Captain America: Civil War - 10 Most Hyped Moments
3. The Fan-Bait
There seems to be a lot to be said for the film's confidence in its characters, and the way it pays off the work that's gone in to establishing the characters and relationships in the MCU. That familiarity - that brand building - is an important part of the film's success, and will, for some, be what delights fans the most. As the Hollywood Reporterreview says:
"Call it "civil war" or call it brand extension; call it a "cinematic universe" or a corporate behemoth - the latest Marvel extravaganza furthers the studio's cross-pollination of action franchises in a way that's sure to satisfy devotees."
It might be a simple fact, but not simply tearing everything up and starting again because this is a new Phase and a new movie after Age Of Ultron's phase ender. Civil War seems to rely on the pillars of charisma and character that have kept us attached throughout the previous two phases. As Cinema Blend put it: "while the narrative isnt quite as strong as Captain America: The Winter Soldier, where the film makes up for it is in its tremendous character work both in its understanding of who these pop culture figures are at their core, and having them play off of each other."
Crave's final assessment talks more overtly about fan service and how Civil War seeks to ensnare fans' attentions, making up for any story issues by "humming along, giving you every cool thing you ever wanted to see and then dashing off to the next cool thing, and so on. It is entertaining without being fluffy. It has consequence without being dire. It is the floor of a childs bedroom, covered in action figures who are perpetually in mid-conflict, whose limitations have yet to be discovered."