An Expertly Balanced, Inherently Focused & Emotionally Dense Summer Extravaganza

Rating: Null/10 (25 May 2016)

The Phase 3 of Marvel Studios' shared universe is off to a rousing start as the 13th instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is another outstanding example of blockbuster filmmaking that, despite being stuffed with too many characters, is able to provide them their fair share of screen time but what's more impressive is that it does so without taking the centerstage away from its eponymous character, thus succeeding as a Captain America sequel rather than coming off as Avengers 2.5.
Set one year after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War follows Steve Rogers whose latest mission to prevent few mercenaries from stealing a biological weapon results in inadvertent deaths of few civilians, following which the UN introduces measures to keep the Avengers in check. With some in favour of the Accords while others against it, the group is split into two opposing factions, one led by Rogers & the other headed by Tony Stark. Meanwhile, a new villain emerges to exploit a weak spot within the Avengers.
Directed by Anthony & Joe Russo, Civil War finds the duo filmmakers in splendid form as they successfully juggle with the arcs of reprising & new characters without deviating too far from the main premise. By capitalising on the plus points of their previous venture, the Russos make sure that the focus remains on Steve Rogers & his journey while other characters weave in-n-out of his story. The swift pacing & uniform flow is effectively maintained, plus all the heavy emotions that come into play in the final showdown feel genuinely earned.
The screenplay is no slouch either, for the writers move the plot forward by betting more on the emotions than its big-budget spectacle. Unlike previous entries, the collateral damage incurred in the Avengers' presence is consistently questioned and there is valid reasoning behind all the choices these characters make. The disagreement between Rogers & Stark over international oversight stems from their own experiences as the former's faith is shattered after witnessing the corruption in The Winter Soldier while the latter is willing to submit after the destruction his actions caused in Age of Ultron.
Captain America: Civil War doesn't sway away from the established Marvel formula. Instead it distills out the impurities by stepping back from the reckless destruction of buildings & cities, and chooses to introspect its characters & their actions on a deeper level while addressing a few serious themes simultaneously. But its effervescent wit is never lost in the process and is consistent in delivery & timing. However, apart from its top-tier editing, the technical aspects don't improve by much and retain the iconography of its predecessors.
Coming to the performances, Civil War features a marvellous ensemble in Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, William Hurt, Daniel Brühl & others. Evans remains the lead despite sharing space with so many people and his performance is very measured. With welcome depth added to Tony Stark's arc, Downey Jr. chips in with an emotionally hefty work without discarding his innate charm & magnetic screen presence. And with her allegiance torn between the two factions, Johansson explores her character's spot quite ably.
Boseman as Black Panther truly nails his part, stealing the limelight from even the big players on more occasions than one. Stan does a brilliant job in maintaining the dual nature of his character's persona. Brühl's character silently develops in the background and the rationale behind his sinister plan is believable. But the most memorable turn comes from the web-slinging, friendly neighbourhood known as Spider-Man. Appearing in costume in just one sequence, Holland leaves a lasting impression with an energetic performance that brims with vibrancy, excitement & just the right amount of cockiness.
On an overall scale, Captain America: Civil War is one of the strongest films to come out from Marvel Studios' canon. By neatly balancing more than a dozen characters in its 2½ hours runtime, the confident direction by the Russos comes as a respite & assurance that the fate of Avengers: Infinity War is in good hands.. The latest offering in the MCU is no gamechanger but it is the finest implementation of the steps the studio follows to create its recipes, and benefits greatly from its deftly written script. A thoroughly enjoyable, entertaining & satisfying extravaganza for the masses, Captain America: Civil War is the summer blockbuster to beat this year.