Authors note:
Right, so I pretty much decided to take two long-ass comments that I wrote in repsone to some people claiming CA: Civil War was a "no stakes movie" and just another "typical MCU film" and turn it into a fully fledged article. I've edited them so that it makes more sense without the "context" of the original conversation.
Anayway. Time to Begin.....(SPOILERS!!)
I could not have been happier with Civil War. As a Marvel fan (and fan of comics in general) I felt this film exceeded my expectations and then some. The movie elevates the genre in the same way that The Avengers once did back in 2012. Just as most people regarded that film as the first "pillar" of the MCU I believe that this movie will be regarded as its second.
It's nothing like a "typical marvel movie" and those who have been complaining about some of the "tropes" in MCU films can finally rejoice in knowing that Civil War is somehow vastly different from what's come before, whilst still retaining the best elements of the those films and feeling like it exists in the same world. There hasn't been a film like Civil War that's been done before. And of course, that has a lot to do with the unique scenario that only the MCU could have achieved at this point
i.e. The idea of an established team of Superhero's fighting against one another.
For those that call MCU films "tired" or "repetitive" let me just reiterate this;
- There is no maguffin
- No "physical" villainous threat to fight
- No "world destroying or dominating" plot.
In fact, it could be argued that there isn't even a "main villain" in the story at all. The true enemies in this film are the protagonists; Tony and Steve. This is an incredibly personal story. One that focuses on the individual characters and their struggles. It's not about creating a "villain" for them to fight...its about these people creating "villains" in each other.
For those that claim that the MCU has "no stakes " (a phrase is used so many times I don't think the trolls even know what it means) then let me reassure you that the "stakes" are higher than they've ever been.
The role and function of Superhero's within this world is now being threatened. The idea of there being a force of good against evil....is being replaced with "politics" whereby national security, sovereignty, and foreign affairs will dictate how superhero's act in times of crisis. That in itself is a cause worth fighting for...no matter what side you're on. It's a much more relatable conflict than what we're used to seeing, because it presents an interesting question that's been at the heart of controversy for many years
Control vs Rights
This ideology is at the crux of most debates about important issues. Gun ownership is a prime example. Some people want tighter regulations to make it more difficult for criminal minds to get a weapon. Others say it simply prevents or hinders innocent people from being able to get a weapon to defend themselves.
Neither side is right or wrong. They both make valid points and both have their fair share of criticisms. But its a conflict that exists in the real world nonetheless...so when you hear superhero's having a similar discussion then the audience becomes more invested in the outcome of the story.
And the beauty of the outcome...is that there wasn't really a definitive "succeeding" side. By the end of the film they still disagree with one another. They're still in separate factions. Just like in real life, there is no easy answer. However it's has still affected them all personally. And that's what this film is. A personal story. It's about Captain America trying to save his friend. It's about Tony Stark trying to atone for his guilty conscience. Ultimately though...it's a story about family. And how those closest to you, are also the ones who can hurt you the most.
It's why that final fight was so brutal. Not just visually but emotionally too. I didn't really know who to root for, mostly because its incredibly sad that these allies are fighting each other to begin with. It's not like they were forced to fight....they CHOSE too.
On Tony's side, we see a man who (like many other characters in the film) has been consumed by a desire for revenge. It's completely understandable. After splitting the team apart, being forced to fight his former allies and having his closest friend become crippled, he finds out that the person who has been at the centre of this conflict, whom Captain America has been unwaveringly protective of....has turned out to the very person who killed his own parents.
It goes back to the conversation Cap had with Buck early on in the film:
Cap: "Those things you did, it wasn't your fault"
Bucky: "I know. But I still did them"
It wasn't just that, but Steve knew what he'd done and attempted to lie to Tony. In that moment Tony felt truly betrayed. He's been forced to do things he's not proud of and to be viewed as a villain by his closest friends. But, in his mind Bucky wasn't worth fighting for. In fact he deserves to die for what he's done. All the suffering the Winter Soldier has brought upon the world, whether it was his fault or not, cannot be erased. At that point NOTHING could have stopped Tony from trying to kill him.
Cap however has a history with Buck. He's been with him for, pretty much, his whole life. To Cap he'll always be his childhoood friend back in Brooklyn who stood up and looked out for him, even when he was at his weakest. Well now its Steve's turn to do the same for him. There was no in hell that Cap was gonna sit back and watch his friend die.
So what's this I hear you say? No stakes? NO STAKES?
- Tony Stark trying to Avenge his mother and fathers death
- Steve Rogers trying to save his friend
Nothing to do with the the safety of the world. But the loyalty and betrayal between friends. It's heartbreaking.
At the end of that fight, Cap drops his shield. He gives it up. By saving Buck he's also done a great injustice to Tony. He's wronged Tony by using the very shield that his father, Howard Stark, made for him...to basically "avenge" the man who murdered him. It just brings us back to the idea that there was no right or wrong answer. There is no "victor" in this scenario.
Both Tony and Steve, by the end, are aware of the terrible things they've done to one another. The team is split apart now and things have changed. However Steve lets Tony know that should they ever be needed, they can go to him for help. Because despite all the bitter feelings and contempt towards one another...they're still superhero's. Above all else they care about the safety and well-being of the world.
Whilst it would have been interesting to see Cap die in this film, I can see why they didn't choose to go that route. Firstly, I'd like to point out that this was mostly a corporate decision as opposed to a story one (according to the Russo's themselves) however having a character die...and then come back to life...is a fake emotional stake. In Batman V Superman the latter does die, however they indicate CLEARLY that he isn't ACTUALLY dead.
They may as well have just used the classic Marvel studio's end credits mantra
"Superman will Return"
It was THAT obvious. My non-comicbook reading cousin, who's only superhero film watched was The Dark Knight Rises, said to me at the end of that movie
"So he didn't really die...right?"
At the very least, Marvel are simply being honest about the fact that none of their characters will stay dead. So why fake it? It's such an overused trope in comics anyway. I'm not saying that I WOULDN'T have liked to see Cap die, if only for that extra "emotional punch"....it's just I'm quite happy with the ending we got. Things have still changed. The Status quo has been shaken up. You have the new "Secret" Avengers and the official "Sokovia Accords" Avengers. The conflict isn't over and I'm sure we'll be seeing elements of that in the Infinity War Part 1 movie.
Honestly I really couldn't have asked for a more emotional, action packed, and thrilling superhero film than the one we already got. It nailed EVERYTHING. Its the first film in the MCU, since the Avengers, to take FULL advantage of its shared universe concept. It's the sequel that Age of Ultron SHOULD have been.
Civil War is a new age for the MCU, it's quite possibly a new age for the comicbook genre in general.