Unlike Ultron...

Rating: 10/10 (7 May 2016)

CAPTAIN America: CIVIL WAR really delivers the goods, giving us a comic book movie with everything a good comic book delivers: a great story, compelling characters and incredible action. Unlike AGE OF ULTRON, this time you really believe the heroes are in real jeopardy, because the ones at their throats are their fellow Marvel brothers in arms. That is the genius of the Marvel Universe Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and all the others put together back in the 60's: it's all really one big family, and as we all know, there is nothing more bitter and furious than a family feud. In CIVIL WAR, Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury is nowhere to be seen, and without big brother Nick, all the other siblings in the Avengers have a tough time getting along.
The plot hinges on an Avengers operation in Nigeria which leaves a lot of collateral damage, not the first time such a thing has occurred. So when there is a demand that the Avengers submit themselves to the control of the United Nations, there is real dissension in the ranks when Captain America refuses to follow Tony Stark's lead and sign on with the new arrangement. Things take a real turn when The Winter Soldier, aka Cap's childhood friend Bucky Barnes, is revealed to be responsible for a new act of terror; Tony Stark wants to hunt down the terrorist Bucky, while Cap doubts his guilt and wants to discover the real perpetrator. Thus sides are drawn as other members of the team line up with Team Iron Man or Team Cap. Bucky is tracked down in Berlin, and a race is on to get to him first. Before it is over there will be multiple confrontations and a brutal revelation at the end.
The biggest thing CIVIL WAR has going for it is the action scenes, which are incredibly well staged with good use of CGI and expert stunt work. The confrontation at the Berlin airport, when both sides really square off had been justly praised as one of the finest fight sequences ever staged; it's over twelve minutes of sheer fun. What is so great about it is that it allows all of the super powered participants to really use their powers to the fullest, as it should be in a super hero movie. It's a huge cast of combatants and everyone gets their moment to shine, some more than others; it truly makes the movie. But for me, nothing tops the chase scene where Bucky grabs a speeding motorcycle in mid air and then mounds it and speeds away; second to that is when Cap grabs a departing helicopter with one hand and holds on to a hand rail with the other, his bulging bicep reminding us just what a super soldier can do. The special effects are never cheesy, even when a certain macro sized hero makes an appearance, an effect that often looks exactly like an effect in other movies.
And as usual, the casting in spot on, with the returning Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. as Cap and Tony, a pair of true brothers who see the world very differently. Evans has always risen to the challenge of making a straight shooting character from the 40's relevant in the 21st Century, never more so here, when takes a stand on conscience and refuses to back down. Downey's Tony Stark is showing the scars of battle and feeling the guilt for some of his actions, but he still has plenty of attitude left. Back are Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Elisabeth Olesen, and Sebastian Stan in roles that have come to fit them like gloves. And it is good to see Paul Rudd back as Scott Lang/Ant Man.
The real bright spots are the newcomers: Chadwick Boseman as the Black Panther and Tom Holland as Spider Man. Boseman does true justice to the African prince, T'Challa, an iconic comic hero brought to life on the screen for the first time. He's a most welcome addition to the MCU.
Holland's Peter Parker, is for me, spot on, as this is his first appearance in the MCU after two movie incarnations of his own. Thank God we don't have to do the origin story again as this Peter already has his powers and is recruited by Tony Stark to fight on his side. It's the perfect take on his character, making Peter the nerdy high school kid he was way back in Amazing Fantasy #15. I'm not knocking Toby Maguire or Andrew Garfield, but it's great to have a Peter Parker who clearly having a great time being Spider Man. As for Marisa Tomei as Aunt May, they wisely make a point commenting on the obvious differences between her and the actresses who previously played the part.
For me, the final fight between Tony Stark, Captain America, and the Winter Soldier is one of the most brutal things ever in a super hero movie as they go at each other with all their might and skill, no one holds back and for the first time in a Marvel movie, we are not sure how things will turn out.
All praise to the Russo brothers, who pick up where Joss Whedon left off and really build on his work, and in the end lays out the groundwork for the next stage of the MCU, where Holland's Spider Man will get his own movie, same for Boseman's Black Panther. As for the future of the Avengers, Thor and the Hulk, (who amazingly, are not missed) are still out there, they could bring in the Secret Avengers storyline; why not some characters from Young Avengers as well?