Documentarian Ken Burns attracted millions of fan with his landmark public television series on the Civil War. But many more millions of people are flocking to movie theaters for another civil war film…
Captain America: Civil War is open, and while it’s fallen to number 2 at the box office, don’t feel too sorry for it – it has already grossed $347 million for Disney.
According to film contributor Dave Luhrssen, the "clash of titans" theme is always a stirring subject in cinema. Luhrssen is arts and entertainment editor for the Shepherd Express weekly newspaper and author of itsI Hate Hollywood blog.
"The human emotions aroused when brother raises hand against brother are as ancient and archetypal as Cain and Able," he says.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq3QTXHpMqM
In the conflict of Iron Man versus Captain America, Luhrssen believes this movie did well, both with appealing to the hardcore comic book fans and to the general public with its extensive action sequences.
However, he also notes that he would like to see more superhero movies with less special effects and more concentration on the psychology of the characters involved - something we finally touch upon in Robert Downey Jr.'s character Tony Stark (aka Iron Man).
"He brings a definite sense of character, a deeper personality development that often isn't the case in superhero films. And I think it's unfortunate because it doesn't have to be that way," Luhrssen explains.
Outside of further character developments, Civil War also deals with the greater implications and damage caused by the superheroes in their previous battles, such as civilian deaths and property destruction.
Luhrssen explains that all of the Marvel superhero movies grapple with evil doers, "but when does this become overkill? What are the limits? What is the most ethical and maybe most intelligent way to deal with these things?"
While the latest installment in the franchise does touch upon the issues of greater moral implications, Luhrssen says that making more movies with more characters and more action will not always keep an audience. "If we had directors of these kinds of movies who were less concerned with special effects and more concerned with directing the actors...we would have more interesting super hero movies dealing with more fascinating issues than simply 'what can we destroy in this film?'"
