There have been so many superhero films recently, it’s been
hard telling them apart. Many have the same template of high-octane
thrills and an abundance of CGI-fused action. It would be very easy to
cynically think ‘Captain America: Civil War’ would just be the same. To a
degree it is, although the strong direction and solid characterisation make it
more than diverting. With an emotional and personal involvement in the
story, ‘Captain America: Civil War’ ensures its many masked heroes leap through
the comic book pages with mighty abandon.
When collateral damage is caused by The Avengers, led by
Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) the government steps in.
Creating a system of better accountability which leads to a shocking
split. With Rogers wanting to continue a path of individual freedom, his
views are opposed by Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jnr).
Battle-lines are quickly drawn as hero vs. hero with the game of brinkmanship
used by sinister forces determined to eradicate the heroes forever.
Having directed the previous Captain America film ‘Winter
Soldier’ to great acclaim, the Russo Brothers do the same with ‘Civil
War’. The title is a little mis-leading as this is more an Avengers tale
than a genuine solo Captain America outing. This somewhat de-values the
title character’s contribution although overall ‘Civil War’ delivers glossy
spectacle. Injected with intelligent plotting exploring issues of trust
and loyalty, the story zooms along at break-neck speed disguising its
gargantuan run-time.
For long-time Marvel comic fans, ‘Civil War’ provides a
blancmange of super-heroics. Spider-Man and Black Panther make their debuts in
the official Marvel cinematic universe, infusing a freshness the script
needs. Their contribution to the action sequences make them watchable
even if perhaps watching constantly fighting heroes becomes a little
tedious. The strength of the direction and story make up for it, giving
the solid cast plenty to get stuck into in between wearing outrageous outfits.
‘Captain America: Civil War’ is what you’d expect from a
Marvel movie. It has style, pace and excitement wrapped in an easily
viewable package. The cost of a cinema ticket would be well spent for an
escapist night-out with the big-screen surely invented for a massive
block-buster such as this.
Movie Review Rating out of 10: 7
Movie Review by Patrick Moore
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