One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.
As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.
Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.
I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”
When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.
See you at the movies!
***Spoilers Ahead!!!***
110. Captain America: Civil War (2016) Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo
The Movie: In 1991, The Winer Solider is sent on a mission to intercept a vehicle in Serbia. The vehicle is carrying a case of the super-solider serum. We flash forward to present day. Some of the Avengers, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) are in Lagos. They are in pursuit of Crossbones (Frank Grillo) who stole a biological weapon from a lab. After being trapped by Captain America, Crossbones attempts to kill not only himself but Cap as well. Crossbones pulls a pin from a grenade, but the Scarlet Witch contains the blast and throws Crossbones into a building, inadvertently killing innocent civilians.
After the incident in Sokovia, Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt) informs the Avengers that due to the events of Sokovia where Ultron attacked and killed innocent people and the latest incident in Lagos, the Sokovia Accords will require oversight of the Avengers. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) agrees with the Accords. He recently had a confrontation with a mother of a victim of the Sokovia incident. Rogers, is against it. He believes that the politicians should not regulate them, he has better judgement.
In a modest house, Helmut Zemo (Daniel Bruhl) tracks down The Winter Solider’s handler and finds his book with the trigger words to activate him. At the UN Council, King T’Chaka (John Kani) from the African Nation of Wakanda, is preparing to deliver his speech. King T’Chaka is killed in a bomb blast and his son, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) vows to kill the person responsible. Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp) informs Steve Rogers that the security footage shows that Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) is the man who set off the bomb. Cap decides that he will try and bring in Barnes himself.
Captain America and The Falcon track Bucky to Bucharest and try to reason with him. Bucky escapes and is soon being chased not only by police, but by the Black Panther, T’Challa. Their pursuit comes to an end when all four men are captured by police and War Machine (Don Cheadle).
Bucky is places in a special holding cell and is interviewed by a psychiatrist. However this psychiatrist is none other than Baron Zemo. Zemo activates The Winter Soldier and sends him out to fight. Captain America subdues and takes The Winter Soldier to a secure location where he learns that he was framed by Zemo for the bombing and that Zemo was the one responsible. Bucky tells Cap that Zemo wants the location of the Siberian Hydra Base, which houses other Winter Soldiers. Captain America realizes he can’t wait for the politicians to decide of he should stop Zemo and decides to form a team to stop them. Joining Captain America is The Falcon, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Ant-Man (Paul Rudd).
Stark also forms a sanctioned team, and goes to Queens, New York to recruit Peter Parker (Tom Holland), aka Spider-Man. Iron Man, Spider-Man, Black Panther, War Machine, Black Widow and The Vision (Paul Bettany) confront Cap’s team at Leipzig Airport. A battle ensues that is fought to a stale mate. Rogers escapes and is allowed to leave by Black Widow. Cap and Bucky escape but Vision shoots down War Machine causing him to be paralyzed. The remaining members of Cap’s team are captured and sent to The Raft, a prison for super-powered individuals.
Stark continues to dig and finds evidence that Bucky was framed, with information gathered from Wilson, Stark finds Cap and Bucky at the Hydra facility in Siberia. Stark has a stowaway, The Black Panther has also arrived in Siberia. Stark and Rogers are too late. Zemo has killed all the other Winter Soldiers and shows Stark a video of his parents being executed in 1991, by The Winter Soldier. Stark is incensed that Rogers not only kept this from him but has been protecting Bucky when he knew that he killed his parents. Stark attacks both Rogers and Bucky. They fight until Stark destroys Bucky’s cybernetic arm and Rogers destroys Stark’s Iron Man armor.
Rogers and Bucky flee. Zemo sits alone and realizes that he has fulfilled his mission of revenge on The Avengers for the death of his family in Sokovia. Zemo attempts to shoot himself, but is stopped by T’Challa.
Stark gifts War Machine exoskeletal legs and Captain America breaks all of his allies out of The Raft. Captain America brings Bucky to Wakanda where T’Challa and his scientists can try and cure him and goes into a cryogenic sleep.
Why I Love Captain America: Civil War (2016): Besides the obvious, Tom Holland’s debut as Spider-Man and Spidey’s own introduction into the universe he belongs, the film adapts one of the coolest comic stories to come out on the last 25 years. The writers, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely did an amazing job balancing a ton of characters and adapting a story that fits perfectly into the MCU.
We also get incredible action sequences directed with flair by the Russo’s who would go on to make the next two Avenger films. And yes, the action is incredible, the character beats are where Civil War really shines. Every scene where Robert Downey Jr and Chris Evans argue over ideology gives me the chills. What’s brilliant about the script is that both men are right and both men are wrong. No matter which side you choose at the end of the film, no one wins and the fracture would pave the way for Thanos’ invasion and victory in Avengers: Infinity War.
Not only does Civil War introduce my favorite movie version of Spider-Man, but it also gives us Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa. Boseman brings an intensity, that is only matched by his warmth and powerful performance. He commands the screen and was taken from this Earth way too soon.
By giving comic book fans breathtaking action, heartbreak and some living splash pages, Captain America: Civil War is truly the best of what the world of comics can bring to the big screen.