Saturday, May 07, 2016

Finding Zemo: “Captain America: Civil War” is Marvel Yet Again in Fine Form

Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Iron Man 1 & 3,” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” are pretty much the epitome of the always nerdy sounding Marvel Cinematic Universe. Some would say “The Avengers” is one of the best and while it’s completely serviceable, “Captain America: Civil War” feels like the definitive Avengers adventure. It’s been a long road getting here (“Civil War” is the thirteenth) but it was certainly worth the climb. “Civil War” is a Captain America film that finds several members of the Avengers split into two separate political factions. When the Avengers become government sanctioned it sends a rift between Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers and Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man. For a comic book film with lots of characters, many of them introduced here for the first time, the film handles everything rather nicely and “Civil War” finds a nice pacing as it rages on for nearly two and a half hours of nerdy superhero fun.

If I’m being completely honest I think I prefer “The Winter Soldier” by a slight hair because its plot was so surprising since it essentially ended up being a superbly-crafted comic book conspiracy actioner that was heavily influenced by 1970s political thrillers. “Civil War” while it maintains much of the same entertainment value as “The Winter Soldier” doesn’t quite have as strong a personality or identity. It feels more like another “Avengers” film which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The film’s main villain takes the form of Daniel Brühl’s Helmut Zemo, who’s just a regular guy who seeks vengeance. Turns out he’s somewhat of an avenger himself: he’s hell-bent on destroying the Avengers for killing his family during the events of “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” Also, William Hurt is the Secretary of State who introduces the Sokovia Accords a bill that would make the Avengers accountable and owned by the government. Captain America is severely against it but Iron Man agrees with it and insists they must all be held accountable. Cue the fighting.

Obviously, there’s a lot more going on here than just superheroes fighting each other. The film obviously has a lot to say about vigilantism and politics. It helps that the film has wondrously staged action sequences. Anthony and Joe Russo, who return from helming The Winter Soldier, really know what they’re doing here and provide plenty of spectacle. Sure, see the film for its glorious action set-pieces but stay for the great new character introductions. Chadwick Boseman plays T’Challa a prince from Wakanda who shows up as the Black Panther as he’s also out for revenge. Even the web-head Spider-Man is finally introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as recruited by Tony Stark. Played here by The Impossible’s Tom Holland, the film takes the character back to his high school days and, and he does a great job of playing that smart-alecky teen who’s got something to say about everything. There are plenty of other familiar faces including Paul Bettany and Elizabeth Olsen who get much more character development than in their last outing. And Cap’s friend-turned-mind-controlled-enemy Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) returns to remind us that he’s becoming one of this saga’s most interesting characters. Something here that really got to me was the division between Rogers and Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) since they played off each other so well in “The Winter Soldier.”


Anyone who found the “Avengers” films a bit bloated might find “Civil War” to be similar in that regard but it felt much more grounded in reality, fun, and significant than many of the films that came before it. The Captain America films have quickly become some of the most well respected comic book films which is saying something since these movies are being released seemingly every other week. “Civil War” doesn’t necessarily do anything that new or groundbreaking but it also seems to get everything right and has enough fun tricks up its sleeve, and at this point is all most of us can ask for.  GRADE: B+ 

Trailer for Captain America: Civil War on TrailerAddict.

16 comments:

Unknown said...

cheap nike shoes
michael kors outlet
nike air huarache
cheap michael kors handbags
gucci sito ufficiale
cheap michael kors handbags
nike trainers
toms shoes
michael kors handbags
ed hardy clothing
michael kors outlet online
nike air force 1
ed hardy
michael kors handbags
salomon boots
michael kors handbags
cheap michael kors handbags
michael kors outlet
michael kors handbags wholesale
michael kors handbags
michael kors outlet store
michael kors handbags
nike huarache
cheap michael kors handbags
gucci borse
michael kors outlet clearance
polo ralph lauren outlet
michael kors handbags
ralph lauren outlet online
rolex replica watches
chaussure louboutin
michael kors handbags online
converse shoes

Unknown said...

pandora jewelry
cheap jordans
bottega veneta outlet
ralph lauren polo shirts
oakley sunglasses
oakley sunglasses
ugg outlet
prada outlet
prada handbags
valentino outlet
chanyuan10.05

raybanoutlet001 said...

fitflops
nike free 5
louis vuitton sacs
cheap ray bans
michael kors handbags outlet
nike tn pas cher
nike store uk
michael kors handbags outlet
michael kors handbags
michael kors handbags wholesale

wesan michael said...

michael kors outlet online
hogan outlet online
oakley sunglasses
cheap tiffanys
ralph lauren uk
kobe basketball shoes
http://www.uggoutlet.uk
nike roshe run
tiffany and co outlet

Unknown said...

christian louboutin
kate spade
true religion outlet
coach outlet
canada goose outlet
christian louboutin shoes
borse gucci
ugg boots clearance
valentino
abercrombie kids
20161224

raybanoutlet001 said...

ugg boots
ray ban sunglasses
ugg boots
ugg outlet
bills jerseys
nike shoes
jordan shoes
pandora outlet
ferragamo outlet
michael kors bags

Unknown said...

qzz0505
chicago blackhawks jerseys
air force 1
world cup jerseys
true religion jeans
fitflops
cheap jordans
canada goose jackets
coach outlet
polo ralph lauren
knicks jerseys

Unknown said...

qzz0707
true religion jeans
jordan 32
christian louboutin shoes
coach canada
true religion jeans
kevin durant shoes
basketball shoes
brequet wathes
michael kors outlet
cheap jordans

Unknown said...

zzzzz2018.7.13
huaraches
jordans
kate spade outlet online
true religion outlet
ray ban sunglasses
christian louboutin outlet
hugo boss sale
off-white clothing
fitflops sale clearance
ugg boots on sale 70% off

520abc said...

0806jejeDans le nike basket homme pas cher coeur coronaire d'Athènes, les hommes et les femmes peuvent découvrir des charges de asics gel noosa tri 9 herren test sites incroyables tels que la place Syntagma, la place basket new balance grise et rose Monastiraki, le temple Parthénon, le Parlement, et ainsi de suite. nike air max 1 ultra moire femme beige Après la Grande Dépression, lorsque la Seconde Guerre mondiale a air jordan pour femme noir et rose commencé, de nombreux appels ont été lancés à air jordan basketball ball price Dickie et Williamson pour qu'ils fabriquent des uniformes pour les soldats outre-mer. chaussure nike a talon bleu

5689 said...

adidas yeezy
off white clothing
ralph lauren outlet
pandora outlet
ugg boots clearance
salomon
tory burch handbags
true religion jeans
michael kors outlet clearance
adidas outlet online
zzzzz2018.8.23

jjjjjjjjjjjjj said...

hogan outlet online
coach outlet
air max
yeezy
polo ralph lauren
air max 90
jordan shoes
golden goose shoes
moncler jackets
lebron 16

yanmaneee said...

hermes birkin
nike air vapormax
nike sneakers
off white clothing
christian louboutin shoes
christian louboutin
hermes belts
michael kors factory outlet
michael kors outlet
coach outlet stores

yanmaneee said...

calvin klein underwear
yeezy boost
louboutin outlet
hermes online
hermes
balenciaga shoes
coach factory outlet
hogan outlet
supreme clothing
kobe sneakers

smeshaez said...

k6j76e4u80 k2m82c5i02 q5h59i9z84 y9f66z9r90 j6u65p7b24 d3h50n5p03

Unknown said...

r1s50e3p76 j0x65v1r69 c5k95i3v86 b8s80s6c58 v5d22a1s19 n1i13w1c16