Political Themes: Captain America: Civil War

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has explored political themes from time to time in its films, but one that may do it best is its 2016 release, Captain America: Civil War.

The story is loosely based on the Civil War event in Marvel Comics, in which Steve Rogers (Captain America) and Tony Stark (Iron Man) find themselves on opposing sides as to whether or not superheroes should work under the supervision of the government. It starts with a group of younger superheroes whose escapades lead to the destruction of a school that gets Stark asking the question about whether or not superheroes should register with the government, while Rogers believes such attempts are going to lead to more conflict than expected, especially when he becomes a fugitive, wanted by the government for refusing to register.

The comic book event drew mixed reviews from readers, with critics arguing that Stark is unlikeable and the events aren't wrapped up well. Naturally, there was some skepticism about the MCU creative staff deciding to adapt the Civil War storyline for the MCU.

The way directors Anthony and Joe Russo crafted the storyline, though, it's a storyline that works quite well, particularly because nobody is put entirely in the right throughout the course of events.

It starts with Rogers leading a mission in Lagos that results in the death of members of a Wakanda missionary group and continues with Stark feeling guilty about how The Avengers taking down Ultron resulted in the deaths of many innocents in Sokovia. But each, over time, has had their views changed as a result of other events around them. Rogers, who at one time believed it was important to follow orders, has become skeptical of such oversight after those he has worked for were revealed to have bigger agendas. Stark, who followed his own mind to the point that it made him reckless and his innovations caused more harm than good, now believes that oversight is a good thing.

The opposing viewpoints of whether or not oversight for superheroes is ideal sets the conflict for the film. The United Nations has put together accords that will require The Avengers to work under the supervision of the UN. Stark is willing to support it because of the collateral damage The Avengers have caused, while Rogers opposes it because he knows that governments have agendas and what happens if The Avengers believe they need to take action and said government disagree?

Every superhero is incorporated has his or her own reasons for supporting or opposing the idea of working under UN supervision. James "Rhodey" Rhodes is a military veteran and used to working under such supervision, while Vision sees that, as the number of superheroes has increased, so has the number of serious threats and he sees a pattern. Thus, they support Stark and the accords. Wanda Maximoff is hesitant, given that her mistakes were what caused the death of Wakandans in Lagos, but doesn't want to be constrained more than necessary. Natasha Romanov holds some regret for her past actions and thinks some restraint may be in order, but she remains sympathetic to Rogers. Meanwhile, Sam Wilson backs Rogers, having formed a close bond with him.

Events take a turn for the worse when an explosion happens at the UN, taking the life of T'Chaka, the king of Wakanda, and his son, T'Challa, wants vengeance against the man thought to be responsible, Bucky Barnes, aka The Winter Soldier. In reality, it's Helmut Zemo, a military colonel from Sokovia, who is manipulating events with the intent of putting The Avengers on a collision course with each other.

The overarching theme about oversight and how much control should be put into place over somebody or something is evident throughout society, and not in every case is it evident upon first glance whether or not more oversight or less oversight is the better option.

Add to this the fact that it's not always possible to support what each character goes through in the course of events. Steve Rogers wants to protect Bucky at all costs, even knowing about the people Bucky has killed. Tony Stark has second thoughts about working under the UN, but his ego gets the best of him and he seems determined to prove he's right no matter what. Regardless of whether or not one believes oversight for super-powered beings is important, there's never a moment in which viewers are told that either Rogers or Stark is right about everything.

In other words, a political theme is handled exactly the way it needs to be -- it reveals that politics involves complex issues and answers aren't always easily reached. Nobody is declared to be the one who got everything right and viewers are left to ask difficult questions on certain aspects.

There are characters, though, in which it's easier to sort out motives. T'Challa is easily relatable -- his father was killed and he wants to avenge his father's death. During the course of events, though, he realizes the dangers of getting caught up in vengeance and chooses to seek a different path. Zemo is a character who one can empathize with -- who couldn't relate to the ideas of losing loved ones and those deemed responsible receive no comeuppance -- but Zemo's methods of seeking vengeance cost other innocent lives and give us an appropriate antagonist, in which we may agree with his principles, but we can't support his methods.

Civil War may be one of the best examples of political themes explored in a movie to date. Though you may find one character or two in which it's hard to argue the person isn't right or wrong, it's not so easily done with the bulk of the characters. And when it comes to most political issues, the truth is that determining what is really right or wrong is not so easily done.