My personal FAVORITE comic book movie ever.

Rating: 9/10 (13 May 2016)

I believe The Dark Knight is the best overall comic book film ever, but Civil War is my personal favorite. The balance of drama and serious tone and humor just works. What's funny is that most of the humor comes during the 17 minute airport scene. Other than that, there is actually very little humor in this movie. From the moment the movie starts, the action is stupendous. The Russo brothers are adept at creating memorable action sequences. Yeah, shaky cam can be a bit annoying in some scenes, but it doesn't compromise the whole of the experience. Their action sequences are top notch, and amazingly choreographed. You sense the impact and brutality of each hit. And because these are superheroes, the impact and brutality is even greater. Winter Soldier and Civil have hands down the best action of all Marvel movies. It's nice to see action that's not all shoot lasers and blow stuff up. Some gritty, down to earth action that seems like it can happen in real life really amps the experience.
Each character gets their moment. The Russos did a great job of balancing the stories of so many characters. You get a sense of motivation and development of each character, even if they are not in the movie too long. You are not jumping from one character moment to another at random times and at warp speed, each moment starts and ends appropriately and tells what it needs to tell. The movie is two and a half hours long, but it did not feel that way, and that is such a hard thing to pull off. Kudos to the Russos for maintaining such a coherence in character story telling.
I have no clue why people are complaining about Zemo. He is the most cunning and charismatic villain this side of Loki. People want to complain the movie didn't need him??? Really? When the bomb at the UN goes off, it sets up a whole bigger conflict that involves Bucky. The last two hours of the film only happens BECAUSE of the actions of Zemo. Anyone who says Zemo is unnecessary, is either really overstating things and didn't even remotely pay attention, or they are disappointed this isn't some big, menacing, powerful villain who poses a threat to the world like Loki.
Zemo is just a regular guy, but with tragic intentions. His whole family and everyone he loved was killed in Sokovia, which drove him to try and tear the Avengers apart. Those who say this motivation sucks, look at this. When T'Challa's dad was killed during the bombing at the UN, he is so angry, he seeks our revenge and goes after Bucky. That's just his DAD. This was enough to set him off. When Tony Stark learned Bucky killed his parents towards the end of the film, this was enough to be filled with rage and try and kill Bucky. Both T'Challa and Stark lost at least one of their parents, and this was ENOUGH to send them into an emotional rage. Zemo lost his dad, his wife, AND his son in Sokovia. Imagine how he feels. His motivation is completely warranted, because he really lost everyone. He spent over a year decrypting leaked Hydra files to study and gain an upper hand. He said himself he has, "Experience and patience. When a man has those two things, he can do anything." That is powerful stuff. Having MULTIPLE people you love get massacred is enough motivation and completely understandable from Zemo's perspective.
Spider-Man and Black Panther? Ugh, absolutely amazing. Both actors completely nailed their roles. Tom Holland is the definitive Spider-Man, and is the age of Peter Parker most people know in the comic book. The perfect combination of young, awkward, nerdy, but super confident and cocky when he puts on the suit. Chadwick Boseman NAILS Panther. He brings that regality and authority, making him a force to be reckoned with, even over Cap. His accent was so good and on point. I can't wait to see his solo film. Both character's intros weren't forced and fit perfectly for the story at the moment. I can't wait for BOTH solo films.
The only true gripe I have about this film is the ending was a bit anti-climactic. I really thought someone would die, and that likely would've had a greater emotional impact from the audience. I think a lot of people expected someone important to be killed, and when it didn't happen and everyone turned out sort of okay (except half of them being fugitives now), it was a bit of a letdown. Had at least one person died, the effects would've been more memorable.
Overall a great movie, and my favorite CBM so far. I can't wait to see the Infinity Wars. It'll probably leave me literally breathless!