CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR: Reviews and discussion of the movie WITH spoilers...

[Keeler]

As a life long Spider-Man fan I was beyond ecstatic 14 years ago when we finally saw him on the big screen after do many false starts, lawsuits, etc. Raimi's first two Spider-Man films were tremendous but always seemed to lack something. I was never thrilled with the raised "silverish" webs and the dark tones of the costume but seemed content that at least they kept it somewhat faithful to the source material. But after seeing CW, and seeing the character literally ripped out of the comic book my anticipation for Homecoming has brought that feeling back. The 15-20 minutes of Spider-Man in this movie has been the best on screen translation to date. And the costume is the perfect mix of Romita and the current animated Ultimate version, with a few touches that still give it it's own cinematic identity.

[filmation batman fan]

I was afraid Rhodes was going to be killed off. Glad he wasn't and speaking of which, I loved Stan Lee's cameo as a mailman looking for "Tony Stank!"

[jimbutsu]

I disagree. I think it's unreasonable to assume Stark thought Cap would kill him.

Then why did he cover up his head from a shot with the shield? Honest question, not trying to be contrary - I'm interested in hearing another take on that.

[Hedji]

Also am wondering if Tony Stark can make the technology for Rhodes to walk again. I mean, he's Tony Stark, of course he can.

[Hedji]

Then why did he cover up his head from a shot with the shield? Honest question, not trying to be contrary - I'm interested in hearing another take on that.

My response to that scene was totally visceral. I clenched up and winced. It was totally effective.

[megomania]

Got home from seeing it about an hour ago.

Great. Effing. Movie.

-Chris

[huedell]

As a life long Spider-Man fan I was beyond ecstatic 14 years ago when we finally saw him on the big screen after do many false starts, lawsuits, etc. Raimi's first two Spider-Man films were tremendous but always seemed to lack something. I was never thrilled with the raised "silverish" webs and the dark tones of the costume but seemed content that at least they kept it somewhat faithful to the source material. But after seeing CW, and seeing the character literally ripped out of the comic book my anticipation for Homecoming has brought that feeling back. The 15-20 minutes of Spider-Man in this movie has been the best on screen translation to date. And the costume is the perfect mix of Romita and the current animated Ultimate version, with a few touches that still give it it's own cinematic identity.

Great post.

This aspect has to be one of the most underrated achievements of a film that, admittedly, has a lot of good points to point out without alluding too much to past or future superhero movies.

[huedell]

Then why did he cover up his head from a shot with the shield? Honest question, not trying to be contrary - I'm interested in hearing another take on that.

I have no "perfect" answer for that. Didn't notice it.

Knowing he did that, it's admittedly harder to rationalize a proper argument to y'all that it was Tony's defensive "instinct" and/or attempt at a defense against a physical slip-up by Cap---but, even I'd admit I'm using things here that don't particularly "hold up to scrutiny by a jury" when there's evidence ("split-second" instinct though it may be) that Stark was, at the very least, afraid in that moment.

Still... I'm going with what I said originally, which is Stark would never assume Cap would kill him---of course adding the caveat that: "IF he had more than split second to react/think about it." sure helps

My response to that scene was totally visceral. I clenched up and winced.

As did Tony---and that's the point I'm trying to make.

It was totally effective.

It was certainly an emotional moment IMHO---so, yeah, I'm not sure what would qualify to have us both agree that it was "effective"--- to me, it's just having emotional impact, regardless of what the character was really thinking in his head. And it had that for both of us.

[huedell]

I love the tie in line to the First Avenger "I can do this all day long" signifying that Stark has now become the bully. Really nice touch.

I looked at it as a good callback---yet, a callback to his "tenacity" rather than any negativity reflected on Stark.

[Gorn Captain]

I think Tony protected his face, because the trust between them (as far as Tony was concerned) was gone, and he did expect Cap to hit him, maybe not a lethal blow, but enough to rattle some teeth.
And to be honest, it felt like Cap was really letting loose a lot of pent-up frustration, and he did seem a bit out of control (for a moment). Who can blame him?

Tony has a real problem with the concept of friendship (does he really have any?), Steve on the other hand feels it very intensely. And that is why they're not always on the same page. They both felt betrayed by the other.

So for me, that blow to the head was a possible scenario, for both men, considering everything that had happened.

[Gorn Captain]

As a life long Spider-Man fan I was beyond ecstatic 14 years ago when we finally saw him on the big screen after do many false starts, lawsuits, etc. Raimi's first two Spider-Man films were tremendous but always seemed to lack something. I was never thrilled with the raised "silverish" webs and the dark tones of the costume but seemed content that at least they kept it somewhat faithful to the source material. But after seeing CW, and seeing the character literally ripped out of the comic book my anticipation for Homecoming has brought that feeling back. The 15-20 minutes of Spider-Man in this movie has been the best on screen translation to date. And the costume is the perfect mix of Romita and the current animated Ultimate version, with a few touches that still give it it's own cinematic identity.

Yep, totally agree. Best movie Spidey so far!

[rche]

I had an interesting discussion with a college age fellow over the weekend. We were visiting an open house for a really cool children's museum that is nearby and he was working at one of the international culture tables. He had on a spidey t-shirt and I asked him if he had seen the film on opening day and what he thought of it. His response was that he had already seen the young Spiderman and his origin story, and that he was hoping for more of an established hero. He also agreed with me that Stark should have had nothing to do with the original Spider suit or tech. Stark gave Peter the Iron Spider suit, not his original outfit. I found it interesting that this articulate and passionate young fan was somewhat bored with the presentation of the Disney/Marvel Spiderman.

[Gorn Captain]

That's true, there was no reason to insert Stark in Spiderman's "origin". You'd think that nobody but Stark seems to have a brain in this new universe.
Parker is smart enough (or he wouldn't have designed the webbing), so why make Stark patron saint of every superhero?
I did like the idea of the adjustable eyes on the costume, gives it more life and expression. Also something Parker himself could have designed. Was that ever in the comic book?

[PNGwynne]

That expressiveness was done in the comics sometimes; I liked it. I thought Spidey--and Holland--were-- terrific. Tomei isn't my idea of May at all, but she was warm and effective. I think the suit idea was a crutch to intro Spidey into the Stark camp--I wasn't very comfortable with it. Particularly since Peter came up with the much more complex web-shooters that Stark admired.

Stark was more sympathetic than I expected. Evans, as Rogers, impresses me as much as ever and he's given a wide range in this outing. Loved, loved, loved T'Challa, and Ant-Man, too.

My only real misgiving (not having seen Age of Ultron) was the one-dimensional Jean Grey-like depiction of Wanda's powers.

[Earth 2 Chris]

My only real misgiving (not having seen Age of Ultron) was the one-dimensional Jean Grey-like depiction of Wanda's powers.

Yeah, but Marvel could never decide what Wanda's powers really were. She could be the Deus Ex Machina Witch. I prefer a more limited set of powers to "whatever the script calls for".

I didn't have any problem with Stark making the Spidey suit. As you said, it was done to put Spidey squarely in Stark's camp. And we've seen Maguire and Garfield somehow manufacture these thousand dollar suits on a poor high schoolers budget...and folks have complained about it.

Chris