Direction: Anthony and Joe Russo; Cast: Chris Evans, Robert Downey, Jr.;
Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth
Olsen, Paul Bettany, Tom Holland; Story:
based on characters by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby; Screenplay: Christopher Markus, Stephen MsFeely; Cinematography: Trent Opaloch; Editing: Jeffrey Ford, Matthew Schmidt;
Music: Henry Jackman; Producers: Kevin Feige; Genre: Sci Fi Action; Location: USA; Distributor: Walt Disney Studios; Running Time: 147 minutes
Technical
assessment : 3.5
Moral
assessment : 3
CINEMA
rating : V14
MTRCB
rating: PG
In 1991, Hydra controls Buck/Winter
Soldier (Sebastian Stan) into hijacking a car a scientist car and stealing a
serum to create more superhuman soldiers. In the present day, the Avengers
successfully thwarts an attempt to steal a biohazard weapon in Nigeria but
Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) inadvertently causes a hospital to explode, killing
hundreds of innocent people. The world’s distrust of the Avengers’ sense of
accountability grows, forcing the United Nations to step in to approximate
control and liability through the Sekovia Accords. The Act divides the Avengers,
with Stark (Robert Downey, Jr), Romanoff (Scarlett Johanssen), Rhodes (Don Cheadle),
Vision (Paul Bettany) and lately Parker/Spiderman (Tom Holland) for signing the
Act while Rogers (Chris Evans), Wilson (Anthony Mackie), Burton (Irons), Wanda,
(Elizabeth Olsen), Lang (Paul Rudd) are against it. While tension between Stark
and Rogers escalates, their conflict widens when the government orders the
arrest of Bucky/Winter Soldier for bombing the UN Ratification meeting in
Vienna, killing the Wakandan King which sends his son, Black Panther, to hunt
Bucky and avenge his father’s death. In a twist of events, the Avengers are
manipulated into destruction by Zemo (Daniel Bruhl) who realizes destruction of
a powerful force happens when you break them from within, destroying their
trust and friendship for each other.
Captain
America: Civil War has a
slow start and seems like forever to build up amidst all the characters and
sub-plots. But when it does, the audience is taken into an addictive
rollercoaster ride of emotional highs and beautifully crafted action sequences.
The fight choreographies are stunning to watch while camerawork captures heart-pounding
scenes clinically. The script, although too verbose at times, manages to give
all 12 major characters their shining moments without straying from the
storyline. The final twist in the end gives the film a darker yet more mature
tone and credibility. Directors Anthony and Joe delivered one of the better
Marvel franchises to date.
Guilt and revenge seem to be the underlying
motivations that consumed the characters in the film prompting them to decide
and act accordingly. For instance, Stark feels guilty about his oversight and
consistent role in the destruction and death everytime Ironman battles the
enemy. Black Panther and Col. Zemo willingly spend all their time and energy
into avenging their family’s death. Wanda is conflicted because of her guilt in
the events in Sekovia and Nigeria. While guilt serves a reminder of how we may
have failed or chosen wrongly, we must learn to heal, forgive ourselves and
start reparation not by beating ourselves to death but by making sure our
future choices reflect common good. On the other hand, revenge leads us to more
destruction and further deepens the wounds of loss and failure. Forgiveness and
acceptance are the key to healing and moving on. Our future are a result of our
past but not intertwined in them. Perhaps war begins when guilt or revenge is
harbored too long, allowing it to consume our better judgments. Perhaps peace
begins when we learn to let go and move forward without regret or anger—but
with compassion, understanding and commitment to the common good.
