CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR
US, 2016, 147 minutes, Colour.
Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Emily Van Camp, Tom Holland, Alfre Woodard, William Hurt, Martin Freeman, Marisa Tomei, John Slattery, Hope Davis, Frank Grillo.
Directed by Anthony Russo, Joe Russo.
Captain America has the title role, Tony Stark as Iron Man Man has almost equal importance. But, basically, this is a reunion of the Avengers (with the notable absence of Thor and of the Hulk). It is also a continuation of the narrative from the previous Avengers film, Avengers: Age of Ultron. The fight and devastation of the previous film is taken up as a theme here, preying on Tony Stark’s conscience when he is confronted by the mother of an American worker killed with the collapse of a building, but also providing the occasion for a new villain, a man who saw his wife and family killed in the attack and who is now bent on revenge.
The underlying theme is that of taking responsibility for actions.
Audiences need to bring their understanding of Captain America (Chris Evans), his history during World War II, his being preserved in ice, his recovery and revival, the previous two films and the emergence of Winter Soldier, his friend from boyhood in Brooklyn. Winter Soldier (Sébastian Stan) also gets more elaborate back story, revived by the Russians in 1991, a code implanted whereby he becomes a killer for the agency controlling him. And he is set up for the murder of an African king and delegates at a United Nations meeting in Vienna.
When the film introduces Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr), there is an interesting hologram device of his interaction with his parents, his strict father, and their farewell just before they were killed in a car accident – later revealed to be more. He is still the philanthropist, and involved with the Avengers.
There is an elaborate attack staged in Lagos, involving many of the Avengers, lookouts, communication, fights. It is this that is the occasion for the American government, In the form of Secretary Ross (William Hurt) and the formulation of a document to be signed by The Avengers putting them under the control of the United Nations. Tony Stark agrees. Steve Rogers, Captain America, does not agree, which sets them on a path to conflict (not exactly Civil War).
After the bombing of the United Nation’s building in Vienna, a new Avenger is introduced, the son of the King, Panther (Chadwick Boseman – who is also getting a film of his own).
In the conflict between the two sides of the Avengers, some of the others are brought into the action including Don Cheadle’s War Machine, Paul Rudd as Ant Man, Jeremy Renner is Hawkeye. Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow sides with Tony Stark but also wants to be a mediator.
Tony Stark also goes on a recruiting mission which gives us a longish interlude with the new Spiderman introduced, younger than before, played by British Tom Holland, with a glimpse of Marisa Tomei as Aunt May. Peter Parker is happy to be recruited and joins in the conflict – which has people flying around, Captain America with his shield, Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) with her fiery hands, the android Vision (Paul Bettany) also involved – and Ant Man doing a trick or two both reducing his size as well as becoming gigantic!
Daniel Bruel is the new villain, wanting to use Winter Soldier for getting his revenge and building up a conflict between Captain America and Iron Man. The film doesn’t exactly come to a climax except for the battle between Captain America and Iron Man – rather, as with so many of the films, it lays the ground for future sequels which, judging by audience response, will be most welcome.
1. Marvel Comics and their output? The film versions? Avengers? Captain America?
2. Production values, IMAX, 3 D, the setting in Lagos, Berlin, Leipzig, Vienna, Russia in the snow, Washington? Colourful? The musical score?
3. The continuity of this film, Slovokia, the action there, the deaths? Issues of life and death, good versus evil, the law, control? The issue of United Nations control?
4. The title, the focus on Captain America, his three films, presence in the Avengers series? His history, the 1940s, World War II, preserved in the ice, discovered, a 21st-century mission? Confrontation with evil? His clean cut appearance, work with the group? His going to Peggy’s funeral, his grief, memories? Meeting Sharon, the discussions, her help in providing information?
5. Iron Man, Tony Stark and the previous films, his participation in the Avengers series? Introduced giving the lecture, the hologram about his younger self and interactions with his parents, clashes with his father, urging of his mother? Their deaths? His audience, the presentation of the grants, the applause? The mother and confronting him in the corridor about her dead son? This preying on his conscience?
6. The situation in Lagos, the Avengers and their mission, the various lookouts, communication, strategies, the attack, The Falcon, The Black Widow, Wanda, Captain America, all in action, coordinated, the fights, their skills, the number of deaths? The role of the king and his denunciation? His son?
7. Ross, the American government, the gathering of the Avengers, reviewing the situation, the deaths, the need for control, the decisions, the document and its preparation, some agreeing to sign, others not?
8. Vienna, the buildings, the meeting, the King and his son, meeting the Black Widow? The discussions, reconciliation? His speech? The bomb and his death? The grief of his son?
9. The sequence in Russia, 1991, the background of Winter Soldier? Barnes, his resurrection, the codes, his being used by the government, the accident with the car, the revelation that he killed Tony Stark’s parents?
10. His presence in Vienna, the elaborate chase, the cars, bikes? The intervention of Panther? Barnes being taken, imprisoned, interrogated?
11. The interrogator, his mission, his search for Barnes, torture and death after interrogation, the book, the code? His killing the official interviewer? Barnes, the escape, the pursuit, information about his whereabouts, going to Russia?
12. Vision, in himself, invented by Tony Stark? His keeping guard on Wanda? His explanations, android? The call to Hawkeye? His history of collaboration, married with family? His coming at the invitation?
13. The Avengers and the taking sides, Iron Man and his wanting to sign the document, Black Widow and her support, War Machine? Getting the help of Ant Man? Peter Parker? Captain America, The Falcon on his side, Wanda, Hawkeye? In their costumes, their particular abilities, the conflict?
14. The interlude with Peter Parker, meeting his aunt, Tony Stark talking with him, Spiderman and his exploits, visualised, his talent, his web? The offer to him to come to help?
15. The battle sequences, conflict, each of the Avengers using a particular skill? Captain America and his allies being imprisoned, in their cells? The Black Widow letting the Captain go?
16. Ross, his demands on Tony Stark, 36 hours deadline?
17. Captain America, going to Russia, the situation there, the revelation of the other Winter Soldiers, their deaths? The interrogator, his
overcoming Captain America, Barnes? The reversal of roles? Iron Man arriving? The fight, Iron Man discovering the truth about his parents?
18. The capture of the interrogator, in his cell? The American interrogating him? The set up for the further sequel? And for further films, especially Spiderman? The epilogue at the end of the credits?
19. The multiplex audience liking this kind of action adventure?
