|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
When politicians pass the Sokovia Accords, in an attempt to protect civilians from the mayhem which occurs when superhero’s attempt to save the world, Captain America and the Avengers are split on whether to accept or reject the Act.
Marvel Studios
Rated PG-13, for extended sequences of violence, action and mayhem.
Genre: Action
Viewer Appeal: Ages 12 and up
I know why this is a Captain America movie, but really, it could be titled Avengers: Civil War.
How can you go wrong with a movie that includes Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Rinner), Antman (Paul Rudd), as well as numerous other Avengers and superheroes? I know why this is a Captain America movie, but really, it could be titled Avengers: Civil War. Whatever it’s called, with that cast, you simply can’t go wrong.
So, you might have noticed in previous movies, that when the Avenger’s fight off enemies, they tend to destroy entire cities. New York. Sokovia. And innocent people get caught in the crosshairs, and die. It hasn’t escaped notice by the United Nations, either, and when additional lives are lost in Logos, they take action. The UN put together the Sokovia Accords, which places the superheroes under a board who decides when, and if, they should act. They want to Avengers to sign the accords in agreement. Tony/Iron Man and Vision (Paul Bettany) see the logical necessity for such an accord, but Captain America and Falcon (Anthony Mackie) feel differently, and refuse to sign. Meaning, they have to retire.
Trouble doesn’t take long to find the Avengers…
..and test their loyalties. Several days later, in Vienna, a bomb tears through the building where the accords are being ratified, killing King T’Chaka (John Kani) of Wakanda, and leaving his son, Prince T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) grieving his loss. Soon the media is reporting that Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) is behind the blast. Of course, Steve Rogers can’t believe that his oldest friend is behind this terrible act, and, illegally (due to the new Accords), sets out to find and protect Bucky.
This is where the rift between the superheroes cuts to a chasm with Iron Man, Vision, Black Widow, Spider-man (Tom Holland), and War Machine (Don Cheadle) on one side, and Capt. America, Falcon, Hawkeye, Black Panther, and Antman on the other. The battle that wages between these ten heroes is epic and awesome, funny and heart-breaking. While most friendships don’t endure something of this magnitude, it’s a great illustration of what happens when friends and family don’t see eye to eye. When they take sides, determined to show who’s right and wrong.
As with all Marvel movies, the story is told with explosions, humor, intrigue, and a sighting of Mr. Stan Lee himself.
While the fighting and exploding buildings/cars/planes take up a good portion of the movie (hence the “Action” genre), it’s all very entertaining. Truly the funniest part of the movie is the big fight scene between all the characters, with sarcasm and one-liners popping off regularly. But with the levity also comes the sadness of watching friends torn apart by their response to the guilt and responsibility they feel for those threatened and hurt by evil. This isn’t just a comic book, action, superhero movie, but one with heart and messages of vengeance, forgiveness, and friendship.
Additionally, more than 60-minutes of bonus material is included on the Blu-ray edition of Captain America Civil War: an inside look at the evolution of lead characters Steve Rogers and Tony Stark, a behind-the-scenes exclusive on the making of Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War,” never-before-seen deleted scenes and hilarious outtakes. Plus an exclusive, first look at Marvel’s “Doctor Strange,” starring Benedict Cumberbatch, coming to theaters Nov. 4, 2016.
Here’s a list of the specific Blu-ray bonus features:
• United We Stand, Divided We Fall – The Making of Captain America: Civil War Part 1 & Part 2 – As the tension mounts, sides are chosen and lines drawn. Learn more about the characters on each side—from Captain America and Iron Man to the latest recruits. In this complete behind-the-scenes look at a landmark in the Marvel saga, we’ll examine their stories through exclusive footage and interviews and discover just what went into selecting the Super Hero teams, filming the epic action sequences and introducing Black Panther and Spider-Man to the MCU.
• Captain America: The Road to Civil War – Explore the First Avenger’s fascinating evolution from loyal soldier to seasoned, conflicted hero who questions authority.
• Iron Man: The Road to Civil War – From Gulmira to Sokovia, delve into the development and evolution of one of the most iconic characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
• Gag Reel – Break the tension of this high-stakes conflict with some hilarious outtakes featuring the lighter side of your favorite Super Heroes.
• Deleted & Extended Scenes – Check out never-before-seen footage that didn’t make the final cut of “Captain America: Civil War.”
• Audio Commentary – Directors Anthony and Joe Russo and screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely deliver scene-by-scene insight and explain the storytelling challenges they faced creating the third installment of the Captain America franchise.
• Open Your Mind: Marvel’s Doctor Strange – Exclusive Sneak Peek – Go behind and beyond the scenes as Doctor Strange makes his journey to the big screen.
Let’s Talk About It
Use these questions to spark discussion among family members who are interested in this movie:
• Tony is clearly conflicted by the guilt he feels and responsibility he assumes for the actions of the Avengers. He sees the correlation between fighting evil and the effects that has on others. Which is interesting for a character who is self-absorbed and self-centered. Why do you think he seems to feel guilt more than the others?
• Despite Bucky’s past, Steve is certain that he wasn’t behind the explosion in Vienna. Do you think he was wise to assume Bucky’s innocence?
• On the other hand, Prince T’Challa is quick to seek revenge against Bucky. How does this conflict illustrate the wisdom in “innocent until proven guilty?” How might this story have been different, if he had sought to discover the truth before seeking revenge?
–JW
All product-related graphics in this article are standard publicity/promotional shots and are owned by their respective publisher
