LogFAQs > #950737041

GavsEvans123
The film takes its time establishing why the characters feel the way they do about the situation, and their experiences in previous films also helps add to this. For example, Caps dismantling of SHIELD after HYDRA had infiltrated it means its perfectly sensible for him to distrust some sort of overview system, in case something similar happens again. Likewise, Tony Stark would want control to keep him in check because the last time he performed scientific experiments unsupervised, he created Ultron, and even before then he used to be a weapons manufacturer. Its made clear that them fighting each other is the last resort, done only when all other options have fallen through. I also appreciate that the film has the guts to take its central concept to its logical conclusion, and avoid having the two sides reconcile while decking some CGI monsters face in, as it means the central conflict is relevant throughout, and not just an excuse to have Captain America and Iron Man fight each other. The Marvel films have been around long enough by now that they can start to tell stories such as this one that rely on the shared history of the characters, with the assumption that audiences will have seen most or all of the previous films.

You may think that with such a large cast list, the film would struggle to balance everyone without having someone overshadow everyone else or be shafted. In a pleasant surprise, this is not the case. Everyone gets a bit of focus and a reason to be involved, with nobody appearing for the sake of it. Some characters offer different aspects of the Sokovia Accords and how theyll be affected by them. Others, most notably Spider-Man and Ant Man, serve as comic relief, but are capable of being serious when necessary. Even more impressively, Cap isnt pushed out of his own film by having to share it with the rest of the Avengers, always remembering that its his name thats in the title. There are two plots running alongside each other, the Winter Soldier plot that follows on from The Winter Soldier, and the Accords plot that happens as a response to the events of Age of Ultron. Unlike many of these kinds of films, the two plots here complement each other well and blend into each other, thus avoiding a stop-start feel whenever the plot focus switches, and keeping a smooth pace throughout.

The new characters are particularly worthy of praise. Everything we need to know about Spider-Mans personality is established in only two scenes via the medium of Show Dont Tell, and without any expository dialogue or yet another retelling of his origin story, a blessed relief as Spider-Mans origin story is common knowledge, behind only Batman and Superman.

Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther is excellent, his character established in a comparable way to Spider-Man, but with a more prominent role. In his very cool-looking costume, he proves to be more than a match, carrying himself with dignity and grace, but also fury tempered with skill. Like Spider-Man, Black Panthers character develops naturally in the film, without it needing to pause to introduce him. Also worth noting is the enigmatic villain Zemo, played by Daniel Bruhl. He may just be an ordinary man without any superpowers, but hes one of the Avengers most dangerous foes yet despite this, posing a challenge of a different sort. Hes also capable of subverting clichs and offer some new twists, with one particularly cruel one near the end Mission Report, December 16, 1991. Best of all, he doesnt die at the end!

The kiss between Cap and Sharon Carter was a bit weird, since we dont see them together all that much. I can buy it happening, but not quite yet. It feels a little like something Disney mandated to stop the shippers from saying Cap is gay for Bucky (It doesnt stop me from saying Cap is bi for Bucky though. Big brain right there, galaxy brain! I feel like that big-brain Mickey Mouse picture.) Also, since Caps faction opposes government oversight and accountability, even if collateral damage results from their actions, can we call them Team America?

---

Touch fuzzy. Get fuzzier.
Inviso