LOGAN vs Captain America: Civil War The BEST Marvel Film
- Nathan Rojas
- Mar 6, 2017
- 7 min read
[SPOILERS for Logan & Captain America: Civil War]
On May 5th, 2016 I went to the first public screening of Captain America: Civil War. After the film ended, it became my favorite comic book movie ever made, and yes, that included 'The Dark Knight' [2008]. On March 2nd, 2017 I attended the first public screening of Logan. Now that I saw that masterpiece, I ponder the question: What is the greatest superhero film of all time? Now, granted, The Dark Knight is still widely considered the greatest ever, so for this argument I'll stick with the best MARVEL film. Let's begin with what makes each film great.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR
The biggest praise to come out of Civil War was the ability to showcase over 12 main characters and give everyone equal screen time. You got the origins of Black Panther and the introduction of a new Spider-Man while a huge event takes place that now shifts the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Russo Brothers have done wonders with this film and 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' [2014] that they have our up-most confidence for 'Avengers: Infinity War' [2018]. While you could easily watch Civil War on its own, this film is the absolute culmination of the entire MCU, the side of the MCU that's not focused on Infinity Stones, but the characters, where they started, and where they are now. The 2 leads: Captain America and Iron Man have been the leaders of the Avengers for 4 straight years and are now faced with the Sakovia Accords which is what ultimately tears them apart in the end, leaving the Avengers broken. It also showcased top notch performances and probably the best we've ever seen Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark. It is the definitive MCU film.
LOGAN
I think what worked well in Logan's favor is the fact that right from the beginning to the end it doesn't feel like a comic book film. It feels almost like your normal Oscar film with people that just happen to have powers. It sends off the characters of Charles Xavier and Logan beautifully and the added violence and swearing feels natural and organic. If you ever are thrown off, it's at the very start because you've only experienced PG-13 Wolverine. When you go in knowing you're going to hear and see the R-Rated Wolverine, you quickly accept it and it feels normal. The film has a lot of funny scenes but overall is an emotional drama that packs a punch. From the ailing Xavier to Laura setting the cross down to form an X, it's a film that tugs on your heart and you feel that long after. Even more impactful, there's no end credit scene. The era of the Wolverine, the tragic life of Logan is now over. But he didn't die for nothing. He fought to save Laura, his daughter, and with his dying breath told her "don't be what they made you." Laura has a chance to be what Logan wasn't. She can live life as a person, not a weapon.
So with that said, let's look at these 5 points:
-The Hero
-The New Characters
-The Villains
-The Twist
-Where we start/end
THE HERO
"Hero" is a very debatable term here. Cap always wants to save lives but Logan at this point is done with it. However, Logan does save Laura and the new mutants and Cap unravels Zemo's plan. They both do their part but what is the greater feat? and who did it better. Cap and Logan will go down swinging until they die. One was more the case than the other. Cap's actions led to the stopping of new Winter Soldiers and was to clear Bucky's name, but Zemo killed them anyway and it led to the ultimate wedge between the Avengers. Logan reluctantly fights to get Laura when she needs to be so she'll stay safe while also taking care of Charles. In the end he looses Charles but not by his own fault, however, he does stop all the villains with the help of Laura and the new mutants and gets Laura to her safe haven. While Cap will always stand up for what's right, the actions taken by him, though he didn't know it, made the world vulnerable with the divide of the Avengers. Logan, while gone, saved the few remaining mutants and maybe a new generation will rise. Laura will live by her father's words and won't be what they made her. I believe Logan is the better hero.
THE NEW CHARACTERS
This is tough. Both did amazing introducing new characters. Let's go 1-by-1. Laura was a fantastic character all through out, from the moment you see her in the back of the car window to the laying down of the X, and half her performance was silent! That's commendable. Caliban was enjoyable while on screen (though I just love Steven Merchant) but he wasn't the biggest standout. He was last seen in 'X-Men: Apocalypse' [2016] but it was played by a different character with a different accent and was a side character with less screen time. Here's where Civil War had the advantage: Black Panther, like Laura, was seen from creation to helping save our heroes for the future. He showcased great acting and fighting like Laura. With Spider-Man, the writers relied on your previous knowledge of him from his last 2 portrayals, and it works perfect because it's a character we've grown up with since 2002. Even if he was recast in a new universe, he could still be the character we know and love and play off our other characters. Caliban isn't bad, but he's not as connectable as Spider-Man. While I think Dafne Keen did amazing on her first ever acting role and was the best thing after Hugh Jackman, I gotta give it to Civil War for the introduction of 2 characters working over 1.
THE VILLAINS
Donald Pierce was so fun in Logan. He was more or less a henchman, but the main villain came late into the game, even if he did have a connection to Stryker, Donald Pierce was so fun. I mean, his lines like "As I live and breathe, the Wolverine... and he's a junkie now." or "You know, you got some buck shot in your door. I heard you was in Phoenix. But then some friends of mine from Texas HP called, told me they found 3 dead cholos in a pullout on 54. Not unusual, I know, except one was missing a hand, another one a leg. So they was thinking it was either escaped tiger or Freddy Kruger. But, neither one of them can drive, one being fictional, the other one extinct..." are just so hilarious to listen to. But he didn't have as much an effect as Baren Zemo. While Zemo had a convoluted plan and got lucky to line everything up, in the end he tore the Avengers apart. So much so Cap and Iron Man almost killed each other. That's the biggest impact compared Pierce, who ended up dying by the new mutants. While Pierce is fun, Zemo was the most effective and HE ACTUALLY WON!
THE TWIST
I'll be honest, I didn't see X-24 coming what so ever. Bucky taking out Tony's parents was obvious to me because they showed it in The Winter Soldier with the scene in the bunker with Zola. X-24 was introduced by you thinking it's Logan and he kills Charles Xavier. That hurts, physically and emotionally. It created great fights and it unfortunately ended by him killing Logan. 2 in a row! He's very powerful like Logan was and it's frighting. However, the impact it has on Tony when he sees the video, the acting from Robert Downey Jr. is the best he;s done in the 8 years playing him, and to top it all off, he finds out Steve knew the entire time. It's a lot more dire and it leads to the roughest battle ever: the battle between friends. X-24, or as I like to call him: CLOGAN, was really cool, but Civil War wins again.
BEGINNING TO END
When we start Logan, he's already broken and beat down, he even gets beat down in the first 3 minutes. But by the end, he's lost his father figure, he's beaten by his literal inner demon, but he saved his daughter and new mutants that can be what he never was. They can be heroes, not weapons. Civil War starts as a normal mission with the Avengers, but almost immediately an explosion causes casualties and leads to the Sakovia Accords taking affect, which makes Captain America and everyone who follows him criminals, and to top it all off they're left in hiding and the Avengers are so broken only 3 remain, and 1 of them can't walk. The world is vulnerable and will give Thanos a chance to cause major damages in Infinity War. That makes it the most effective, not the sequel set up, the fact that the Earth's protectors are broken. But you could argue being left with Logan's death with no end credit scene, just sitting their to morn the loss of a character that you've know for 17 years, longer than even Iron Man is more effective, but in my opinion it goes to Civil War.
So while Captain America: Civil War gets more points in the end, it doesn't take anything away from Logan. I still love Logan to death and want to watch it again and again. It has incredible action, story, and characters that match Civil War. So in my eyes it's the 2nd best Marvel film but you may feel different, which is fine, all film is subjective. If you feel differently on any points, tell me on Twitter @NathanRojas5 or below with a Facebook comment. Otherwise, check out my review of both films down below.
Captain America: Civil War:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4oQwT81A_0
Logan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT3q8_mPN6g
Comments