Marvel's "Civil War:" Divided We Fall | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Marvel's "Civil War:" Divided We Fall

Who holds heroes accountable?

20
Marvel's "Civil War:" Divided We Fall
Marvel

Marvel fans have been begging for the release of a trailer for the long-anticipated movie "Captain America 3: Civil War." Comic fans know that this storyline pits Steve Rogers and Tony Stark, aka Captain America and Iron Man, against each other. When we last saw them in "Avengers: Age of Ultron," the two had appeared to put their differences aside for the greater good, which may have many people asking what happened to set them against each other. Well, it’s pretty simple. Steve’s best friend is back from the dead and the government wants to kill him, and they want everyone with superhero abilities to register and work for them. Easy enough, right?

The trailer picks up where the bonus scene from "Ant-Man" left off. Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson have finally found James “Bucky” Barnes. Bucky was Steve’s best friend, and was presumed dead during World War II. However, as we saw in the last "Captain America" movie, Bucky had actually been taken in by Hydra, a group that was originally created by Nazis. Hydra desires control, stability, and order, and is unafraid to do whatever it takes to fulfill their new world order. They brainwashed and tortured Bucky, giving him the codename “Winter Solider” and turning him into an assassin, more machine than man. When they sent the Winter Solider to eliminate Steve, the brainwashing failed when Bucky recognized his friend, however faintly. Since then, he’s been on the run, and Steve and Sam have been trying to bring him home.

Bucky is in what appears to be an abandoned warehouse, his metal arm caught in a vise. Steve asks if he remembers him. Bucky responds, “Your mom’s name was Sarah. You used to wear newspapers in your shoes.” I don't know about you, but I teared up a little.

Steve warns Bucky that he’s a wanted man, to which he replies that he doesn't “do that anymore," and most fans would argue that he never did—he wasn’t aware of his actions during his time with Hydra. Cue the SWAT team running up the stairs to where the heroes are, as Steve says “The people who think you did… they aren't planning on taking you alive.”

Bam! Gunfire! Captain America fighting off government agents! Bucky running and leaping off the building! Then, the red and silver Marvel logo, to remind us the fun is just getting started.

“While a great many people see you as a hero, there are some who prefer the term ‘vigilante,’” says the as-of-yet-unnamed world leader. He goes on to say that Captain America and the rest of the Avengers have operated with unlimited power and no restrictions for too long. The world needs them to have a system of accountability. This is when Iron Man steps on to the scene.

“If we can’t accept limitations, we’re no better than the bad guys,” Tony Stark tells Steve, who disagrees. This is the basis for the disagreement: the government wants all people with abilities to register and be at their disposal; they also intend to capture and execute Bucky, to make an example out of him. Tony wants a system of accountability, something the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) touches upon fairly often. Who pays for the damage done while the Avengers go about saving the day? Tony himself is no stranger to this debate; in the first "Iron Man" movie, he shut down the Stark Industries weapons facility after seeing the weapons in the hands of terrorists. He saw that “[I] had become part of a system that is comfortable with zero accountability,” so it’s understandable that he wants the Avengers, a team he was a part of, to be held responsible for any damage caused. Even heroes need to be held accountable. As we saw in the previous "Captain America" movie, Steve will fight for people’s right to their personal freedom, and forcing people with “abilities” to not only register with, but also work for, the government, is unethical and unconstitutional.

Of course, the trailer is loaded with epic clips of things exploding, people fighting, the Falcon unfurling his wings as he soars off a building, and a brief sighting of the Black Panther, who will be making his first appearance in this movie. There’s also a scene where an entire SWAT team has Bucky cornered, and the only thing standing between them is Steve, putting his shield away. However, it’s the dialogue that hits the hardest (even more than the scene of Bucky and Steve beating up Iron Man, which personally, made me absolutely lose it). Steve tells Tony that he wishes things were different, but Bucky is his friend.

“So was I,” Tony protests. The fact that the two only recently formed a friendship does not, in any way, make that line hurt any less.

How can one two and a half minute trailer cause this much emotional distress? I wish I knew. Though there are many people already taking sides, it’s interesting to explore what each hero stands for, and fans trust that the directors, Anthony and Joe Russo, will do each "team" justice. It’s also important to note that the tagline for this movie doesn't urge viewers to pick a side: in fact, it is the simple reminder that united we stand, divided we fall.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

15 Times Michael Scott's Life Was Worse Than Your Life

Because have you ever had to endure grilling your foot on a George Foreman?

2213
Michael Scott
NBC

Most of the time, the world's (self-proclaimed) greatest boss is just that, the greatest. I mean, come on, he's Michael Freakin' Scott after all! But every once in a while, his life hits a bit of a speed bump. (or he actually hits Meredith...) So if you personally are struggling through a hard time, you know what they say: misery loves company! Here are 15 times Michael Scott's life was worse than your life:

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

16835
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

3588
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments