Civil War: The Comics vs The Movie. Choose Your Side!

‘CIVIL WAR’ [2006-2007] / MARVEL COMICS

‘CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR’ [2016] / MARVEL STUDIOS AND WALT DISNEY studios MOTION PICTURES

Two Different Versions, One Awesome Story

In 2006, comic book writer Mark Miller shattered the world with a concept that changed how we see superheroes. Marvel released the comic series titled Civil War, which divided the Marvel universe into two sides, one which supported the new government-issued Superhuman Registration Act led by Iron Man, and another that opposed it led by Captain America.

Initially, the event was not well received, but over time earned its praise as a revolutionary piece in comics, even scoring IGN’s title as one of the greatest comic book events ever. With such an awesome and successful concept, it’s no surprise Marvel would want to make an adaptation for the big screen, which they ended up doing in 2016 as a conclusion to Cap's MCU trilogy called Captain America: Civil War. However, does the film live up to the legacy of the fabled comic? We will analyze plot, character arcs, and impact of both the comics and the movie to decide which is better. This goes without saying, but a spoiler warning for both adaptations is heavily advised.

‘CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR’ [2016] / MARVEL STUDIOS AND WALT DISNEY studios MOTION PICTURES

The Plot

Essentially, the whole point of the Avengers fighting each other in the film is to see who gets custody over the rogue Winter Soldier (a.k.a. Bucky Barnes). Yes, there are aspects that pay homage to the source material, but they pass by so quickly and are barely touched upon that it’s easily overlooked. In the comics, after a reckless act from inexperienced superheroes kills hundreds of people, the government takes action by announcing the Superhuman Registration Act, a law in which all superheroes become agents of the government, meaning only the government can deploy heroes in extreme circumstances, leaving low-income areas without their heroes to protect the neighbourhood. For many of us who read the comics before seeing the movie, it’s safe to say that many of us were disappointed over the absence of Millar’s amazing plot.

Character Arcs

For the most part, both the comics and the movie provide excellent character arcs for all characters on both sides. Iron Man and Captain America each have understandable reasoning for their sides; however, because of the downgraded magnitude of the film compared to the comic, Cap’s reasoning falls a little short in the film instead of both sides being right. Where the film falls short is with the introduction of Spider-Man. In the comics, as a show of support for the registration act, Spider-Man reveals his identity to the world, making the moment not only shocking but nerve-wracking for what else was to come. While it’s good to see Spidey in the MCU, introducing him in that particular movie not only destroys the chance to create a defining moment for the character, but it also destroys some of the stories Spider-Man had after Civil War.

‘CIVIL WAR’ [2006-2007] / MARVEL COMICS

Impact

Comparing the comics and film adaptations of the Civil War story arc is automatically an unfair battle. As much as Marvel wanted to bring Millar’s concept to the big screen, the harsh reality may be that a faithful adaptation would be next to impossible. To the film’s credit, it used the current characters in the best way it could; however, the scope and the scale for what the comics did far exceeds the film adaptation. Unlike the film, Millar’s comic is not an Avengers story; it’s a Marvel universe story. The list of characters includes Wolverine, The Punisher, Daredevil, The X-Men, The Fantastic Four, The Thunderbolts, The New Warriors, and a good majority of the Marvel heroes. Because of the huge selection of heroes and villains, the story felt important. Every major character was in play—all fighting to protect the people of their world, but just like both The Punisher and Daredevil, each side wants the same thing, but they have different ways of achieving their goals. It’s a story that respects why Stan Lee created Marvel: to show heroes are human and make the same mistakes we do.

Final Thoughts

In the end, while Marvel tried their best to recreate Mark Millar’s classic comic book on the big screen, they only created a story loosely based on the source material, but sometimes that’s be expected. Sometimes classic stories like Civil War just aren’t meant for the big screen.

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Aidan Conners

Aidan Conners is a short story writer, currently taking the Professional Writing course at Algonquin College. He is also a fan of comics, animals, video games, 90’s rock, horror movies, riddles, and reading.

The Flashpoint Paradox: The Masterpiece of the Superhero Genre!

‘JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE FLASHPOINT PARADOX’ [2013] / WARNER HOME VIDEO

A Competitive Genre

It’s no surprise that whenever we think about popular superhero films, we immediately think of Marvel and their blockbuster hits of the Avengers, but what about DC? Surely with an incredible roster that includes the likes of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and of course, The Flash, you would think that their movies would be tough competition for Marvel, but that’s not the case. For years, DC has struggled to keep up with Marvel for live-action adaptations of our favourite heroes.

Let’s face the facts; Marvel is the true dominant force when it comes to the box office. However, that doesn’t mean they are superior when it comes to storytelling. That title belongs to DC for their animated films. Particularly their film Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. Yes, you heard me right; Flashpoint Paradox, in my opinion, outshines all Marvel films with a masterfully crafted story and a unique concept that leaves everyone wishing for more as well as a lesson that will resonate and affect anyone.

A Quick Peek Into the Story

‘JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE FLASHPOINT PARADOX’ [2013] / WARNER HOME VIDEO

After another fierce battle with his rival Reverse-Flash, Barry Allen (A.K.A The Flash) wakes up to find himself in a world much like his own but very different. His once dead mother is alive and well in the new world; however, some things have been mysteriously altered for the worst. Wonder Woman and Aquaman fight in a brutal war, leaving half of the world in ruin. With the war showing no signs of stopping, humanity grimly waits for the end of the world. Stranded in this new reality, The Flash must stop the brutal war and figure out what caused this change. But Barry will soon discover that nothing he once knew is the same.

A Superhero Movie Unlike Any Other

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge Marvel fan but not really of their cinematic universe. Aside from Logan, there were never any Marvel movies that stood out as my favourites. While they are fun movies to sit down and watch with friends, their stories never hooked me. Flashpoint Paradox is everything a superhero movie should be: suspenseful, tense, heartbreaking, inspiring, and simply wondrous.

‘JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE FLASHPOINT PARADOX’ [2013] / WARNER HOME VIDEO

To start, the film features an amazing animation style that makes it feel like a movie fit for comics. However, that doesn’t even scratch the surface of the film. As the film picks up, you instantly realize that the heroes that you grew to love are not the same. Some are warlords, some have given up the fight, and some don’t even exist. This is what DC does better than Marvel: they know we love these characters, and yet they are presented to us in their worst state, but that’s the magic of this film. All these heroes, all these larger than life beings who possess extraordinary abilities reduced to the likeness of normal soldiers in war. Every battle feels intense to the point that the superheroes are no longer super but just some guy fighting against something that’s bigger than themselves. Now you could say the same of the Avengers movies, but actually, you can’t. When people die in Flashpoint, you feel it. Even though most of the characters are products of an altered reality, the film handles death with respect and finality, making each death impactful and devastating. All of this leads up to a shocking plot twist that is even more heartbreaking, which brings the film to a close with a necessary lesson and many tears on the living room floor.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it, and I’m sure I have offended many Marvel fans. While most of Marvel’s movies aren’t my favourite, they still put a smile on my face because they are part of a genre I have loved my whole life. Flashpoint Paradox is just the superhero movie I have long dreamed of, where my heroes are still mighty yet normal in the face of overwhelming odds. Flashpoint was my superhero movie, the movie that broke my heart and built it up again. The Flashpoint Paradox, to put it simply, is the masterpiece of the superhero genre. So? What are you waiting for? Go out and watch it!

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Aidan Conners

Aidan Conners is a short story writer, currently taking the Professional Writing course at Algonquin College. He is also a fan of comics, animals, video games, 90’s rock, horror movies, riddles, and reading.

Rob Zombie’s Halloween: Unique, Yet Hated.

Photo by Toni Cuenca from Pexels

A Film that Redefined a Genre

As a huge fan of the slasher genre, John Carpenter’s 1978 classic Halloween stands as one of my favourites in all of horror. Halloween was a ground-breaking, low budget film that horrified audiences and gave us a character that would haunt our dreams for years: Michael Myers. Because of its success, Halloween inspired some of my other favourite horror films like Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream, and other famous horror movies. To try and recreate the same magic that made the originals great is a difficult challenge to overcome, which is why a lot of remakes nowadays suck. But sometimes directors can surprise us with something different from the original. In 2007, famous rock star and filmmaker Rob Zombie directed a remake of the classic. Many hated it, but many also praised it for doing something different. There is no denying that the film is far from perfect, but does it deserve the amount of hate it gets? We will analyze both sides of the argument to help you answer that question.

Rob Zombie’s Halloween [2007] [Dimension Films]

Why it’s Hated

The biggest reason for most of the fans’ hate is Zombie’s take on Michael Myers. In the original, Michael was simply the bogeyman, a force of unstoppable evil. It would be easy to understand why many fans would not be pleased with introducing a backstory for the character. Most complained that it ruined the mysterious aura that made Michael interesting. Another big complaint was the excessive use of over the top brutality and swearing. However, this being a Rob Zombie film, it’s almost a given that such mature content would be featured; plus, it’s a movie about a psychopathic murderer, you know? Michael Myers? The guy Dr. Loomis described to be pure evil, so I was already expecting the film to be gut-wrenching. A lot of what angered fans were the choices Zombie made and how they were executed, but with the film being a remake, risks and changes are almost needed for it to stand out.

Rob Zombie’s Halloween [2007] [Dimension Films]

Why it’s Praised

Setting aside the die-hard fans of the original, the remake achieved popularity by some for doing what any successful remake does: taking risks in changes. Fans praised the performances of Tyler Mane, Malcolm McDowell, and Scout Taylor-Compton as Michael Myers, Dr. Loomis, and Laurie Strode. While many were upset with the backstory of Michael Myers, others were intrigued (myself included) by the insight on what Michael’s life had been like before he went psycho. Zombie also shifted the focus to Michael and Dr. Loomis for most of the film rather than Laurie Strode, which again received praise for doing something different and received hate from other fans for “tarnishing” the name of the original.

I’m sure by now you’re starting to see a pattern. Whatever the die-hard fans hate, the casual fans love. This is why it’s no surprise that the final major point for the film’s praise is Rob Zombie’s dark and disturbing tone. In my opinion, the approach that Zombie took somehow made the actions of Michael Myers much darker, which may actually be more fitting and realistic for a story about a ruthless killer in the modern-day.

Simply Controversial, but that’s Okay

Overall, Rob Zombie’s Halloween is not for everyone. It’s overly dark, disturbing, intense, and just a film that can mess someone up if they aren’t mentally prepared. But Zombie’s adaptation undoubtedly stands as a perfect example of how to divide a fanbase. Regardless of what anyone else thinks of the film, Halloween 2007 deserves a watch, not just for the risks it takes with the prestigious name, but also to form your own opinion on a widely and hotly debated remake.

Rob Zombie’s Halloween may not have been the remake many fans wanted, but it was certainly impactful. To this day, it currently stands as one of my favourite remakes of all time and one of the only cases where I believe the remake is better than the original.

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Aidan Conners

Aidan Conners is a short story writer, currently taking the Professional Writing course at Algonquin College. He is also a fan of comics, animals, video games, 90’s rock, horror movies, riddles, and reading.

Dune is Back! Will it get the Adaptation it Deserves?

Photo by Simon Clayton from Pexels

2020, What a Mess

With all the damage 2020 has done to us, many have taken to streaming services to fill their need for cinematic entertainment, but is it really just the same as going to a movie theatre with your friends? Because of the pandemic, many upcoming movies have been delayed, and the overall excitement for them has been slowly dwindling. But on September 9, sci-fi fans’ excitement was reignited with a trailer of the newest adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic novel Dune. Unfortunately, recently it was confirmed that the film had been pushed back to October of next year. While that may be a long wait, the excitement for diehard fans is still strong for the long-awaited adaptation.

Who’s Involved?

Denis Villeneuve, who had received praise for the 2015 action-thriller film Sicario, the 2016 alien film Arrival, and the long-awaited 2017 neo-noir film Blade Runner 2049 (which many fans considered to be a faithful sequel to the 1982 original), announced that on February 2017, he was hired to direct a new adaptation of Dune. Many fans were pleased with the choice due to his contribution to sci-fi films. The film has gathered an all-star cast that includes Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Stellan Skarsgård, Jason Momoa, and Dave Bautista. However, having big names don’t always mean success.

A Dream Project

Photo by Chiabella James, Warner Bros. Pictures

So far, Dune is building up to be possibly the best Sci-Fi movie of this generation, but now, that may be a heavy burden to bear; Villeneuve has repeatedly shown in interviews that Dune is his dream project. Being a huge fan of Hubert’s work, Villeneuve has stated that there is no possible way to fit the imaginative world of Arrakis and its history all in one movie and has teased that there will be two movies to take up the entirety of the first book. Even though Dune already had an adaption in 1984, as well as a 2000 mini-series (that had six hours of time to bring Arrakis to life), fans are still waiting for a truly faithful adaption to the classic sci-fi story. So, what makes the new 2021 adaption different? While we won’t know the answer until we actually see the movie, our hopes reside in the passion and dedication Denis Villeneuve has put into the upcoming film. It’s confirmed that Villeneuve spent a full year trying to settle in on a design for the famous sandworm, and from seeing the trailer, it’s safe to say he perfectly captured the terrifying-yet-wondrous presence of the creature.

A Sci-Fi Classic on the Horizon

Overall, hopes are high for the film; as for the past 25 years, it feels like the modern-day audience is finally getting ready for Dune to enter the world of cinema. Projects like The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones have shown that stories with an imaginative world can stick in the minds of movie lovers forever. Dune's universe has everything to be successful: politics, unique geography, fascinating wildlife, interesting characters, and an awesome story. Dune 2021 may be a long ways away, but it is safe to say many of us are looking forward to the journey to Arrakis once again, and it will possibly be one we will never forget.

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Aidan Conners

Aidan Conners is a short story writer, currently taking the Professional Writing course at Algonquin College. He is also a fan of comics, animals, video games, 90’s rock, horror movies, riddles, and reading.