makes him interesting is that he is not an evil person wanting to do evil things. He is not an alien being or a super-enhanced person wanting world domination. He is a regular man. An everyday man who had a family. He is a man who has suffered great loss and has allowed his grief and lust for vengeance to consume him. This leads him to commit acts that lead to the death of innocent such as his bombing in Vienna. He saw the innocence lost as a means to an end, showing how far his vengeance has consumed him. When he is confronted by Black Panther in the final act, he does apologize for causing T'Challa's father’s death.
What also sets him apart is that he is not the focus of the conflict. He sets the pieces in motion, but he is not meant to be the focus. He creates the conflict that causes the Avengers to break down. At the film's end, there is no battle between him and the Avengers, he sets his final plan in motion and once he reveals to Tony what happened to his parents, his role is finished. He was simply the one pulling the strings than being a great threat that had to be stopped. He is more an antagonist rather than a villain. But in this case, he plays his role well and does exactly what he needs to do.
The Film’s Pros:
The Epic Battle Scene
Before Avengers Infinity War and Endgame, Civil War had the biggest gathering of Marvel heroes. A lot of fans forget that Civil War is the third Captain America and not the third Avengers film. Had it not been for the absence of Thor and Hulk (who were busy with their own adventure.) this would have been Avengers 3. I remember watching the trailer for this movie for the first time and getting so hyped.
When I saw the film for the first time, it delivered everything that I could have wanted. It was fun to see the different combinations like Captain America vs Spider-Man, Bucky vs Black Panther, and giant Ant-Man vs everyone! It was as epic as I could have imagined and delivered on the awesome action that one is to expect from Marvel.
It was only a small taste of what was to come.
Bringing Spider-Man into the MCU
Civil War had a lot of hype behind it before it even came out. A big part of that was because of a big reveal at the end of the trailer. The reveal of SPIDER-MAN.
Spider-Man is my favorite Marvel character and superhero ever. I loved the animated series and the first two Sam Raimi movies. After the bomb that was Amazing Spider-Man 2, fans wondered and hoped for the web-slinger to join the MCU. When he was revealed at the end of the trailer, the internet went crazy, including me.
When the time came to see the film, he didn't disappoint. Tom Holland from his first appearance nailed the role of Peter Parker to perfection. He captured the right amount of smartness and awkwardness in Peter and the annoying cockiness of Spider-Man. I loved seeing him interact with Tony Stark and building a bond and it was fun seeing him action with the other Avengers. He was in the film long enough that we got our fill on him but also wanted more. And the teaser post-credits, only confirmed that there was more Spidey fun on the horizon.
Introduction of Black Panther
This film introduced two important characters to Marvel fans. Spider-Man of course. But the other important hero is Marvel's king in Black Panther. Like Holland did for Spider-Man, Chadwick Boseman put in a great performance as the King of Wakanda.
It was great to see him in action battling the Winter Soldier and even going toe-to-toe with Captain America. The costume looked great, and he proved right away to be a formidable hero. Seeing a young Chadwick Boseman was surreal. It was great to see him again and reminded me of a great talent that left us way too soon.
From day one, Chadwick Boseman embodied the character of T'Challa and quickly made him into one of Marvel's most beloved heroes. His scene at the end with Zemo reminded me why Chadwick Boseman is such a beloved acting talent. T'Challa had a journey of his own having grown from a vengeful son looking to avenge his father to an honorable young man ready to become a king. His performance left an immediate impact and was so good that fans were very excited to see him in his own movie where he would take T'Challa from hero to king.
The Film’s Cons:
The Other Winter Soldiers
This is more of a nitpick than a flaw that hurts the film. I honestly do not have an issue with it and it does not hurt my enjoyment of the film at all. But no film is perfect. Every film has a flaw and if I had to pick one it would be the buildup of the other Winter Soldiers. They were teased as the next threat and Cap and Bucky went to Siberia to stop them. However, upon their arrival, they found that Zemo had already killed them as they lie frozen. One would argue that this was a waste of a cool idea and that they were built up for nothing.
But I honestly liked the red herring, and it is important to remember that the film is not about them. It is about the conflict between Captain America and Iron Man. Honestly, had the movie ended with the heroes teaming up to battle and defeat them it would have felt shoehorned in and would have hurt the film. I like how they immediately shut it down and keep the focus on what the audience cares about the most and that is the conflict within the Avengers. But I know some would consider it a missed opportunity and it is a valid point to make. But again, it is not enough to hurt anyone's enjoyment of the film one bit.
Final Thoughts:
Captain America: Civil War is my favorite Captain America film and my favorite Marvel film that is not an Avengers movie. It has everything you're looking for in a Marvel film. It has great action, a great story, great drama, twists and turns, and a chance to see all your favorite Marvel heroes (minus two) together in an epic piece of cinema. It was an excellent film to kick off Marvel's Golden Run of films that kept getting better and better. It grew our favorite heroes and took them to greater heights. It set the pieces in place for what was to come and is a film I would go back to repeatedly. It has its place in Marvel history and deservedly so. If I had to recommend any Marvel film, it would be this one. If you're new to the MCU, this is a must-see film and what I think is a true Marvel comic come to life. Do yourself a favor and check it out to see for yourself.
Written by Christian Garcia
Introduction:
Today we're looking at Captain America: Civil War.
I'm jumping the gun; this is my favorite Marvel film that is not an Avengers film. When the trailer first came out, I lost my mind. All the Marvel heroes (minus Thor and Hulk) in one film battling it out and against each other.
My friend Steve who made me aware of Marvel comics, told me about the Civil War storyline years before the MCU even began. So, when I found out they were making a film version, I was excited!
I loved it so much the first time and wound up seeing it again. Aside from Infinity War, this was the movie I was most excited to show to my girlfriend. Watching it again was a special treat for me and for her. This film does still hold up and here's why.
And before I get into it, I am going to issue a courtesy SPOILER WARNING to anyone new to the MCU or someone who is looking to get into the MCU. I highly recommend watching the other films before this one so you can get the full experience. Trust me, the wait will be worth it.
The Hero’s Journey:
The main theme of this film is division. The opposing views of Steve Rogers and Tony Stark finally come to blow and tear the Avengers apart. After a mission results in the death of civilians, the United Nations decides to step in and put the Avengers under regulation with the Sokovia Accords. The Accords immediately divide the team as Rogers is against them while Tony believes that the Avengers need to be kept in check.
While watching the early films with my girlfriend, we always made comments and jokes about all the damage and possible injuries the Avengers' battles caused the locals and how it was good to finally have it acknowledged and for there to be consequences. It shows that there is still a heavy price to pay even for Earth's mightiest heroes.
I remember the division this film created among fans as to whom they sided with either Stark or Rogers. I know this is a Captain America film, but I found both of their points of view interesting. So, for this review’s edition of the hero’s journey, I have decided to analyze the journeys of both Rogers and Stark.
Captain America’s Journey
Steve Rogers’ arc of fitting into a new world continues and gets more complicated and traffic. He mentions in his letter to Tony that he has been on his own since he was 18 and never really fit in anywhere. That sense of aloneness is made worse by the passing of Peggy Carter. At her funeral, he mentions to Black Widow how he was just lucky to have Peggy still there as one of the last remaining remnants of his former life. With her passing, he feels more alone than ever. It’s that feeling that drives him to find Bucky and protect him.
He also mentions in his letter that he’s always believed in people, in individuals. He knows the real Bucky is still inside the Winter Soldier and goes to great lengths to reach him and bring back his friend. After the bombing in Vienna, Rogers goes rogue and tries to capture the Winter Soldier himself and was quick to defend him. His loyalty to Bucky puts him at odds with Tony and the rest of his team. His choice to remain loyal is his attempt at hanging onto the last remnant of his former life and in a way reject the new world that he doesn’t fit into.
Another arc that continues for him is his arc of trust. The events of Winter Soldier have made Steve wearier of who he can trust and have made him very distrusting of government organizations. This distrust of such organizations makes him opposed to the Sokovia Accords. He believes that signing them takes away the Avengers' ability to choose and will make things more difficult for them. He worries following them will keep them from going somewhere they need to be or will send them somewhere they don’t need to be based on the government’s agenda. His opposition leads him to conflict with Tony and his reluctance to fall in line slowly tears the Avengers apart.
This shows a big change in Rogers from how he was in the first Avengers film. Back then he was all about following orders and going by the book but his experiences since have taken him down a different path. Ironically Tony has gone through a similar switch as he has gone from defying authority to falling in line. It’s interesting to see how they’ve switched positions based on their experiences.
An important choice that upset many fans and changed how people saw Rogers is his choice to not tell Tony about what happened to his parents. Both my best friend and my girlfriend were angry when they found out that Steve knew. Many people I asked had similar reactions. I agree that it was messed up for Steve to not tell Tony and is hypocritical of him for having done so. Given his distrust of people with ulterior agendas, he didn’t tell Tony to spare himself from the reality of what his friend did. While of course, I do not agree with Rogers' choice, I do like that Marvel decided to give the morally pure Captain America a flaw. He's always been a stand-up man who plays by the rules and it's nice to see him show a moment of immorality. It reminds us that he is human and that nobody is perfect.
Iron Man’s Journey
Tony Stark carries a lot of guilt, and that guilt is what drives his actions throughout the film. In the beginning of the film, he looks back at his final moments with his parents and admits his guilt for not telling his father how he felt before he left. He is later confronted by a woman whose son was killed in Sokovia because of the Avengers’ battle with Ultron. The guilt of this as well as the continued guilt he feels over the harm his technology has caused causes him to support the Sokovia Accords. Tony is put in a tough position as he is fighting to do what he feels is right and trying to keep the Avengers together.
The manhunt for the Winter Soldier Bucky Barnes puts him in further conflict with Rogers. At first, he is trying to follow orders and capture Barnes after the bombing in Vienna. He tries to appeal to Rogers again to sign the Accords but once he reveals that he has Wanda Maximoff confined to the Avengers compound, Rogers refuses again. Before the Avengers do battle amongst each other, Tony reaches his boiling point with Rogers ordering him to come with them and not tear the Avengers apart. Rogers refuses again and they come to blows. The ensuing conflict leads to the injury of Stark’s best friend Colonel James Rhodes.
A glimmer of hope appears when Tony learns that Cap was right about Zemo framing the Winter Soldier. He tries to tell Ross what he’s learned but is ignored which causes him to take matters into his own hands. This proves Rogers’ issue with the Accords to be true. He takes off to Siberia to aid Rogers in the anticipated conflict with Zemo and other super soldiers. However, things take a shocking turn when Zemo plays security footage from 1991 that reveals that The Winter Soldier murdered his parents. His guilt and his anguish cause him to attack the Winter Soldier. Rogers attempts to stop him but only makes matters worse when he reveals that he knew about what Barnes had done. This is the final straw for Tony and he and Rogers battle it out. Rogers bests Tony in this fight and as he walks away, Tony calls out that he does not deserve the shield that his father made him. Rogers drops the shield and leaves with Bucky.
At the film’s end, Tony receives a phone and a letter from Steve apologizing for everything that happened and for not telling him about his parents. He stands his ground on not accepting the accords but says that when the time comes that the team needs to assemble again, he will be there. Although the team is left heavily divided and fractured, it is not destroyed and there is hope that the Avengers will assemble again.
The Villain:
Helmut Zemo is a former member of the Sokovian Armed Forces. He lost his family during the Avengers' battle with Ultron. He blames the Avengers for his family's death and grew a hatred for them as enhanced individuals. He believes they lack care for the innocent, and he swore to tear the Avengers apart from within.
Zemo is different from other Marvel villains. He admits himself he is no physical threat to the Avengers and that he could not kill them himself. He serves as a catalyst that sets the events of the film in motion. What also makes him interesting is that he is not an evil person wanting to do evil things. He is not an alien being or a super-enhanced person wanting world domination. He is a regular man. An everyday man who had a family. He is a man who has suffered great loss and has allowed his grief and lust for vengeance to consume him. This leads him to commit acts that lead to the death of innocent such as his bombing in Vienna. He saw the innocence lost as a means to an end, showing how far his vengeance has consumed him. When he is confronted by Black Panther in the final act, he does apologize for causing T'Challa's father’s death.
What also sets him apart is that he is not the focus of the conflict. He sets the pieces in motion, but he is not meant to be the focus. He creates the conflict that causes the Avengers to break down. At the film's end, there is no battle between him and the Avengers, he sets his final plan in motion and once he reveals to Tony what happened to his parents, his role is finished. He was simply the one pulling the strings than being a great threat that had to be stopped. He is more an antagonist rather than a villain. But in this case, he plays his role well and does exactly what he needs to do.
The Film’s Pros:
The Epic Battle Scene
Before Avengers Infinity War and Endgame, Civil War had the biggest gathering of Marvel heroes. A lot of fans forget that Civil War is the third Captain America and not the third Avengers film. Had it not been for the absence of Thor and Hulk (who were busy with their own adventure.) this would have been Avengers 3. I remember watching the trailer for this movie for the first time and getting so hyped.
When I saw the film for the first time, it delivered everything that I could have wanted. It was fun to see the different combinations like Captain America vs Spider-Man, Bucky vs Black Panther, and giant Ant-Man vs everyone! It was as epic as I could have imagined and delivered on the awesome action that one is to expect from Marvel.
It was only a small taste of what was to come.
Bringing Spider-Man into the MCU
Civil War had a lot of hype behind it before it even came out. A big part of that was because of a big reveal at the end of the trailer. The reveal of SPIDER-MAN.
Spider-Man is my favorite Marvel character and superhero ever. I loved the animated series and the first two Sam Raimi movies. After the bomb that was Amazing Spider-Man 2, fans wondered and hoped for the web-slinger to join the MCU. When he was revealed at the end of the trailer, the internet went crazy, including me.
When the time came to see the film, he didn't disappoint. Tom Holland from his first appearance nailed the role of Peter Parker to perfection. He captured the right amount of smartness and awkwardness in Peter and the annoying cockiness of Spider-Man. I loved seeing him interact with Tony Stark and building a bond and it was fun seeing him action with the other Avengers. He was in the film long enough that we got our fill on him but also wanted more. And the teaser post-credits, only confirmed that there was more Spidey fun on the horizon.
Introduction of Black Panther
This film introduced two important characters to Marvel fans. Spider-Man of course. But the other important hero is Marvel's king in Black Panther. Like Holland did for Spider-Man, Chadwick Boseman put in a great performance as the King of Wakanda.
It was great to see him in action battling the Winter Soldier and even going toe-to-toe with Captain America. The costume looked great, and he proved right away to be a formidable hero. Seeing a young Chadwick Boseman was surreal. It was great to see him again and reminded me of a great talent that left us way too soon.
From day one, Chadwick Boseman embodied the character of T'Challa and quickly made him into one of Marvel's most beloved heroes. His scene at the end with Zemo reminded me why Chadwick Boseman is such a beloved acting talent. T'Challa had a journey of his own having grown from a vengeful son looking to avenge his father to an honorable young man ready to become a king. His performance left an immediate impact and was so good that fans were very excited to see him in his own movie where he would take T'Challa from hero to king.
The Film’s Cons:
The Other Winter Soldiers
This is more of a nitpick than a flaw that hurts the film. I honestly do not have an issue with it and it does not hurt my enjoyment of the film at all. But no film is perfect. Every film has a flaw and if I had to pick one it would be the buildup of the other Winter Soldiers. They were teased as the next threat and Cap and Bucky went to Siberia to stop them. However, upon their arrival, they found that Zemo had already killed them as they lie frozen. One would argue that this was a waste of a cool idea and that they were built up for nothing.
But I honestly liked the red herring, and it is important to remember that the film is not about them. It is about the conflict between Captain America and Iron Man. Honestly, had the movie ended with the heroes teaming up to battle and defeat them it would have felt shoehorned in and would have hurt the film. I like how they immediately shut it down and keep the focus on what the audience cares about the most and that is the conflict within the Avengers. But I know some would consider it a missed opportunity and it is a valid point to make. But again, it is not enough to hurt anyone's enjoyment of the film one bit.
Final Thoughts:
Captain America: Civil War is my favorite Captain America film and my favorite Marvel film that is not an Avengers movie. It has everything you're looking for in a Marvel film. It has great action, a great story, great drama, twists and turns, and a chance to see all your favorite Marvel heroes (minus two) together in an epic piece of cinema. It was an excellent film to kick off Marvel's Golden Run of films that kept getting better and better. It grew our favorite heroes and took them to greater heights. It set the pieces in place for what was to come and is a film I would go back to repeatedly. It has its place in Marvel history and deservedly so. If I had to recommend any Marvel film, it would be this one. If you're new to the MCU, this is a must-see film and what I think is a true Marvel comic come to life. Do yourself a favor and check it out to see for yourself.