Captain America: Civil War

This third outing for Captain America follows the Marvel Civil War storyline. Instead of a panel-for-panel remake of the original event, Anthony and Joe Russo adapt key elements to the established Marvel Cinematic Universe. With rivals DC having already released a superhero slug-fest between former allies, how will this film compare?

After an Avengers mission ends with the loss of civilian lives, the world seeks to put constraints on 'enhanced individuals'. Wracked by personal guilt, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) supports the legislation purposed, but Captain America (Chris Evans) worries about what this loss of personal freedom would cost the team. With the return of Cap's old friend Bucky (Sebastian Stan), seemingly in the guise of the murderous Winter Soldier, this difference is pushed to breaking point. It is a schism which will split the Avengers and pit team-mate against team-mate.

This kicks off Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a bang. Thirteen films in and the MCU is powering along like a super-solider. There is a fair bit of positioning here as characters are introduced (or re-introduced) and the board is set up for the final showdown, but it all feels organic. Civil War has a reliance on motivation and established characters that it can fall back upon, having already set up the groundwork. The fallout between Stark and Rogers isn't forced, rather arising from previous history. Best still that '70s tone of film (delving into a complex conspiratorial script, concentrating on story and character) is carried over from Winter Soldier.

Also like the previous film, the action beats are purely modern and amazingly executed.

There is a balance of staging and frenetic editing about these scenes. You always have a sense of exactly what is going on even as the action ramps up, and everyone has a distinctive style of fighting. The results are jaw-dropping. The airport sequence alone is one that fans are going to be talking about for a long time to come, as friend turns against friend and the Avengers disassemble. Add to this the sense of personal stakes present all throughout this film, and the audience are well and truly invested as things heat up.

If you only see one film this year about a billionaire playboy in a robot suit beating on a super patriot, then this is your obvious choice.  In the words of Stan Lee, “Make mine Marvel.”

Originally published in X-Press Magazine