Captain America: Civil War (Film Review)

[selenak]

Living in Europe and in a country where this was partially shot totally pays off (again): I've just watched Civil War, movieverse edition.

Generally speaking: the Russos did a great job serving their huge ensemble. Should this have been called Avengers III rather than Captain America? Probably. Not because Steve doesn't get enough screen time,

Comments

*more spoilers*

[vaysh]

I love reading your reviews. :) So many interesting thoughts. I was very relieved, too, that Steve and Bucky were not cracking any "back at fighting the Germans" jokes. And I've read reviews that criticised the movie for having "too much dialogue" but I appreciated those scenes a lot, especially, as you say, the one where all the (present) Avengers discuss whether to sign the Accords or not.

As I am one of the people highly invested in Steve/Bucky ;), I am wondering what you thought about Steve agreeing to have Bucky back in Cryo. I didn't understand that at all.

Re: *more spoilers*

[selenak]

Doylist-wise, I thought it was there as an explanation as to why Bucky won't be in the next Avengers movie (I assume) and why Steve won't be looking for him, either (since he know exactly where Bucky is). On a Watsonian level? Bucky has just seen he can still be turned into a killing zombie by the right words, and he and Steve are both wanted men, so it's no tlike they can advertise for a deprogramming trustworthy psychiatrist online. And bottom line is: Bucky makes that choice, and after having had no choices about what he does since WWII, do youwant to take that away from him? My Watsonian explanation further is that Steve intends to find such a therapist as soon as possible but wants to be really sure it's not yet another villain in disguise, instead of trusting the next stranger, and will send her/him to Wakanda once he's thoroughly vetted that person, where T'Challa will then defrost Bucky.

Re: *more spoilers*

[vaysh]

I can see all the Doylist explanations (but why wouldn't Bucky be in the next Avengers movie?) but it is really a drastic solution. After two years of searching for his best friend, especially with Peggy gone, Steve just watches as Bucky makes such a decision to be gone again? And it would have been nice to see Bucky actually make this choice. We see him living in Bucharest, buying fruit, smiling to people. Apparently he could rent or squad that apartment without going on a killing spree. Who else is left who knows the (rather complicated) programming sequence? It makes no sense to me.

Re: *more spoilers*

[selenak]

Oh, Watsoninan-wise as a viewer I agree with you that it would make more sense to, you know, help Bucky adjust to life while looking for that therapist. But if I had to justify it for, say, fanfiction, this would be the reasoning I'd use in Steve's head

Re: *more spoilers*

[vaysh]

I am sure the mid-credit scene will inspire LOADS of fanfic, ripped-off arm and all. :)

Perhaps you are right that they are fridging Bucky to buy more time with less characters to establish the primary villain for Infinity Wars. But Sebastian Stan has a 7 movie deal with Marvel, which makes me doubt he will not be in the next Avengers. The Russos have been pushing for a Black Widow movie with WS and Natasha, and Bucky's redhead remark seems to prepare for that, as well. Chris Evans has at least two more movies with Marvel, I think.

Re: *more spoilers*

[selenak]

Bucky made a redhead remark? she asks, proving she's still not paying all that much attention to Bucky.

I would love a Black Widow movie, always, but am not sold on Bucky needing to be in it, just because their comicverse alter egos had a relationship. What I'd like, ideally, would be a story that confronts Natasha with her younger self, perhaps an adaption of the comics in which she tracks down the origins of the Black Widow program twisted to fit the MCU. If Bucky is in that, it will inevitably be more about the Winter Soldier program.

...and okay, I'm still just not that interested and would prefer Natasha & any other Marvel character instead, I admit.