Captain America Civil War Review
PG13: Extended Sequences of Violence, Action and Mayhem
Marvel Studios
2 hrs and 32 Minutes
Cast: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Sebastian Stan, Scarlett Johansson, Chadwick Boseman, Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olson, Paul Rudd, Emily VanCamp, Frank Grillo, William Hurt, Martin Freeman, Alfre Woodward, Marisa Tomei, with Daniel Bruhl, and Tom Holland
"After another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps, one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark's surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability."
REVIEW: If there is anything you need to know about me its that I am a complete sucker for every [Disney] Marvel movie. So every Marvel film I came out energized, feeling heroic, and on top of the world. This film left me in a way I have never felt before; traumatized. I left this film in shock as if I really just left a war zone that I survived because this movie is nothing but a mix of conflicted emotions from beginning to end that you'll need somebody to hold onto.
THE GOOD: The Russo Brothers are back with another Captain America movie and GODDAMN. I'm damned. It's damning that they managed to make a Captain America movie better than The Winter Soldier and an Avengers movie better than Age of Ultron. Where in Age of Ultron Joss Whedon added characters to move the movie along, Civil War introduces characters that perfectly set up their solo films and display their background. It really gets you excited for Infinity Wars just by the fact that these directors can fully pull it off. f you thought the 1st Avengers film was one big WWE fight, Civil War [in terms of internal Avengers action] has it beat. You get match-ups that you thought you'll never see and its so awesome. One thing the Russo Brothers are magnificent is directing action. They never find a way to make it boring because you're constantly dodging with oohs and ahs.
With characters let's start with Black Panther who is no doubt about it the best character in this film. You see him go through the most character development throughout the movie and this is the 1st marvel film we see him in. He is badass and he is frightening, but Chadwick Boseman's portrayal as the King of Wakanda is stellar. The African accent he puts on is not over the top and in your face but has a natural tone to it that it sounded perfect. Like in other Marvel media I hear Black Panther his African accent is way over the top but here it is just perfect.
Okay Let's get to it. I know that all of you wanna know. HOW IS SPIDERMAN?!
Two Words: Freaking Amazing [pun intended]
This is Tom Holland's 1st film as Peter Parker and if the 2017 film can carry him home [pun also intended] then he maybe the best Spiderman to date. This movie introduces him perfectly into the MCU. When he's introduced he's immediately playing with the big boys. It's as if when Disney got the rights back from Sony, the studio went "oh shit we got the rights back, let's have Spiderman fight with the Avengers Now Now NOW!!!" And you see him interact with nearly everyone and you will love it and you will love Holland. What makes Holland great is that he's a kid. He looks like a kid, he sounds like a kid, and he acts like a kid. When he is introduced to Tony Stark and the way he reacts you can smell the Peter Parker radiating from the screen. In every moment he's in he shines by cracking jokes, kicking butt, and ribbing with other characters in cleverly written dialogue.
The political undertones in the film works amazingly into the story. Where in every Marvel movies you clap for Avengers when they save the day, the way this film shows the collateral damage and how much lives were lost you personally regret clapping for those films and genuinely make you feel like shit. The conflict between Tony Stark and Steve Rogers is set up like a presidential debate where it is hard to choose who to root for and if you did beforehand this movie will have you constantly switching sides. These are different factors that are conflicting these characters [that we spent so much previous films getting to know and love] from being on the same side and you genuinely feel for them to a point the last act is like a superhero opera that you actually give a shit about. There are several scenes that will tear you up and its very human they way you feel for these characters.
THE BAD:.......I don't really have much bad things to say about this with one major mislead. The villain['s]. We spent since Winter Soldier setting up one of Cap's famous and formidable enemies and he's here for a quick second. He's in and out and you want to see more of him. The main villain [Helmut Zemo] is no Loki, but is the Lex Luthor that was needed for Batman V. Superman, because he perfectly sets up the Civil War with his plan and when you get down to it he isn't a villain, but a man with a personal agenda. There are no REAL villains in this film but just characters with dimension and motives. Where in Ultron the robotic foe claims "to tear the Avengers apart from the inside" Zemo does a much better job than any other Marvel villain has ever done [apart from Loki]. The film is very long, but moves so damn swiftly. You don't feel the length because it's constantly engaging and it never feels dull due to the fact the action is unlike anything you seen before on film.
THE RENDY: Fuck DC. As you saw my rating for Batman V. Superman if was obviously a pity rating with" a well at least you tried" so I will sorta give you a pass type of rating, but this film has nearly the same components as BVS and does it perfectly to a point it just left me screaming fuck DC and fuck Batman V. Superman. Both films are nearly 3 hours long but this moves so fast and paced perfectly. It sets up a villain who is just an average person that genuinely gets the war started. And has you squealing in happiness. Seeing Spiderman, Black Panther, and Ant-Man fight alongside the Avengers and had me legitimately crying in joy. Because it has been every Marvel mogul's dream those these characters come into play and seeing it turn into reality is amazing. I love this movie and I see myself watching this again and again for years to come.
LAST STATEMENT: With top notch direction from the Russo Brothers, Captain America: Civil War is a game changing Marvel film that takes us into depth with our favorite heroes even when they're stripped of their powerswhile perfectly building up new ones that delivers for general and comic book audiences alike. This is Marvel Studio's best film to date bar none.
Rating: 5/5 | 97%
Super Scene: Tony goes to Queens | AVENGERS AIRPORT BATTLE!