Captain America: Civil War (Review) - Marvel's Finest

Let's get this out of the way first: although the title may state that this is a 'Captain America' movie, it's just as much a sequel to last year's Age of Ultron. Yes, the film focuses partly on the relationship between Steve Rogers and his childhood friend Bucky, but it also deals with the fallout (quite literally) that the Avenging team caused in that previous movie. 

I won't go incredibly in-depth with a synopsis of the plot, because it isn't necessary. Basically, after destroying cities through trying to saving them, the Avengers have finally been called up on their 'crimes'. A document called the 'Sokovia Accords' is presented to the team, and would mean that they would become regulated and controlled by the government; essentially becoming a privatised army that can be thrown out and withdrawn whenever necessary. Being the main cause of the historical chaos, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) agrees to sign the document, and pleads with the others to join him. However, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) concludes that by doing so, they would be signing away their freedom - hardly an act that a proclaimed 'patriot' could ever agree to. Sides are taken, and the inevitable fight begins brewing. 

Things are much, much more complicated than this, of course, but that's the complete ground-level run-down. The thing is, if you're not a major fan of Marvel films to begin with, then it's unlikely that you'll decide to jump in now. And if you are, then you already know how things are going to throw down. Even if you are a fan, however, Civil War introduces a couple of new faces to the mix: Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), and the long-awaited Spider-Man (Tom Holland). The former of these two slides nicely in to the story, and his motivations for wanting to hunt down certain individuals are clearly established, and are - most importantly - believable. 

Spider-Man is on a whole other level. Tom Holland's first portrayal of the iconic character is not only incredibly entertaining, but probably the most likeable that the web-slinging hero has ever been. Not only is he enjoyable to watch when he dons the red suit, but his version of Peter Parker has charisma in spades. Before going in to the movie, I was a bit indifferent when it came to seeing the character join up with the Avengers; mainly because we've been so fatigued in recent years by so-so adaptations of Spider-Man. However, Holland's performance manages to breath new life into the character, and means that the upcoming Spider-Man: Homecoming is now 100% on my 'to-watch' list. 

But back to the focus of the movie: Captain America Vs Iron Man. The thing is, with all the other Marvel movies before this, I found Tony Stark to be an incredibly arrogant, cocky guy, who I wouldn't really want to see win in a fight. I get that that was his deal, but it always felt like Captain America was the voice of reason within the grouping. Luckily, Civil War manages to do a great job of presenting both sides with equal favour and justification. Yes, governmental regulation could lead to terrible things, but those kinds of things have already been brought about by the rise of superheroes since the formation of the Avengers. I went in without pre-taking a side, and found myself constantly switching between supporting each. The event that triggers the need for the Sokovia Accords is a little weak in comparison to things like Loki trying to destroy the world, but it fits within the context of the story. 

In case you're unaware, there is actually a villain in this film. A man known as 'Zemo' (Daniel Bruhl) sits behind the curtain, and orchestrates some of the fighting between the titular heroes...and he's probably the weakest part of the film. I understand that his presence was a necessity, but he's not really given any personality, and the role could have been switched out for literally anyone without the audience noticing. Like Black Panther, his motivations are reasonably strong, but that doesn't forgive the fact that he was mundane. In an ensemble film of such strong, iconic personalities, it's really quite noticeable when there's a weak link.

Verdict
It's hard not to love Captain America: Civil War. It feels like an accumulation of everything that Marvel have put out so far, and there's simply too much to talk about without writing pages and pages of description. I still stand by Guardians of the Galaxy as being my favourite film within this epic franchise, but this definitely comes as a close second. The only thing is that I don't know if people who haven't seen all of the other Marvel films would still enjoy, or even understand, everything that takes place. It's definitely a movie for the fans, but sometimes that's just fine. Definitely check this out.

"I'm sorry, Tony. If I see a situation pointed south, I can't ignore it. 

Sometimes I wish I could." 

"Sometimes I wanna punch you in your perfect teeth."

The Jungle Book (Review) - A Bear Necessity

Way back in 1967, when the original Jungle Book came out, a childhood icon was created. The film still stands up today, and although the visuals may be a little dated, the classic tunes that remain from that movie are just as poignant nowadays as they were in the late 60s. Now, with this year's remake, we get a much more narratively-driven film that takes the original formula, but injects it with more depth, more character, and - perhaps most importantly - a whole lot of charm. 

The story's relatively similar to the original film's, but here's a quick update if you're unaware: Mowgli the man-cub (Neel Sethi) has grown up with a pack of wolves in the jungle, after his parents disappeared when he was only a baby. However, when the terrifying lion Shere Khan (Idris Elba) hears of Mowgli's existence, he declares it his mission to kill the young boy personally. With this news, Mowgli's panther friend Begheera (Ben Kinglsey) decides that the man-cub must be taken back to the man-village, and so begins a journey of adventure, danger, and discovery. 

It all sounds very whimsical, but that's just what Disney does best. Though the charming visuals of the original film have gone, the enjoyment of watching these characters interact with one another is stronger than ever. This is especially commendable when you remember that Mowgli is technically the only actor present; with the rest of the cast generated through CGI. Don't let this sway you, however; the voice performances are absolutely nailed all around. The lovable bear, Baloo, is voiced by Bill Murray in this remake, and he infuses the character with a sense of comedy only touched upon by the original movie. 

Mowgli's upbringing and relationship with his wolf mother, Raksha (Lupita Nyong'o), is also fleshed-out. In fact, this fleshing-out is present throughout the whole movie, which leads to motivations and actions which actually feel like they have a purpose. This is especially apparent with Shere Khan, who is given a clear and valid reason for wanting to hunt and kill Mowgli. 

Unfortunately, the hypnotic snake Kaa, voiced by Scarlett Johansson, feels almost pointless in the film. All that she provides is some exposition, which is a shame, because the snake is designed immaculately to look intimidating, yet enticing. I'm not saying that the movie needed to focus purely on Kaa, but the presence of the character is almost forgettable - something which certainly can't be said for the original movie. I know I've referenced the original a lot, and this is certainly a film in its own right, but it's hard not to when they both share the same name. 

What can be said, though, is that The Jungle Book is an incredibly good looking movie. The titular jungle looks luscious and inviting, and the critters that inhabit it are all photo-realistic. Consistently throughout, it's entirely possible to forget that you're looking at CGI images, and not animals that director Jon Favreau taught to perform. Certain creative liberties are taken - such as with King Louie (Christopher Walken) being colossal in size - but these are completely justifiable given the nature of the film. 

For those of you wondering: yes, the songs from the original return in some capacity. Don't expect this to be a musical, but classics like The Bear Necessities are woven seamlessly into the soundtrack to form a wondrous experience that kids will enjoy just as much as the adults who adore the 1967 original. There is a moment at which a song is sung which does feel slightly forced, but you'll likely forget it and get caught up in just how fun the film is to watch. 

Verdict
Thankfully, The Jungle Book is just as enjoyable to watch as I had hoped it would be. All of the voice performances are spot-on, and Neel Sethi as Mowgli fits in perfectly to the iconic role. There's just very little to dislike about this, honestly. Sure, it changes some things up from the classic story, and the ending is altered, but I think that these changes are for the better. If you like the 1967 film, or just like Disney movies, or even if you just like Bill Murray; see this movie. You won't regret it one bit. 

"I am Mowgli, and this is my home!"