Film: Captain America Civil War (2016)


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Marvel…

Just one viewing of Captain America: Civil War, no matter your level of familiarity with Marvel studios, will leave you wondering at just how they managed to make it. It is one example amongst many others that nails a franchise blockbuster. Sure, it contains an inherently conservative plot, but the delicateness of crafting a film that can be followed by a newcomers and yet still contain varying wealth’s of knowledge for avid to fanatic watchers, as well as advertising for films to be released two years from now, is, forgive the pun, something to be simply marvelled at.
The plot is following the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron and the aftermath of saving the world, where in doing so they destroyed a city and took lives. A political analogy is even there for America and its interference, Segovia (the city destroyed) much like Iraq for America. Thus, the various heroes (and there are literally so many) are split between Captain America; who doesn’t want UN sanctions on the Avengers and “believes in people”, a.k.a the individual; and Iron Man who believes they should be “put in check” by the world. Of course this is Captain America’s film, so it subtly sides with him, giving him the last word before the credits and also in the dress, which also does an interesting thing of having Stark (Iron Man) in a suit when trying to contain Captain America, who is in a leather jacket, connoting an American sense of rebellion and freedom. This is also then Starks outfit when he goes against orders of the general later in the film.
But behind the thick veil of seriousness, the spectacle and its light humour, lies money, money, money! The film is constantly pointing you in every which way for its other products, there is the reveal of the new Spider-Man and Black Panther, exposed in preparation for the instalments of 2017 and 18, as well as the in-joke when Ant-Man shows up, nodding to his film. This is also presumably due to the fact that came out a year later too. Then there’s even a reference to Star Wars, now of course a Disney product like Marvel. Almost every line is a reference, and yet it still makes you laugh and does everything the blockbusters supposed to. 
It’s hard to think of a time when the Marvel franchises weren’t around. It is impossible not to underestimate their power within modern entertainment, with the films in phase three of four and scheduled releases for up to 2028. Then when you consider their branch into Netflix with The Defenders and their further broadening to rated R audiences, as well as the tie in comics, old comics, toys and whatever else, it’s frightening. Whilst one has to admire the genius and beauty of the business plan, it is nonetheless a business plan, which is looking set to slowly erode the box office of all else that stands in its way.

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