Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Run Time: 146 Minutes
After feeling a bit lukewarm about Deadpool and downright cold on Batman V Superman, I was afraid that I was growing tired of the super hero movie, however I’m pleased to report Captain America: Civil War reinvigorated my fondness for spandex and crime fighting in a big way. It’s Marvel Studios’ biggest, longest and best movie yet, and outdoes BvS in every way possible.
It’s interesting that both DC and Marvel released movies with such similar thematic elements and yet they couldn’t be further apart in tone or entertainment value. Civil War and BvS both deal with how the world perceives super-powered individuals and how the fallout of disastrous events caused the governments of the world to step in and attempt to keep these individuals in check. This causes conflict within the ranks of the good guys, giving the bad guys the opportunity to stir up some shit.
The fundamental difference between the two films however, is that while BvS is so serious and dark and brooding, Civil War takes a more fun, and vastly more entertaining, approach. While it doesn’t shy away from serious moments, as a whole it’s a more colorful film; the majority of the action takes place during the day and shot in a way that one can actually distinguish what’s going on. In addition, the characters are inherently more likable, something I thought I would never say considering Batman is my favorite comic book hero. The quips are abundant and laugh-out-loud funny, adding a layer of comedy to the numerous action sequences, which are perfectly paced and some of the best I’ve ever seen on film.
I will avoid spoilers in this review, but I will say the battle between the Avengers is nothing short of incredible, with directors Joe and Anthony Russo expertly hopping back and forth between all the many characters who now part of the Marvel roster. I often found myself fidgeting in my seat, so excited at what was unfolding on the screen, almost as if I had once again reverted back into my childhood self, similar to how I felt during The Force Awakens and the first Avengers film. I just never wanted it to end, but now that it has, I just want to go back into the theater and experience it again.
One tidbit you can see in the many trailers for this film are the inclusion of two new characters to the Marvel cinematic universe: Black Panther and Spider-Man. Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther is a complete bad-ass, and the new Spider-Man, played by Tom Holland, has refreshed my love for that character, which I was feeling a bit down on after the last two Sony Spider-Man movies. We see a lot more of him than I expected, and Marvel didn’t waste any time on yet another origin story – something I was extremely thankful for.
Sure, the film is a bit light on its main story arc and Daniel Brühl’s villainous role as Zemo has questionable motives, but the focus here is placed squarely on the conflict within the rank of the Avengers- exactly what everyone wants to see. The film’s ending felt slightly abrupt as well, almost as if it was one of those Hobbit movies that just ended in the middle of a scene, only not nearly as egregious.
Quite simply, Captain America: Civil War is my favorite of the Marvel films and is easily one of the best super-hero movies ever made. To take so many characters and somehow be able to give each of them adequate screen time while being able to juggle so many big action sequences is quite a feat and one that the Russo brothers handled exceptionally. Even if you’re feeling tired of the super-hero film you owe it to yourself to check this one out in the theater. It’s a blast.
