Superhero Media: Captain America - Civil War

Is it me, or does Captain America Civil War mark a turning-point for the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Before now, the idea of crossing over characters was reserved for Avengers outings and cameos, but ten superheroes beating the tar out of each other isn't even the finale of Civil War. The cynical may call it a cash-in, but Captain America has always been associated with the rest of the Avengers more so than any family or friends, given that most people he knew are dead, except, of course, Bucky. Speaking of the Winter Soldier, Bucky is trying to piece his life together in the backwaters of Europe, not knowing that Helmut Zemo, sadly not a Baron, nor wearing a purple balaclava (yet), is hunting him down on a mission to break up the Avengers forever. Which is not inspired by Avengers Disassembled nor Civil War, somehow. But who cares about adaptations when the best Captain America film also introduces Black Panther, Spider-Man and has some of the best Hawkeye moments until Avengers Endgame. 

And how good are the Spider-Man scenes? Seriously, within a couple of lines, the best live-action Spidey comes into the fore without even putting on the costume. What makes Civil War great is the interplay between characters, from Peter Parker hero worshiping Tony Stark, Cap and Bucky reminiscing about Coney Island in the '30s and Ant-Man just being super enthused to be with all the other heroes. We get to see all of our favouite heroes, and a couple new to the MCU, fight it out in classic Silver Age style before Tony Stark has two drastic changes of heart in the final act and The Avengers are split at their core over the course of a fist fight between two best friends. The image of Captain America's shield, damaged and broken will set the tone for the team for years to come, pretty much until Avengers Endgame. In the same film in which Hawkeye fires Ant Man on an arrow like some Lee/Kirby Avengers, Steve and Tony have a personal emotional battle better than any part of Dawn of Justice; exactly the kind of heady mix that makes the MCU great. 

Rather than being lost, the big cast works for Civil War because we get to see the Avengers being domestic, much like in Age of Ultron, with Vision attempting to cook, the team tackling Hydra offshoots and Tony Stark running the behind the scenes. Thunderbolt Ross returns for the first time since The Incredible Hulk, and Everett Ross makes his debut before he returns in Black Panther. Fanboys take note, Wakanda just having always been around but not mentioned is pretty much how Latveria and mutants should be handled in the MCU when their time comes around. No one really wants a long-winded explanation on how all the minutia works, it distracts from the story and the characters. All these years later, Civil War still remains one of the best films in the MCU stable, with some of the best character work and world-building in a great superhero adventure. That's the secret of the MCU, make good films, people already love these characters, just do the work and the rewards will follow.