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Captain America: Civil War

Spider-Man -Homecoming: Webswinging Fun

July 15, 2017 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

With great homework comes great responsibility.

Spider-Man: Homecoming brings us back to Peter ‘s high school years (he’s fifteen) as he tries to balance his family, friends, homework, and an ongoing application to join the Avengers.  Publicly claiming to be a member of the ‘Stark Internship’, young Peter is secretly being mentored by Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in the ways of being a ‘friendly neighborhood’ superhero.  However, when Peter stumbles across a plot to sell pieces of alien technology to local criminals, he is drawn into a battle that forces him to ask hard questions about his identity and calling.

Although he made his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in last year’s Civil War, Homecoming is Spidey’s true introduction to the world of the Avengers.  In a move that many felt would never happen due to Sony’s ownership of the film rights, allowing Spidey to join the MCU was easily the smartest decision that the company could have made.  By joining forces with Marvel, Sony frees itself of rebooting their franchise for the second time while also allowing access to iconic characters such as Iron Man and Captain America to make appearances.

Through its heavy emphasis on Spidey’s high school adventures and Holland’s contagious enthusiasm, Homecoming manages to pull off the one thing that seemed impossible for this franchise: it feels fresh.  Similar to his experience on the original Iron Man, Downey Jr. has compared the environment behind the scenes as one of freedom and creativity and the results appear onscreen.  This film has all the pop and flash of other Marvel entries yet also carries with it the teen angst of a John Hughes ‘coming-of-age’ film.  (In fact, there is even a brief reference to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.)  In other words, despite the Avengers, alien technology and a villainous Vulture (an energized Michael Keaton), it’s the realities of Spidey’s youth and inexperience that are front and center here.

As the film opens, Peter is filled with excitement and the mammoth aspirations of becoming an Avenger.  With superhero glory in full view, Peter has begun to lose sight of his everyday life and responsibilities. (“I am so far beyond high school right now,” Peter argues.)  Desperate to prove that he’s more than ‘just a kid’, Peter feels boxed in by Stark’s ‘training wheels protocols’ and tries to force his way up the superhero ladder.  (“I hate that Mr. Stark keep treating me like a kid!” he exclaims.)

But Peter’s immaturity prevents him from recognizing the value of the ‘small’.

In a world of Galaxy Guardians and Incredible Hulks, Homecoming is a reminder of the importance of those things and people that so many believe to be unremarkable.  Though Peter may be able to hold a ship together, he also must do his homework.  Though he wants desperately to be fight alongside Iron Man, he also needs to stop a local bicycle thief.  Though Vulture is stealing alien technology, so much of his motivation lies in simply getting by financially.  Gone are traditional MCU tropes like world domination and government conspiracies in favor of dinners with Aunt May and struggling to pay the bills.

In a story that echoes Jesus’ call to let the little children come to Him, Homecoming reminds us that everyone’s story matters, regardless how small.  The responsibility to care for the most seemingly insignificant people of the world carries the same importance as saving the entire planet.  (In fact, one of the film’s most subtle but significant moments comes through Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), Stark’s driver, as he confesses to Peter that, “I really don’t know what I would do without this job [working for Tony].”  Despite the fact that we’ve known him to do amazing things with his superhero billionaire, he too is simply a man who needs help.)  Moreover, as Peter realizes the value of the ‘small’, he is solidified as a true hero, not just to the world but to everyone.

Because there is power in being the ‘friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man.’

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Captain America, Captain America: Civil War, Chris Evans, Iron Man, Marvel, Marvel Studios, MCU, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jr, Shocker, spider-man, Spider-Man: Homecoming, tom holland, Tony Stark, Vulture, Zendaya

CROSSOVER Podcast! Unifying a CIVIL WAR

May 10, 2016 by Steve Norton 6 Comments

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https://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2.15-Captain-America-Civil-War-James-HarlemanMikey-Fissel.mp3

This week, on a very special crossover episode of the podcast, we join forces with Mikey Fissel (Reel World Theology) and Pastor James Harleman (Cinemagogue) to discuss the biggest film of the summer – CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR! We discuss everything from post-modern ideology to that airport fight. Don’t miss it!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

2.15 Captain America – Civil War

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: Black Panther, Captain America, Captain America: Civil War, Iron Man, Marvel, superhero

Captain America Civil War: Friendship vs Vengeance (SPOILERS)

May 5, 2016 by Arnaldo Reyes 14 Comments

For months now we have seen the Civil War marketing ask us one question: whose side are you on? #TeamCap or #TeamIronMan has taken social media by storm and it allows fans to have a different sense of interaction before the film releases. It also brings about the inevitable “how does the film compare to one that was released not too long ago that also had a hero vs hero battle?” So let’s get that out of the way. Where Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice fails Captain America: Civil War succeeds. The story is deeper, the conflict more believable, and no one stops fighting because of Martha! Does that make this film a perfect film? Of course not! However, Civil War may just be the best superhero film to come out since The Dark Knight. And in my opinion, make no mistake about it, this is not Avengers 2.5; it is very much a centralized Captain America film.

So here we go . . .

But first I will warn you: this is a spoiler filled review. As I sit back and think of the film, I can’t do my review justice without going into great detail as to why the film is great and where it was also lacking. In other words….

***SPOILERS AHEAD, WATCH THE FILM FIRST OR BE SPOILED***

As I said in my preview, Civil War comes from the comics, but the details and story is completely different. The foundation is there, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe creates a new story that frankly has been building up for quite some time. In Avengers, New York suffered and lives were at stake and possibly lost. But the Avengers saved them and they were grateful. Then Winter Soldier brought about destruction in Washington D.C. and the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. More lives lost and in the middle of it, people with superpowers. Then Age of Ultron brought us Sokovia, and the devastation to a small country already hurting from years of wars takes the Avengers off American soil and into international borders. In all of this, there was always a conflict in terms of people’s ideologies, and it always came down to Steve Rogers and Tony Stark (the conservative vs the liberal). However, there was always something that brought them back together in an understanding that they are friends and on the same side. But what happens when they come to a fork in the road and they are forced to choose which road to take?

Avengers at Headquarters
The Sokovia Accord (It’s Just Politics)

That is how Civil War starts. An Avengers mission led by Captain America with his new Avengers team (War Machine, Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, Falcon, Vision) and the worst thing that can happen does. Innocent lives are lost and the world governments have had enough. But let’s be honest here: this isn’t about all the lives that were lost as if it is a humanitarian effort. This is about which lives were lost. Among the dead were missionaries from Wakanda, a small but powerful African nation that lives in seclusion. Missionaries that are rarely out since Wakanda keeps to itself are lost, and that driving force causes the world leaders to determine action needs to be done immediately in order to not have full backlash from the situation. This is a political agenda all the way through. I do wish, though, that what makes Wakanda so important to the United Nations would have been touched upon more. I guess that is for another film . . .

When presented with the Sokovia Accord that tells the Avengers to either be soldiers for the United Nations or quit, Steve Rogers is against it (no surprise here). His whole life as Captain America has dealt with nothing but corrupted governments and people with political (or worse) agendas. If he signs, his right to choose is gone. His moral obligation is put in check if the United Nations decides he can’t go and help somewhere. Meanwhile, Tony thinks the opposite. Too many lives have been lost because the Avengers are not put in check. Steve and some others decide that it is in their best interest to just quit. But when we are called for something greater, even when we want to walk away, we are pulled back in.

Friendships Gained; Friendships Lost

Enter the real conflict of the film–not a political stance of whether the conservative or liberal is correct. This is because Civil War does a great job in leaving you at 50/50 when it comes to #TeamCap or #TeamIronMan. The real conflict in the film is fueled by both friendship and vengeance. The King of Wakanda is killed at the UN signing of the Sokovia Accord. It is believed that Winter Soldier did it, and Steve can’t believe it. He is quickly back in gear in an attempt to find his childhood friend before General Ross and his soldiers find him first. This act now makes him a criminal since he is acting outside of the law, but he needs to know if it really was Bucky or if someone is controlling him again. On the flip side, Black Panther makes his appearance as he seeks vengeance for the death of his father. In the middle is Tony Stark trying to save his friend Steve while also doing his job and capturing Bucky. It brings about some great and intense chase scenes and battles between all the heroes.  The conflict increases as Cap stops Panther from killing Bucky, and both (along with Falcon) are taken into custody.

#TeamCap Fights

Of course, the other wrinkle to the story is added in, and Bucky escapes (as do Cap and Falcon)–but not before Cap discovers that someone else is responsible for everything. He finds Bucky, finally in his right mind, and puts together his team (Winter Soldier, Falcon, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, and Ant-Man) to go after the real villain. They understand that by doing so, they are outside of the law. What makes Rogers such a great leader is that there is a confidence and understanding that he wouldn’t go outside of the law if not for good reason. It is why Hawkeye comes out of retirement. It is why Ant-Man is willing to fight by his side. And it’s also why Scarlet Witch is willing to put away her fears and follow him. They all have reasons not to help Bucky, and those would all be good reasons. However, if Cap vouches for him, then a new friend is gained and they are willing to fight by his side.

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Meanwhile, Tony is given 36 hours to bring Cap and his team in or a shoot to kill man hunt will follow. He discovers where they are and brings his team (War Machine, Vision, Black Widow, Black Panther, and Spider-Man). This brings about probably the best on screen superhero battle in a while. It was simply amazing how they were able to centralize some of the fights. One on one battles between Black Panther and Captain America, Spidey and “insert whoever,” and best of all, watching Ant-Man go all Giant Man (YES!) was simply amazing. Of course, for me, Spidey stole the scenes as his young banter was Spider-Man to a T. It’s possibly the best representation that showed his strength, humor, agility, and weaknesses all in one. He’s a teenager that had no business in the fight, but held his own against them all (oh, and his intelligence really helped as well). The airport scene was simply a joy to watch even though the heroes are on two different ends of the spectrum. In the end, Cap and Bucky get away as the rest of the team is left to sacrifice themselves for the greater good (i.e they are captured and put in a supermax prison). What was once the mighty Avengers, for now, is over. Conflict has brought about catastrophe.

Vengeance Destroys All

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So here we are, the final act of the film. Friendships have been torn, but over what? Captain’s whole mission is to save his best friend, even if it meant separating from his other friends. His cause is righteous even if it means going outside the law to prove it. The others only see a man trying to save his best friend from his crimes. They think Bucky is guilty until Tony finally uncovers the truth. Bucky is innocent (of at least this incident), so he goes on his own as a friend. You see, friendship is a strong rope that many can cling on to. Sometimes it can get slippery, but it’s there. However, there is always someone who prefers to cut the rope than to see a strong bond remain strong. And in this final act, a survivor from Sokovia from the Zemo family has been doing exactly that. They cut the rope until in the final act, it finally goes through. The truth of how Howard Stark and his wife died is shown to Bucky, Cap, and Tony. Of course, Tony finds out that Cap already knew: Winter Soldier killed Tony’s parents. The cord of friendship is cut. Vengeance now fuels Tony, and frankly, watching two different super soldiers fight a man in a suit of armor is pretty great to see. It is an extremely bloody fight that in the end no one really wins. Sure, Cap beat Tony, but he didn’t win. Nothing was gained from it, and that is sad. It is my gripe with the film in that there was no redemption for either Tony or Cap. Both accepted the outcome, but their friendship is never going to be the same. Cap chose Bucky, he then breaks his team out of prison, and although Tony may have visually come to a point of acceptance, there is no doubt that forgiveness is still far away.

Redemption Found

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It is in the midst of this fight that my favorite character of the film truly shines (and he’s truly great throughout the whole film). Black Panther followed Tony to the compound. Vengeance still fueling his mission, until the truth is discovered, he captures Zemo, but not before an outstanding monologue on the very dangers of that vengeance. It fueled Zemo, it fueled Black Panther, and it fueled Iron Man in the end. This brought about great catastrophe as it spiraled around. Here was the message of redemption. Here we find the truth and parallel of sin. Left unchecked, it devours not just the person, but much more. There is a reason why God tells us to leave vengeance to Him: man is not equipped to handle it. Our decision process is thrown off course and until the truth is presented to us, we destroy things in our path. The truth is the cure to all evil and is a hard pill to swallow sometimes, but life in the truth ultimately is more peaceful and better than life filled with lies. Jesus said He is the way, the TRUTH, and the life…because life in Him makes life easier to handle (note: not easy, just easier).

Civil War is an action packed blockbuster with an outstanding story. I think that’s what made it so great. It took what was already there, then expanded on it. The conflict was not forced but very real and very believable. So much went on that I couldn’t even touch on the Vision and Scarlet Witch relationship! With all the characters in it, it was still very much a Captain America film with a centralized story that revolved around him and his virtue; the others were just bonus.

Like all Marvel films, I hope you stayed for the credits. I can’t wait to see those two have their solo films!

So what did you think of Civil War?

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Avengers, Black Panther, Captain America, Captain America: Civil War, Iron Man, spider-man

Captain America: Civil War — Conflict Breeds Catastrophe

May 5, 2016 by J. Alan Sharrer Leave a Comment

#TeamCap FightsLet’s get the basic questions out of the way before we begin the review.

Is Captain America: Civil War any good?  You bet it is!
Is it a perfect film? 
Nope.
Is there lots of fighting? Oh yes. And then some.
How’s Spider Man?
Well . . . He needs some practice.
Does the film leave the door open for future movies?
I think you know the answer to that one.
So who wins the Civil War?
Uh . . . I’m not going to tell you that. Why are you asking me?

Feel better?  No? Okay, then let’s review the film (with minor spoilers, if that).

If you’ve been under a rock for the last few years, Marvel Studios has been building a comic book-based empire on the strength of The Avengers, Iron Man, and Captain America. Captain America: Civil War adds to and builds on the previous movies, offering moviegoers a rollicking, fast-paced thrill ride that may take more than one viewing to adequately enjoy.

The story begins with the Avengers attempting to ward off a potential crisis in Nigeria.  However, something goes awry and innocent lives are lost.  This seems to be a theme of past films (New York and Sokovia, for example), so the governments of the world have decided it’s time for those with superpowers to have limits. Thus, the Sokovia Accords are drafted, giving the Avengers a choice: submit to governmental control or retire.

Avengers at Headquarters

If you’re a fan of the comics, you know there will be disagreements as to what should be done. Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) feels that limits will only breed more limits and make their jobs more difficult. Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) says that without limitations, they’re “no better than the bad guys.” Both are stubborn and won’t budge on their positions, gathering various Avengers to their separate points of view. Your favorite characters are all here: Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Black Widow (Scarlett Johnasson), Vision (Paul Bettany), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Ant-Man (Paul Ruud), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), and War Machine (Don Cheadle).  The addition of Black Panther/T’Challa (Chad Boseman) makes the situation more difficult (but man, is he an incredible character to watch on screen).

Meanwhile, the Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) is dealing with a lot of things that spin the other part of the plot in motion. Captain America has a tie to him and this comes into play as the film advances to an inevitable clash held at the airport in Berlin. There’s lots of fighting, lots of gadgetry, and a few surprises along the way. But as Vision notes, “Conflict breeds catastrophe.” The question is whether the Avengers, Captain America, and Iron Man will figure this out before it’s too late.

Captain America Meets Spider-ManOh yeah, and there’s Spider-Man/Peter Parker (Tom Holland).  He has a role in the fight in Berlin, but seems more in awe of the others than anything.  He’s also learning about his superpowers—with mixed results. One part of the film that irked me involved Aunt May (Marisa Tomei)—don’t go in expecting her to be old like in the comics. In fact, guys might even be smitten by her.

In the end, the themes of vengeance, love, family, and loyalty come into play, though I’ll leave it to you to figure out how and in what manner it happens. Suffice it to say that the words of Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 mean something in Civil War.

The film is nearly 2 ½ hours long, but it doesn’t feel that way due to the hyperkinetic pacing by directors Anthony and Joe Russo. Fight sequences are everywhere, surprises abound, and details are peppered throughout that help drive the plot forward. I do wish the villain (played by Martin Freeman) had been fleshed out a little bit more, but that’s nitpicking when events are unfolding so rapidly. The music isn’t overpowering but adds little to the whole scheme of affairs.  You’re there for the action, so that’s what you’re going to get.

And you’re going to like it.

(PS – Stay for the credits, as there are not one but two additional scenes that will leave you talking on the way out of the theater.)

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Ant-Man, Anthony Mackie, Anthony Russo, Aunt May, Avengers, Berlin, Black Widow, Bucky Barnes, Captain America, Captain America: Civil War, Chris Evans, Don Cheadle, Elizabeth Olsen, Falcon, Family, Government, Hawkeye, Iron Man, Jeremy Renner, Joe Russo, Love, Loyalty, Marisa Tomei, Martin Freeman, New York, Nigeria, Paul Betteny, Paul Ruud, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlet Witch, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Sokovia, spider-man, tom holland, vengeance, Vision, War Machine, Winter Soldier

Welcome Home[coming]

May 3, 2016 by Steve Norton 1 Comment

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Since we’re only a few short days (hours?) from the release of Avengers 2.5… er… Captain America: Civil War, anticipation for the film has reached a fever pitch. Every bus, cereal box and toothbrush seems to be emblazoned with either #TeamCap or #TeamIronMan. Tickets have been selling out at a record pace weeks (WEEKS!) before the films release as Marvel fans salivate at the carnage of their favourite heroes colliding on the big screen and even (potential) deaths for added drama.

Oh yeah, and the return of Spider-man.

Sorry Black Panther. I mean no disrespect, especially since I hear you’re amazing in the film… but the Internet has been buzzing over the latest incarnation of their favourite wall-crawler. Arguably the most popular character in the Marvel canon, Spidey hasn’t even been absent from the big screen for that long. Remember, it was only 2 years ago (!) that we were given the travesty that was The Amazing Spiderman 2. But, all of a sudden, everyone has ‘arachni-fever’ again. The first tease of Tom Holland in costume (or, his ‘underoos’) in the second trailer went viral. The ensuing announcement of next summer’s Spider-man film (including the addition of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man to the cast) made fans pop with enthusiasm.

So, why the hoopla? (After all, as the song says, how can we miss you if you won’t go away?)

Personally, I think it has something to do with the title of the new film – Spider-man: Homecoming. No, it doesn’t have the pop of, say, Civil War (and it is the title of a storyline from the comic adventuress in the 80s) but I think that the enthusiasm stems from what the film implies.

Spider-Man-Homecoming-Movie-2017-Logo

You see, Spider-man has come home.

When the film rights were sold to Sony in the late 90s, Spider-man was a hot commodity. From the troubled production by James Cameron that never saw the light to the eventual Tobey Macguire films in the early 2000s, Spider-man has remained a Marvel property but only in comics and licensing. In short, Marvel has had to keep their hands off of Spidey onscreen. (It was a similar agreement that Marvel has with Fox regarding X-Men films – and actually the reason why Marvel can’t even use the word “mutants” in their ‘cinematic universe’.)

Actually, the agreement was working out fairly well for both parties. Sony was cranking out Spider-man films—they had to do so in order to retain the rights—and Marvel was busy with their own projects. Sony even had plans to start their own Spider-man cinematic universe with spinoffs and sequels. However, when the Amazing Spiderman 2 turned out to be… well… less than amazing, fans started to turn on Sony. Criticisms of scripts, characters, and pretty much everything related to Spidey had pretty much left the franchise in jeopardy.

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But, after the infamous Sony email leak of 2014, all of that began to change.

All of a sudden, word spread that Marvel was working out a ‘secret agreement’ with Sony, one that would give creative control back to Marvel regarding the character but Sony would reap the financial benefits. Fans rejoiced. Although much of the hype surrounded the fact that Spider-man could finally join the Avengers, the reality is that people were happy that Marvel—Spidey’s creators and the ones who ‘get the character’—could finally tell his stories the way they were intended.

Regardless of what you felt of any of the Spider-man films, it simply felt awkward that he remained in the hands of a company that didn’t seem to care about him as much as Marvel does. Whereas Sony merely used him as a franchise machine, Marvel seems to have a more vested interest in the character himself. (For the record, I’m also not blind to the fact that Marvel sees Spidey as a profit-maker. However, they do genuinely seem to care about how well his stories are told.)

Now, he has come home. Underoos and all.

iron-man-and-spider-man

There is a sense that Spider-man simply belongs in the hands of Marvel. In the sole hands of Sony, Spidey seemed lost. In an (almost) prodigal-like narrative, the first-born has returned to the rejoicing father. Further, I think that the over-whelmingly positive response from the fans suggests that everyone believes that this is what needed to happen. There is a recognition that he will receive better care at ‘home’.

It’s a need that we all maintain.

Ultimately, I believe that we all cry out for ‘home’. It’s a spiritual need that’s deeply embedded in our hearts. Sometimes, our actual homes don’t provide that sense of refuge or even do damage to us emotionally and physically but we remain on our search until we find somewhere—anywhere—that makes us feel loved and accepted. As a Christian, I believe that that sense of hope can only be found when we realize what it means to be a part of God’s Kingdom. As Spider-man’s story will be told properly in the hands of his creators, so too do our stories make more sense when we reconnect with our Creator. When we experience the love and wholeness that God offers to His children, we experience what it means to truly come Home.

Now to get myself some underoos…

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Filed Under: Editorial, Film Tagged With: Captain America: Civil War, Civil War, homecoming, spider-man, spiderman, tom holland

Captain America Civil War: From Comic to Film

April 11, 2016 by Arnaldo Reyes Leave a Comment

Captain_America_Civil_War_posterIt’s hard to look at the comic book of Civil War and accurately compare it to the upcoming film since the comics are on a much larger scale. However, for what Marvel Studios has done, comparing it to the books will really bring us an in-depth look at both and allow us to see why the road to Civil War was inevitable.

“There is no right or wrong in this debate, it is simply a matter of perspective…” –Dr. Strange

The road to both Civil Wars’ is both different and similar. The triggering results are vastly different. In the comics, a young group of superpowered kids filming a reality show make a ratings-based decision to take down some super villains that were way out of their league. This results in massive casualties, especially at an elementary school. The social backlash was like no other with many calling for super hero reform while others calling for a ban on super heroes. The reality is that in the Marvel Comics, there are so many super heroes that many of the young people with powers are going out untrained. It was inevitable that something like this would happen and the results begins to draw a line between heroes; some take the actions of those heroes more personally while others feel the actions of those few shouldn’t force them to become government agents.

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Obviously, as seen in the trailers, the comic books took a similar route where the leading voice for the pro-registration of super heroes is Iron Man while the face of the resistance is Captain America. But in the films, if we look through the history we can see that the road was also inevitable. As the trailer suggests, New York, Washington DC, and then Sokovia marked areas of massive destruction that involved the Avengers. Although each incident wasn’t started by the Avengers, the outcome brings about fear and uncertainty by governments and people. Similar to how Batman v Superman attempted to show a fear by governments in Superman, Civil War will show us that as well, however we have a history of events and also an invested connection with the characters that will hopefully make for a more compelling and true story. The conflict in this film has its seeds in Avengers, Captain America: Winter Soldier, and Avengers: Age of Ultron.

It is no surprise that Tony Stark would side with the idea of being regulated by the government. From the first Iron Man film to Age of Ultron, Tony Stark has seen his inventions and, at times, actions turn to something sinister. Although we are not sure if something in the film hits him as deep and personal as the comics, his ideology differs from that in Cap that he would view government oversight as a good thing. Meanwhile, Captain America: Winter Soldier showed us what Cap really thinks when governments try to stop wars before there even is one. With the seeds of Hydra still fresh, Cap knows that the best hands the Avengers can be in is their own, a neutral party that stops the villains that no government task force can actually stop.

peterparker reveal

The other issue is the matter of secret identities. In Age of Ultron, we were introduced to Clint Barton’s family. If Hawkeye is forced to register, he then has to give up his secret identity which can put his family in harm’s way. It is an issue that was brought up in the comics that ultimately resulted in one of the biggest reveals in comic book history. Can a hero revealing his secret identity to the public be a good thing, or is it the biggest mistake they can make?  The mask of the hero isn’t the one they wear while fighting crime, but the one they put on in public. To take that away not only puts their life in danger, but everyone around them in danger. So naturally, we see that Hawkeye is on Team Cap for the film (and Ant-Man) as a secret identity is not just about him, but about protecting his family.

The question is, how far will Civil War go? Will Tony do the unethical to get to the future he feels is needed? Will Cap be able to sway any of Team Iron Man to fight his side? And, which side will we choose? The reality is, that both sides will be right and that is what will make the story compelling if done right. What are the moral obligations of these heroes and how should they be handled? When new heroes rise up as is the inevitable now, what is the protocol for younger ones who want to be like their favorite hero? As a citizen, you don’t want untrained heroes going around causing mayhem, no matter how much good they are doing. This is most likely the fear Iron Man has and why it makes him right.

“Don’t play politics with me, Hill. Superheroes need to stay above that stuff or Washington begins telling us who the Super Villains are” Captain America

At the same time, the corruption in politics will ultimately abuse their power by having a handful of weapons of mass destruction at their fingertips. And if the government ultimately starts using heroes, what will stop other governments from doing the same thing? And what if a super villain attacks another country not within their jurisdiction of the government, what is to stop the politicians from deeming it not worth the time? Cap’s moral center would never allow such a thing, and that’s why he is right as well.

cap moral reveal

Ultimately, whether we are looking at Team Cap or Team Iron Man, both sides have legitimate reasons to side with which one they so choose. They have always been on opposite sides of the spectrum when moral obligations are concerned, but that blend is what keeps both sides in check. But as we know in these films, Hydra and bad politicians is the main reason why they should govern themselves. Free of jurisdiction, but with a set of standards that the public is well aware of and a commitment to train new heroes as they rise up. I am not sure how Civil War on film will end, if it will stay true to the comic or will it change. One thing is for certain, in the end they have to remember one thing, why do they do what they do? Even the most noble of things can be wrong if the reason for them are for selfish reasons. But when we put others above ourselves, then our actions will have far greater reaching impact and rewards.

Filed Under: Editorial, Featured, Film Tagged With: Captain America, Captain America: Civil War, Civil War, Iron Man, Marvel, Marvel Studios

Captain America: Civil War Final Trailer

March 10, 2016 by Arnaldo Reyes Leave a Comment

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The line in the sand has been drawn. You are either Team Cap or Team Iron Man. The latest trailer gives us enough of the plot to have a basic idea of why they don’t see eye to eye, but we still don’t know the why. Why is Captain America against government oversight? Why is Tony for it? Why do some side with Cap and some side with Tony? What role does Crossbones play? Is Winter Soldier the reason Cap is against government oversight? Where is Baron Zemo? And last but not least: Whoa! Is that…?

Captain America: Civil War hits theatres May 6, 2016. What do you think of the latest trailer? Are you excited for this film? Have you chosen a side yet? Comment and let us know.

 

Filed Under: Film, News Tagged With: Captain America, Captain America: Civil War, Iron Man, Marvel, Marvel Studios, Winter Soldier

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7.12 Making Home in MINARI

1on1 with Philippe Falardeau (MY SALINGER YEAR)

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