Last Updated on August 3, 2021
Ah, it’s good to see you, fellow movie geeks! Last time we had an especially intense bout of the Face-Off, pitting one Tom Cruise against another in a MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE brawl. Needless to say, I haven’t come down from that adrenaline rush quite yet. Taking that into account, as well as the fact the highly-anticipated BLACK PANTHER from Marvel is coming out, let’s keep the spectacle-heavy battles going by pitting two Marvel heavyweights against each other: CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER and CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR.
Both helmed by current Marvel golden sons, Joe Russo and Anthony Russo, these two entries in the MCU are considered two of the best of the whole series, giving Captain America the best trilogy of movies of the bunch. Both movies are quite different from one another and have their own reasons for being tremendous, which means this should be an especially close battle (spoiler, it’s SOOO close).
Time to pick a side, and scroll on down!
Scarlett Johannson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury
Robert Redford as Alexander Pierce
Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier
Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Falcon
Emily VanCamp as Kate/Agent 13
Frank Grillo as Brock Rumlo
Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill
with Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter
and Toby Jones as Dr. Arnim Zola
Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man
Scarlett Johannson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow
Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier
Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Falcon
Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa/Black Panther
Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch
Don Cheadle as James Rhodes/War Machine
Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/Hawkeye
Paul Bettany as Vision
Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man
Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man
Emily VanCamp as Sharon Cater
Daniel Bruhl as Zemo
Martin Freeman as Everett Ross
with Frank Grillo as Brock Rumlo/Crossbones
and William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross
After the events of THE AVENGERS, Captain America/Steve Rogers started working with S.H.I.E.L.D. in a closer capacity, working to help eliminate threats and go on secret missions. But soon he discovers that peace-keeping organization may not be as peaceful as he thinks, and soon he and those close to him find themselves hunted by the very group they used to fight for. The evil group known as HYDRA has infiltrated, S.H.I.E.L.D., and now it’s up to Cap and pals to take the whole mother down.
Marvel mainstays Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely took the characters we know and love even further by letting their egos and morals clash in this ever-absorbing blockbuster thriller. Said characters are given proper motivation and challenges when the issue of global security arises, as the likes of Cap and Nick Fury debate over the matters of freedom and fear. This is heavy stuff for a Marvel movie, but the script does an excellent job of selling the material without making it feel cluttered, leaving plenty of room for the kinds of action and banter Marvel fans love. Makes up for the fact these guys also wrote THOR: THE DARK WORLD.
The task ahead of Markus and McFeely was the most daunting of any Marvel at that time. Take the biggest Marvel roster yet, pit them against each other in a story that makes sense, and make sure each character has a reason to be there…and make it entertaining. This would be enough to make any screenwriter give up the craft forever and take up baking instead, but the writing duo checked off every box with their script. They did the seemingly impossible job of giving everyone purpose and complexity by doing exactly what we as an audience wanted to see, which was put these characters in rooms with each other and let them play off each other. Sure, it’s a lot to take in at first, but so much of this is handled so well, and it’s enough to establish hope that AVENGERS 3 and 4 will live up to our expectations.
Morning Jog
Cap: “On your left.”
Cap and Sam Meet
The List
Natasha: “Hey, fellas. Any of you know where the Smithsonian is? I’m here to pick up a fossil.”
The Mission
Natasha: “Do anything fun Saturday night?”
Cap: “Well, all the guys from my babershop quartet are dead, so no, not really.”
Leaping From the Plane
Cap Secures the Deck
Black Widow Gets to Work
More Than a Shield
Shady Dealings
Back at S.H.I.E.L.D.
Fury: “Last time I trusted someone I lost an eye.”
The Lower Levels
Fury: “Grandad loved people, but he didn’t trust them very much.”
Shield Upgrades
Cap: “This isn’t freedom, this is fear.
Old Woman Peggy
Alexander Pierce
Nick Fury Attacked
Chase Across D.C.
The Winter Soldier
Meet Kate
Fury in Steve’s Apartment
Actually, Meet Agent 13
Hot Pursuit
Shield Catch
Goodbye, Nick Fury
Rogers and Pierce
Cap: “Before we get started, does anyone wanna get out?”
Elevator Rumble
Taking Down the Jet
Steve and Natasha on the Lamb
Public Display of Affection
Natasha: [After kissing Steve] “You still uncomfortable?”
Steve: “That’s not exactly the word I would use.”
Secret Area!
Zola Lives…Sort Of!
Zola Reveals All
Incoming Missle
Pierce and The Winter Soldier
Sam Enters the Mix
Rooftop Discussions
Natasha: “Oh, wait. What about that girl from accounting, Laura, Lisa…?”
Steve: “Lillian. Lip piercing, right?”
Natasha: “Yeah, she’s cute.”
Steve: “Yeah, I’m not ready for that.”
Falcon Spreads His Wings
Bridge Battle
Taking it to the Streets
Steve vs. Winter Soldier
The Soldier Unmasked
Steve: “Bucky?”
Bucky:” Who the hell is Bucky?”
Fury Lives!
Wiping the Winter Soldier
Sam: “Don’t look at me. I do what he does, just slower.”
Flashback
Steve: “Thank you, Buck, but I can get by on my own.”
Bucky: “Thing is, you don’t have to. I’m with you to the end of the line, pal.”
Suiting Up
Stan Lee: “Aw man, I am so fired.”
Steve’s Speech.
Steve: “Attention all S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, this is Steve Rogers. You’ve heard a lot about me over the last few days. Some of you were even ordered to hunt me down. But I think it’s time to tell the truth. S.H.I.E.L.D. is not what we thought it was. It’s been taken over by HYDRA. Alexander Pierce is their leader. The S.T.R.I.K.E. and Insight crew are HYDRA as well. I don’t know how many more, but I know they’re in the building. They could be standing right next to you. They almost have what they want. Absolute control. They shot Nick Fury. And it won’t end there. If you launch those helicarriers today, HYDRA will be able to kill anyone that stands in their way. Unless we stop them. I know I’m asking a lot. But the price of freedom is high. It always has been. And it’s a price I’m willing to pay. And if I’m the only one, then so be it. But I’m willing to bet I’m not.”
Launching the Helicarriers
Sam: “How do we know the good guys from the bad guys?”
Steve: “If they’re shooting at you they’re bad.”
Winter Soldier Unleashed
Fury Makes his Entrance
Fury: “I know you erased my password. Probably deleted my retinal scan. But if you want to stay ahead of me, Mr. Secretary… you need to keep both eyes open.”
Cap vs. Bucky Round 2
Sam vs. Rumlow
Helicarrier Massacre
Steve: “I’m not gonna fight you. You’re my friend”
Bucky: “You’re my mission”
Steve: “Then finish it, because I’m with you to the end of the line.”
S.H.I.E.L.D. is no more
Fury’s Grave/PULP FICTION reference
Brainwashing The Winter Soldier/Road Accident
Fight at the Research Center
Chasing Down Crossbones
Cap vs. Crossbones
Tony Stark Faces the Consequences
Steve: “In this job we try to save as many people as we can. Sometimes that doesn’t mean everyone.”
The Sokovia Accords
Zemo
The Team Debates
Vision: Our very strength incites challenge. Challenge incites conflict. And conflict… breeds catastrophe.”
Tony: “There’s no decision-making process here. We need to be put in check! And whatever form that takes, I’m game. If we can’t accept limitations, we’re boundaryless, we’re no better than the bad guys.”
Peggy Carter’s Funeral
UN Attacked
T’Challa: “Don’t bother, Ms. Romanoff. I will kill him myself.”
Stairway Fight
The Black Panther
In Pursuit
Arrested
Sam: “So, you like cats.”
Tony’s Olive Branch
Tony: “Sometimes I wanna punch you in your perfect teeth. “
Zemo’s Moment
The Soldier Unleashed
Bucky vs. Tony, Natasha, Sharon and T’Challa
Cap and the Helicopter
Plotting the Next Move
More Winter Soldiers
Meet Peter Parker
Clint Busts Out Wanda
Bucky: “Can you move your seat up?”
Sam: “No.”
Steve and Sharon Kiss
Scott Lang Enters the Mix
Lang: “Thinks for thanking of me!”
Iron Man, Widow and More Confront Cap
Widow: “You know what’s about to happen. Do you really wanna punch your way out of this?”
SPIDER-MAN!
Spidey: “Hey, everyone.”
THE AIRPORT SEQUENCE!!
The Teams Facing Off
Hawkeye: “Buckled in?”
Lang: “Yeah, no, I’m good. I’m good, arrow guy. Let’s go!”
Lang: “Oh, you’re going to have to take this to the shop.”
Tony: “Who’s speaking?”
Lang: “It’s your conscience. We don’t talk a lot these days.”
Spidey: “That thing does not obey the laws of physics at all.”
Cap vs. Spidey
Cap: “Where you from, kid?”
Spidey: “Queens.”
Cap: “Brooklyn.”
Giant Man!
Spidey: “HOLY SHIT!”
Spidey: “Hey guys, you ever see that really old movie, Empire Strikes Back?”
Rhodey Falls
Avengers Locked Up
Zemo’s True Intentions
The Starks’ Death
Iron Man vs. Cap and Bucky
Zemo: “An empire toppled by its enemies can rise again. But one which crumbles from within? That’s dead… forever.”
Sheild/Blaster Clash!
Cap: “He’s my friend.”
Tony: “So was I.”
Tony: “Stay down… final warning.”
Cap: “I can do this all day.”
Iron Man Down
Tony: “That shield doesn’t belong to you. You don’t deserve it! My father made that shield!”
Steve Drops the Shield
Stan Lee: “Are you…Tony Stank?”
Steve’s Message
Steve: “Tony, I’m glad you’re back at the compound. I don’t like the idea of you rattling around a mansion by yourself. We all need family. The Avengers are yours, maybe more so than mine. I’ve been on my own since I was 18. I never really fit in anywhere, even in the army. My faith’s in people, I guess. Individuals. And I’m happy to say that, for the most part, they haven’t let me down. Which is why I can’t let them down either. Locks can be replaced, but maybe they shouldn’t. I know I hurt you, Tony. I guess I thought by not telling you about your parents I was sparing you, but I can see now that I was really sparing myself, and I’m sorry. Hopefully one day you can understand. I wish we agreed on the Accords, I really do. I know you’re doing what you believe in, and that’s all any of us can do. That’s all any of us should… So no matter what, I promise you, if you need us – if you need me – I’ll be there.”
- Nominated:
- Best Visual Effects
- Nominated:
- Favorite Movie of the Year
- Best Special Effects
- Coolest Charater: Winter Soldier
- Best Action Scene: “Steve Rogers vs. Winter Solider”
- Best DVD of the Year
- Best T&A of the Year: Scarlett Johansson
**5 Wins & 50 Nominations (per IMDB)**
Praise
- Rotten Tomatoes: 89% (Audience Score: 92%)
- IMDB: 7.8
- Metacritic: 70 (User Score: 8.4)
- $259 million domestic ($714 million global)
- Won:
- Breakthrough Performance: Tom Holland
- Best Action Sequence: “Airport Battle”
- Nominated:
- Favorite Movie
- Most Overrated Movie
- Best Special Effects
- Coolest Character: Black Panther
- Coolest Character: Spider-Man
- Best Trailer
- Best DVD & Blu-ray
- Most Memorable Scene: “Spidey’s Arrival”
**16 Wins & 65 Nominations (per IMDB)**
Praise
- Rotten Tomatoes: 91% (Audience Score: 89%)
- IMDB: 7.8
- Metacritic: 75 (User Score: 8.2)
- $408 million domestic ($1.153 billion global)
This was, legit, one of the hardest Face-Offs I, and I assume anyone else, has ever done. I love both of these movies and they stand toe-to-toe on my all-time Marvel list. What makes it so challenging is that they both feel like very different films, and they each handle everything brilliantly. In the end, CIVIL WAR takes the crown. But that doesn’t mean WINTER SOLDIER is the noticeably inferior choice. Far from it. But what I get from watching CIVIL WAR is not only a phenomenal comic book movie but one that honors the character in the title: Captian America. Even with all the added folks, this is still his movie, and what the movie does is continue his story and challenge him with ideas that rock him to his core, sending him on a quest that causes rifts among his friends and fellow Avengers. His actions force the other characters through emotional ringers, creating a movie that is equal parts spectacle and drama. Joe and Anthony Russo brought the epic story to the big screen with added ambition and confidence, taking a massive story and turning it into a breezy, funny, spectacular and emotionally palatable comic book movie. Hey, I know some of you love WINTER SOLDIER immensely, but much like CIVIL WAR, I expect you all to take sides and duke it out.
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