Review: "Captain America:: Civil War" is an Amazing Reflection of the Pros and Cons of Modern Superhero Cinema

Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War

It is amazing to note how far superhero films have come in the last decade. Even at their peaks, the idea of superheroes fighting each other seemed like a radical idea, which often resorted to one-on-ones in otherwise conventional blockbuster stories. Even Iron Man seems like a far cry from 2016's take on the character, where Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) has become a fleshed out alcoholic suffering from PTSD and loss. These films are so complex that it would take a giant lexicon to understand anything that's going on. However, it's also a testament to craft that the co-directors Joe and Anthony Russo have delivered Captain America: Civil War - a film that extends beyond the bounds of what highly stylized superhero films can be. This film may not reinvent the genre, but it triumphantly stands as a testament to comic book culture overpowering (no pun intended) the zeitgeist, for better or worse.

The story is simple: after a variety of disasters worldwide, The Avengers must sign an initiative forcing themselves to be government owned and sacrifice their personal identity. Stark is pro, Captain America (a.k.a. Steve Rodgers, played by Chris Evans) is con. The story goes from there to conclude the arc formed between Captain America and its sequel The Winter Soldier. With the thankless job of concluding Rodger's arc from military test subject to leader of world's heroes, there's a lot of focus on his struggle. We discover what happens to Peggy Carter, as well as his friend Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) - who has his fair share of twists throughout this conclusion. Meanwhile, the supporting cast takes sides while the film also introduces even more heroes into the mix with Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and Spider-Man (Tom Holland).

If this sounds like too much for you, don't let it be. The series has managed to have it both ways over its 13 (to date) entries by managing to mix entertainment with ongoing plots that continually interweave different characters into each other's stories. The Civil War in question actually stems back to a mid-00's comic book event that featured all of Marvel's characters fighting for the same rights. The big difference here is that Marvel cannot do a faithful adaptation largely because it would have to feature 100's of characters, as well as several properties not owned by Disney - such as X-Men and Deadpool. Beyond this glitch, the film version is faithful enough to the idea while sticking within the established continuity. This is a drama in which superheroes talk politically about their careers. Considering how vapid Marvel films were just 10 years ago, it's amazing to think that these films are striving for a deeper conscience.

What's even more impressive is that Civil War manages to work as its own action narrative. Considering that The Russo Brothers turned Captain America's story into an espionage thriller with The Winter Soldier, they continue to take the Marvel Cinematic Universe into interesting directions. With more life and personality here, it's a film that manages to feature impressive action that puts X-Men's entire film legacy to shame. Even the team fights, which are often hand-to-hand combat, have a certain voracity to them that result in captivating cinema. Even if the film lacks the wit that Joss Whedon brought before departing over differences, there's plenty of energy in tow to fill the gaps. 

There are several sequences, including one at an airport, that reflect what comic book fighting can be at its best. While the idea of good guys fighting good guys is too in style this summer (Batman v. Superman anyone?), there's no denying the amount of dizzying style that comes through in a five minute sequence. Characters with psychic powers battle others who can shrink and expand. Spider-Man makes his triumphant debut with wisecracks to alleviate the tension. While it's a little too rugged to be as masterful as the third act of The Avengers, it is more impressive if you consider that this is a big budgeted movie that exists. It seems unreasonable that something as insane and comic book oriented should exist in one of the summer's most anticipated movies. Yet it does, and it plays out in ridiculous and glorious fashion, living up to a fantasy that up until now was only plausible on the page. Part of it is a testament to Marvel's patient roll-out of wacky characters. which has been severely hit and miss for the past few years. The rest is just The Russo Brothers living up to the challenge in the action department.

The story itself is more problematic. While the film's first 100 minutes are some of the tightest and most entertaining work that they have done since Iron Man 3, the story that explains the Civil War is far less interesting and formulaic. While the film takes incredible measures to avoid the same template of the previous 12 entries, the final confrontation is a little familiar and contrived. The Russo Brothers aren't as great at character moments, which makes the intimacy of the third act stumble a little. It also doesn't help that the action begins to meander, causing the Shakespearian profundity in the plot twist lack momentum. It isn't enough to derail the film, but it begins to feel far more pretentious and aching than even the much maligned Batman v. Superman was in similar territory.

Beyond quality, Civil War finds the Marvel Cinematic Universe at a crossroads. Now that it has played the trust game of making the wackiest ideas ever convincing (lest Dr. Strange be... stranger), the trust game is in full effect and the films aren't allowed to be just the silly and fun titles that made this series initially so appealing. The Russo Brothers clearly think dramatics is the way to go for future films, and I think that some appeal will be lost in the process. Civil War is still fun, but the quest to be taken seriously as cinema outside of comic book culture is something that the back half of this story grapples with poorly. For some, it will be a relief. For me, it is a loss of identity, and one that may feel like a deceit to loyal fans as this franchise turns 10-years-old very soon. 

Civil War may not seem like it, but it's a miracle of a film. It's one that manages to be both highly entertaining and an example of what superhero film should and shouldn't be. It goes too far sometimes, but it generally does so in ways that keep the spectacle front and center and the characters somehow far more personal than you'd expect. It's a film that juggles a lot of balls and only drops a few. The Russo Brothers may not quite live up to the Whedon balance, but at least their action sequences are some of the more riveting work in PG-13 movies right now. I can only hope that they realize this and ditch complicated plots. It doesn't suit their style very well.