CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR

I admit that I have to credit a combination of factors that indirectly influenced my interest in recently watching this film Captain America Civil War (plus bonus features). One factor is that my husband indirectly got me interested in watching the marvel films over 12 years ago (2008) when he convinced me to see the Iron Man film in theaters (we had seen it together at a movie theater here in Norfolk Virginia). The second factor I recently had a strange unusual sleeptime dream where I saw the actor Robert Downey Jr. surrounded by what appeared to be his work/career entourage involving a happy event though the details are far from certain if I was actually watching him through a tv screen or an actual building. Sometime after this sleeptime dream, I politely suggested a certain film with my husband who recommended Disney Plus and we mutually agreed to see this film Captain America Civil War (plus bonus features) together before I also obtained it here through amazon for future unlimited viewings. The early beginnings of the Captain America Civil War film introduces the character of “Bucky Barnes Winter Soldier” (Sebastian Stan) which also eventually paves the way for one of the multiple reasons why multiple other characters become involved in either direct andor indirect ways in events involving the “Bucky Barnes Winter Soldier character”: Captain America (Chris Evans), Tony Stark Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Natasha Romanoff Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Falcon character (Anthony Mackie), James Rhodes War Machine (Don Cheadle), Clint Barton Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), TChalla Black Panther (Chad Boseman), Vision (Paul Bettany), Wanda Maximoff Scarlett Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Scott Lang Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), Peter Park Spider Man (Tom Holland), Helmut Zemo (Daniel Bruhl), Sharon Carter (Van Camp), Brock Rumlow/Crossbones (Frank Grillo), Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt), cameo appearances of John Slattery Hope Davis, Alfre Woodard, John Kani, Martin Freeman, Marisa Tomei Martin Freeman Stan Lee Kerry Condon etc. are also among the multiple actors/actresses featured in Captain America Civil War The film either shows andor references the following places in relation to the plot sequences of Captain America Civil War andor connections with some of the characters: Lagos Nigeria, Vienna Austria, Wakanda, Bucharest Romania, Queens New York, Brooklyn. I did enjoy that a back story was given as to why the antagonist was determined to seek revenge instead of completing forgiving although my only caveat to the film is that I do feel that sometimes people can improve personality wise over time as they evolve to live longer compared to how they might have thought andor acted in their younger years and if this film is ever remade/rebooted again andor more prequels made pertaining to Captain America Civil War it would be interesting to see if any redemption elements are included even more extensively. On a positive note, there were at least some redemptive elements touched upon by certain characters in the film. Aside from the caveat, Captain America Civil War was a much better film than I anticipated and fortunately my husband also enjoyed watching the film. There are some scenes after the conclusion of the film that give hints into other films and the credit of Captain America Civil War being directed by Joe Russo and Anthony Russo.

Steve: *Leads and then botches a mission in Lagos, Nigeria because he brought an unprepared team member AND totally misread the situation in the first place - leading to 11 people dying and many more injured.*Wanda: *Kills 11 innocent people by not being able to control her powers and being untrained enough for the mission.*Steve and Wanda: *Fluff off the 11 deaths in about two lines of dialogue, plus a couple of furrowed brows during the meeting with Ross.*Steve and Wanda: *Never refer to the screwed-up mission or the 11 deaths again. Doesn’t really seem to bother them.*Wanda: Waaaah! You locked me up in my room! How dare you?? *Proceeds to escalate airport fight to deadly proportions, causing injuries and millions of dollars in damages*Steve: Literally CHOOSES NOT TO DO the Right Thing (which is protecting the many) and runs off to save his one pal instead, becoming the catalyst for many more deaths and injuries and millions of dollars in damages – thus giving up the right to be Captain America (and he knows it; hence his throwing away the shield).Fandom at large: Everything Steve does is right because he’s Captain America! We love Steve and Wanda!Tony Stark (with not too much screen time but making the most of it…): *Takes complete responsibility for all his actions, especially blaming himself for Ultron even though he’s clearly NOT completely responsible. In fact, takes utter responsibility and blame even at the expense of his own health and well-being. Cares probably way too much. Listens to the pain of a mother who lost her son in Sokovia; lets it affect him personally and terribly. Tries to the utmost of his ability to keep the Avengers safe and together. Pays for all their mistakes and embarrassments, including stuff they blow up and destroy – and probably funds an army of lawyers and advisors to pay damages to the people injured and the families of the people killed as collateral damage on Avengers missions. Keeps Wanda SAFE in a SAFEHOUSE because she’s a visa-less foreign national who could be killed by Ross’s goon squads or imprisoned without bond at any time - also because she just KILLED 11 PEOPLE. Feigns going along with Ross even though he doesn’t trust Ross, because he wants to keep everyone safe and together and knows politicians don’t stay in power forever and that contracts can be negotiated. Tries valiantly throughout the story to use reason and rationality, offers of compromise and negotiation, to get Steve to at least listen to his side – because guess what, the Avengers actually do need accountability. Is rebuffed again and again but still tries. Brings Spider-Man to the airport SPECIFICALLY to “web ‘em up” and capture HIS FRIENDS WITHOUT HURTING THEM and finds it’s Cap’s side that escalates the war. Has to endure the grave injury of his best friend Rhodey and no doubt blames himself for that too. Goes to Steve’s side IMMEDIATELY when he gets the evidence that Bucky was not the Vienna bomber, to try to make things right. Bravely goes alone in a helicopter through a raging ocean storm to the Raft, at tremendous danger to himself, to try to find out where Steve is – knowing Ross could lock him up, too, and no one would be the wiser. Is stunned and appalled by what he finds there, but has to play the high-stakes game and get his information and get out if he wants to somehow save the Avengers and help Steve.Has to endure the cruel jibes of Clint, which he hides his feelings about. Escapes the Raft, flies more than 6,000 miles to Siberia, ALONE in the armor, to try to make amends. Almost succeeds– until he finds out his erstwhile friend kept the most terrible of all secrets from him for two years. Reacts as any human would (since he JUST SAW video footage of the murders of his parents, and the murderer is standing right there…).*Fandom at large: Aggghhh! Tony locked up Wanda and brought a child to the airport fight and then he attacked Bucky! He’s a spoiled rich guy with no feelings and no morals!“Civil War” screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (on the Blu-Ray): Steve is better than Tony and a greater moral character.Tony Fans: ………what???The movie, as a whole, was great, but listening to some of the commentary on the Blu-Ray from the Russos and the screenwriters seems to directly contradict how Tony's story arc actually emerged onscreen. Tony was BY FAR the more sympathetic character when compared with Steve - I can't tell you the number of people who have said they went in to the movie as Team Cap and came out solidly on Tony's side.It's pretty clear the Avengers DO need accountability - an idea that Tony, by reason, rationality, and almost pleading, tried to get across to the stolidly non-responsive Steve. If 117 countries say so, then something needs fixing. You can't just imperially say "our hands are the best hands" -- that's a dangerous notion, and says who, anyway?Chris Evans' s Cap, in fact, was a stubborn lump throughout this movie (what the heck WAS his motivation for refusing the Accords - especially when it was clear that they were open to negotiation and discussion??) -- only coming to life at certain times (the church scene was nice...) while RDJ simply blew everyone else off the screen with his emotion-driven arc.I simply found this movie very one-sided, as much as I liked it. Cap's side and his bullheaded stubbornness were never explained clearly, while Tony (with MUCH less screen time) got to portray a fully realized argument and a full range of emotions explaining and illuminating his side and his feelings. Some critics and fans are calling this "Iron Man 4," with very good reason. As one major critic said, it's odd that the movie is called "Captain America" when Captain America is the least interesting character in it.

This is a good movie, but I have noticed that Civil War and other Marvel movies that aren't bonus edition digital copies are visually distorted. My complaints to Amazon Prime have gone unnoticed. I am starting to think it is a better idea to invest in movies elsewhere. I'm pretty disappointed.