Let me first say that I am a huge comic nerd. I remember the moment I first picked up the "Civil War" comic several years ago and I had big expectations walking into this movie. Well, it blew every expectation out of the water.
My rating would have to be four and a half out of five stars. Now let me tell you why, no spoilers added.
The best part about this movie is that when you leave, you know the Marvel Cinematic Universe is changed forever. There’s no way to escape the consequences of this movie, which is a good thing.
Much like “Captain America: Winter Soldier” which changed the universe in gigantic ways with the fall of SHIELD, “Captain America: Civil War” changes how the world views superheroes. The promotion of forcing the audience to “choose a side” works wonders because, if you do, you definitely become emotionally invested in whichever side you choose.
Let me come out right now and state that I am, have always been, and always will be Team Cap. Just in case you detect any bias, I’m admitting it now. I enjoy Iron Man and many of his teammates in this movie, but my allegiance stands with the opposing side.
My favorite thing in “Civil War” is that it advances not only the plot of the film but also the development of nearly every character. Scarlet Witch particularly goes through development, solidifying her place as one of my favorite Marvel heroes.
Another standout character was Black Panther. Too much can’t be said about this guy. Chadwick Boseman portrays Black Panther with heart, soul, and wicked moves that truly make him shine.
Sebastian Stan kills his role of Bucky/Winter Soldier yet again, this time with more lines than his last portrayal. Some of the funniest scenes came from his interaction with various characters!
This review would be remiss if I didn’t mention Spider-Man. We’ve seen two Spideys over the last decade and a half, but I stand by my statement that “Captain America: Civil War” has the best and most complete Spider-Man yet in Tom Holland. Just look him up on Instagram and you'll see that he basically is Spider-Man. Be ready to laugh and gasp when this guy comes on screen!
Of course, the interactions between Captain America and Iron Man drive this film from beginning to end. Whether you go in Team Cap or Team Iron Man, you come out realizing there are reasons for both, though you may not truly understand the other side fundamentally.
Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. both manage to portray compelling sides of the argument which is not only a testament to their acting abilities but a testament to the achievement of the writers and directors.
The only reason I do not give this film five stars out of five is the “villain,” Helmut Zemo, is somewhat shoehorned in. This can’t be helped, however, with so many characters and only two and a half hours to work with. Joe and Anthony Russo, the directors, did an excellent job.
As an added bonus for comic fans, there are several instances where you should recognize lines or images directly from the comic. It was very artfully done. I actually choked on a piece of ice at one point.
Overall this movie made me laugh, cry, and cheer while keeping me attentive despite the length. I’m hoping to see it again soon, and probably again after that.
Be ready to be shocked as you watch this movie, and don’t worry, “Captain America: Civil War” really is as amazing as everyone says it is.
