tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post4105151558297300562..comments2024-03-27T23:50:21.307-04:00Comments on Doux Reviews: Captain America: Civil War Billie Douxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17141769005175631213noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-16260408096381780142021-01-31T03:09:04.350-05:002021-01-31T03:09:04.350-05:00Excellent review of an excellent movie.
I’ve neve...Excellent review of an excellent movie.<br /><br />I’ve never cared much for Cap though.Valkyrie30https://www.blogger.com/profile/15295841624398755558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-27781672897914082462016-09-20T09:52:54.973-04:002016-09-20T09:52:54.973-04:00Finally saw this movie, and in general, I thought ...Finally saw this movie, and in general, I thought it was very good. They made it believable that two superheroes would turn against each other, which is no small thing. Yes, it was Cap's movie, but I love Downey's Iron Man more than any of the other Marvel movie leads. <br /><br />But I also thought this movie would have benefited if they'd cut down the other superhero line-up and limited it to, say, three on each side, and focused on the ones we knew and their motivations. I Why introduce Spider-man now? Yes, he was cute and funny, but I kept wishing they'd focus more on Natasha, a character I cared about and who was seriously underutilized. Ditto Hawkeye. Since this one was about how they all felt, couldn't they have done one less big action piece and more about the character interaction? <br /><br />The de-ageing of Downey was creepy. I didn't like it. And Josie, I loved the VW bit, too. Billie Douxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17141769005175631213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-77792032457679238942016-05-31T12:48:55.758-04:002016-05-31T12:48:55.758-04:00migmit,
Tony has ALWAYS acted impulsively with re...migmit,<br /><br />Tony has ALWAYS acted impulsively with regards to his emotions. Iron Man I -- finds out some of his weapons are falling into the wrong hands -- does he do an investigation to find out how? No, he shutters the weapons manufacturing side of Stark Industries instead. Iron Man II -- your best friend tries to stage an intervention while you are depressed? Hey it was time to remodel the house anyways. Iron Man III -- A little upset about a terrorist's activities? Hey, guy, here's my home address, because even though you've shown you have a massive resources, you won't actually come visit. Age of Ultron -- A little concerned you might not always be there to save the day? Let's mess around with an infinity stone and create a global-threatening super-villain. His over-reacting to Sokovia, capitulation to Ross, and subsequent reaction to his parent's death are just more examples of the same knee-jerk response he has shown throughout the series.Icebox17https://www.blogger.com/profile/07921451306466709647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-28518205422821620322016-05-11T20:49:27.118-04:002016-05-11T20:49:27.118-04:00Recently, we have seen a fight over electronic sec...Recently, we have seen a fight over electronic security. The government wants a backdoor created in electronic security that will allow them to access the information on the phones recovered from alleged terrorists and other criminals. The argument for this boils down to "if you don't, the bad guys get away and people get hurt or killed." The arguments against are myriad, from the potential for abuse and the vulnerability that this would create to the fact that it wouldn't actually work.<br /><br />This movie expertly points out the biggest flaw in creating overwatch for a group like the Avengers. The Avengers act as a first response unit to extreme threats. Just like you cannot have firefighters waiting on the city council for permission to go into a neighborhood to put out a fire, it seems insane to bind these heroes' pursuit of threats to the speed of politics and the decisions of a committee.<br /><br />The potential for disaster is highlighted when at least three of the four incidents cited as proof overwatch is necessary are ones where the collateral casualties are <i>not the heroes' fault</i>. The death and destruction in these events are solely the responsibility of the villains. The heroes can only be blamed for making the death toll far less that it would have otherwise been, if perhaps not optimally minimal.<br /><br />But ultimately, that argument comes down to insisting that heroes must be allowed to operate without oversight, accountability or the influence of the people they are protecting because "if you don't, the bad guys get away and people get hurt or killed."<br /><br />And while that seems like a solid and heroic argument, my confidence in it erodes with every instance of "we need to waterboard or the bad guys will get away" and "we can't wait for a warrant, the bad guys will get away" and "we need you to compromise everyone's security or the bad guys will get away".<br /><br />Police, firefighters and other first responders are still government branches. When a police officer fires his or her gun, even in the most righteous of shoots, there is going to be an official conversation later. This is a good thing. And as much as we may call into question the actions of some members of these services, I think there is little question that they are preferable to groups like Blackwater and the abuses that appear inherent in privatization of public safety.<br /><br />So while I can see both sides of the argument, I find myself tentatively siding with "Team Iron Man" in this Civil War, even if I don't think the Sokovia Accords were the right solution.Kkathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06658676307751707180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-10717339225143346442016-05-10T12:57:20.605-04:002016-05-10T12:57:20.605-04:00I'm not calling Steve stupid. He has a more or...I'm not calling Steve stupid. He has a more or less average IQ. And I don't want it to sound like I don't like this character; if anything, I'm rather surprised how much I like him. But I won't call him genius; yes, he is a natural leader, and he picked up quite a lot of group tactics. I won't give him an army to lead however (not that I have one to give).<br /><br />As for Tony: again, Vision just shot (or whatever he/it does) Rhodey, his close friend. And Tony was completely understanding. What's more, we know that Tony is at least capable of understanding others: his analysis of Loki's intentions in the first Avengers movie was superb. So no, I don't buy it.migmithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06981055611018991476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-20648184860102633322016-05-09T15:28:35.271-04:002016-05-09T15:28:35.271-04:00i agree with Kathy. Not everybody reacts his or he...i agree with Kathy. Not everybody reacts his or her emotions the way Tony does, especially in the kind of "face-heel turn" you saw. Many of the Avengers do not react primarily to their emotions, including Steve Rogers, which is why I think you're wrong to say that you could expect this kind of reaction from Steve but not Tony. (Tony has a Blue-Red personality and Steve has a White personality.) Again, intelligence has nothing to do with it. And for the record, just because he didn't go to M.I.T. doesn't mean Steve isn't smart. There's a reason he was the one calling the shots in the first Avengers. He's a strategic genius.Mariannahttp://www.mariannahorn.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-39630811622387870592016-05-09T10:03:25.981-04:002016-05-09T10:03:25.981-04:00If Tony is such a child, why didn't he try to ...If Tony is such a child, why didn't he try to attack Vision after almost killing Rhodey? He was completely understanding and reasonable.<br /><br />Bucky did say he remembers everything, but, if I remember correctly, that was AFTER Tony attacked him.<br /><br />I do believe in a strong emotional reaction, but not on the level of face-heel turn.migmithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06981055611018991476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-35638633918395783412016-05-09T09:41:15.555-04:002016-05-09T09:41:15.555-04:00Oh, and also something that made Tony angrier--
R...Oh, and also something that made Tony angrier--<br /><br />Remember when Tony asked Steve if he knew that Bucky had murdered his parents? I don't think Tony would have flown in a murderous rage if Steve would have been as horrified as he should have been...<br /><br />Instead, Steve said he knew that Bucky had killed Tony's parents. <br /><br />That's when Tony set about to try to kill Bucky.<br /><br />KatKathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00609424771874961444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-41790217684224121732016-05-09T09:33:34.487-04:002016-05-09T09:33:34.487-04:00Tony has always had parental issues. That's ev...Tony has always had parental issues. That's even what his first scene stated (does Marvel have a time machine? How did they get RDJ from 1991 to 2016?). He says it's his worse memory to his audience. He says later his parents never made it to the airport--and we know from earlier movies his parents died in a car wreck.<br /><br />If it was the car wreck that claimed their lives, Tony probably wouldn't have reacted as he did. As it was, his father and his mother were murdered, and he was watching it. So, it was happening in front of his eyes, and it probably took him back to 1991, deal with the loss of his parents (particularly his mother).<br /><br />Also, did you catch when Bucky said that he remembered doing it? Yeah, Bucky is a victim here, but there was also part of him that remembered doing it. That probably made Tony angrier.<br /><br />Finally, Tony has always acted passions first, brain second. Always. He jumps then deals with the consequences later. It's the same thought pattern that lead him to sign the accord before discussing it with the rest of the Avengers. In many ways, Tony is still a loose canon. While Tony is a genius, he is also pretty emotionally immature. Every single movie that's been depicting him indicates that. The overarching Marvel plot thread is Tony maturing. Just because he might be 51 years old doesn't mean that his emotional age is 51. In many ways, he is still that same kid who lost his parents.<br /><br />(Also, I found Tony's motivations to make a lot more sense than Steve's. I understand Steve's dilemma. Which is why I liked this movie: Tony isn't wrong in his feelings. He's not completely right either. Steven isn't wrong in his feelings. He's not right either. It's gray. Just like you can be a genius and do something completely stupid. Or you can be a squeaky clean boy scout and go off the reservation. This is what makes these characters so intriguing.)<br /><br />KatKathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00609424771874961444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-35312284139330678582016-05-09T01:57:51.907-04:002016-05-09T01:57:51.907-04:00> Tony reacts to his emotions.
Everybody alway...> Tony reacts to his emotions.<br /><br />Everybody always does. But this is not enough to justify everything. This is not enough to explain why a genius suddenly started to act stupid. Especially when he just dealt with his friend's near-death in a much more mature manner.migmithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06981055611018991476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-77550377454846363632016-05-08T23:39:23.740-04:002016-05-08T23:39:23.740-04:00migmit, "But you know, what I'm really SI...migmit, "But you know, what I'm really SICK of is that 'he killed my sibling/parent/significant-other/favourite-second-cousin, and I know he wasn't himself, but I'm gonna rip him apart anyway' bullshit. I would expect something like this from Steve, who'd never been the sharpest pencil, but from a bona fide genius?" <br /><br />You're misunderstanding the characters. Tony reacts to his emotions. Period. That's how the whole mess got started. Someone made him feel guilty about her son dying so he immediately accepted the first opportunity to react to that guilt, the Sokovia Accords, without thinking if it was the best solution available and became emotionally hostile toward anyone who tried to stop it. This movie was an amazing success in character development for our beloved Avengers (minus Hulk and Thor) with every character doing exactly what made sense for him or her, especially Tony and Steve.<br /><br />Side note: Sharon Carter is Peggy Carter's niece. So that would mean that she either has another sibling that for some reason never came up in flashbacks of Agent Carter or her brother, Michael, who died didn't really die. Let's hope Agent Carter doesn't get cancelled so we can find out!Mariannahttp://www.mariannahorn.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-62384454541381379892016-05-08T22:28:38.774-04:002016-05-08T22:28:38.774-04:00I really enjoyed this. Especially that last fight ...I really enjoyed this. Especially that last fight scene (as you said, Mark).<br /><br />But my favorite part was the gag with Cap, Bucky, and Falcon in the VW Bug. I couldn't stop giggling.Josie Kafkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17892717530356699008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-7825847337852063152016-05-07T13:05:48.916-04:002016-05-07T13:05:48.916-04:00Forgot to add a Russian report.
The general in th...Forgot to add a Russian report.<br /><br />The general in the flashbacks was talking without an accent, and his phrases were grammatically correct. Only one thing stood out: he said (in Russian) "I have a mission for you", but a real Russian would say "I have a task for you". Russian word "mission" means something much less defined, like "make a world a better place".<br /><br />Documents, badges and stuff like that were mostly correct. The writing on this... snow truck or how is it called — was completely wrong.<br /><br />And "Bela" is definitely NOT a russian name, it's Hungarian.migmithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06981055611018991476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-90238704992517642802016-05-07T12:45:29.427-04:002016-05-07T12:45:29.427-04:00"That thing does not obey the laws of physics..."That thing does not obey the laws of physics at all!"<br /><br />Thank you, Spidey, THANK YOU. Someone had to point this out. Also, you're the first Spiderman who is not painful to watch.<br /><br />Not just Freeman was underused, but also Marisa Tomei. Which is borderline criminal offense.<br /><br />But you know, what I'm really SICK of is that "he killed my sibling/parent/significant-other/favourite-second-cousin, and I know he wasn't himself, but I'm gonna rip him apart anyway" bullshit. I would expect something like this from Steve, who'd never been the sharpest pencil, but from a bona fide genius?<br /><br />And when Steve was pulling the chopper down... Sorry, but I kept thinking, "OK, he is super-strong, but his MASS is still of a regular guy, so, how it is that the chopper doesn't lift him"?<br /><br />Also, I'm really curious, how does this "Sokovia accords" define superheroes. I mean, half of them aren't actually super by themselves. Iron Man, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Falcon, War Machine, even Black Panther — they are just regular guys. Athletic, sometimes with expensive weaponry/prosthetics, but still. A genius, billionair, playboy and philantropist is definitely not a superhero.<br /><br />You can probably tell that I didn't like this movie. Well, it's not as bad as, say, first Spiderman, or Jessica Jones, but it's very... underwhelming. They've got a ton of good, well-groomed characters, and... the result is far from exciting.<br /><br />So. My favourite Marvel movie is still the first "Avengers" one. With "Deadpool" actually coming close.migmithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06981055611018991476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-35302216354709000442016-05-06T20:52:44.912-04:002016-05-06T20:52:44.912-04:00This film was Marvelous...
Plenty of holes and sma...This film was Marvelous...<br />Plenty of holes and small gaps you could nitpick but when you realize the scope and the amount of characters and fanservice they added while also making a coherent and at times intelligent film is truly remarkable.I think its a better spectacle and film than Winter Soldier. Although the latter had better structure and a more streamlined story.<br />The characters here though are key...Everyone acts in accordance to their character or what we have learned about that character in previous movies...For example while Black widow sides with Tony she still lets Cap go...That is in character for her and her alone. The small character moments like Vision and Wanda or even Wanda and Hawkeye's bond over her brothers sacrifice for him are just as good AND important to the film as the action.<br />Spiderman was shamelessly shoe horned in. Everyone knows that, yet they somehow make it work...and that again is the beauty of the film. Its weaknesses are its strength...When you compare how they introduced the new characters in this compared to BVS its night and day. Two new characters who not only kicked ass, but we CARED about them as people first and then the action. Thought they wove Black Panther into the story pretty well. Not only that, everyone, even if only in it for a scene or two had some kind of Arc.<br />Loved the airport fight. Blatant fanservice, but excellent action and character driven fanservice. It made sense within the plot and i liked how it started out as team Iron man trying to restrain and team Cap trying to run and the escalation led to a terrible accident.<br /><br />The best ending and best climax fight in all Marvel movies...and Zemo i think will be appreciated in time..I thought he was understated but good...and he did 'win'. His plan was no more convoluted than any other villain in the history of time...At least they made it personal...You ended up sympathizing with him a bit as well as Cap, Bucky and Iron Man.<br /><br />Its weird how everyone comes out with different favourites...While you thought Falcon and Black widow where underused, i thought they were excellent.<br />Winter Soldier was my fave, that stairwell scene and the Motorbike grab.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com