Captain America Civil War review: Have The Russo Brothers just delivered the best Marvel movie yet?
Marvel Studios touch down with their first big movie of 2016, and Captain America: Civil War has the potential of becoming the biggest film of the year. Read our Captain America Civil War review below.
Captain America Civil War review
Coming in at a total running time of 2 hours and 27 minutes, Captain America: Civil War is the longest, and most ambitious Marvel movie to date. Assembling pretty much all of the Avengers, excluding Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, here we’re treated to a delicious, visual treat which may be the ‘can-do-no-wrong’ Marvel Studios best adventure yet.
The story picks up with a superb opening sequence involving the title character and various other members of the team as they attempt to pursue the allusive Crossbones (Frank Grillo); a stunning set-piece which nicely sets the tone of this fast and furious film; one that is pivotal to the events that follow. Back at base, there’s a number of issues in the Avengers camp. A political request has been issued by the United States government for the Avengers to sign an agreement that will hopefully limit their participation in global threats, and the amount of collateral damage that they cause. However, there’s a slight issue as, while some members of the team are more than willing to bring some control to the chaos, others do not. On the ‘for’ side is Robert Downey Jr‘s Tony Stark/ Iron Man, a character who is going through a tough, emotional time on a personal level, as well as a professional one. On the other is Chris Evans‘ Steve Rogers/ Captain America who thinks that the team should remain free to defend humanity without government interference. With the two alpha-males at logger-heads, the other members of the team, including Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olson), Scarlett Johansson‘s Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow, Paul Bethany‘s Vision and Anthony Mackie‘s Sam Wilson / Falcon, must pick their side.
Captain America Civil War review
The thing that Captain America: Civil War does from the outset, is put any fear that you may have about it (if any) to rest almost immediately. While the film does have the longest running time of any Marvel movie ever, it doesn’t have a single ounce of fat, and speeds along at the rate of knots. As well as the aforementioned Avengers, Captain America: Civil War also brings together other members of the team. It’s safe to reveal them here as they feature heavily in the fantastic trailer that debuted online just a couple of months ago. We have Paul Rudd‘s Ant-Man joining in the fun, fresh from his introduction to the Marvel universe just twelve months ago, Chadwick Boseman‘s T’Challa / Black Panther, who makes his debut with this film before firing off on his own in the forthcoming Ryan Coogler helmed feature, and a studio swapping Spider-Man, played by Tom Holland, who also makes his MCU debut, before swinging back to Sony for his own stand-alone piece in Spider-Man: Homecoming next year.
It’s a lot of characters for what is essentially a Captain America movie (and not the Avengers opus that it really is), but somehow directors Joe Russo and Anthony Russo have managed to give each one just enough screen time to, that it justifies their existence. What this film doesn’t do, and which something Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice did, is that it doesn’t just have the likes of Spider-Man and Black Panther present as a glorified cameo just to set-up future movies. In fact, Black Panther’s presence is mandatory for the story of Captain America: Civil War to work, and for the narrative to move forward. His screen time is a lot longer than you’d expect.
Captain America Civil War review
While Captain America: Civil War is as big as DC’s first effort of 2016, it is of course, nowhere near as dark. Unlike BVS, it’s as witty and funny as the other films in this near-flawless series. Most of the comedic beats come from the direction of Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man, who has perhaps one of the best moments in one of the best sequences in the film (the pivotal Berlin airport scene about halfway in), and also Holland’s solid turn as a debuting Peter Parker – very different from previous incarnates – thankfully. Add on to that Stark’s constant quips and banter between the team, and you’re onto an absolute winner.
Also, Captain America: Civil War could also feature one of the best performances from Robert Downey Jr. in the series yet. He’s solid throughout, but the film’s final few scenes show off the talent of this supremely gifted actor, a performance that harks back to the stunning work that he put out in the early 1990s (we’re thinking Chaplin, Short Cuts etc). He’s fantastic in this. Chris Evans is also solid as Cap, while Daniel Brühl brilliantly brings some darkness to proceedings as Zemo.
The Russo Brothers, who delighted with the last Captain America movie, have taken things to an altogether different level with this, and they’ve done the unthinkable – they’ve made the best Marvel movie yet. If you, like me, thought that Avengers Assemble couldn’t be matched, think again – it has… and then some. If you also thought that comic book superhero movies were on a downward slide, come back to us once you’ve seen this. We’re sure that you will have changed your mind.
The is supreme, wall to wall pure summer popcorn fun. Bring on Infinity War. We’re ready.
Captain America Civil War review by Paul Heath, April 2016.
Captain America: Civil War is released in U.K. cinemas on 29th April, 2016, and U.S. cinemas on 6th May, 2016.
fluxCAPS
Apr 21, 2016 at 8:28 am
‘Captain America: Civil War has the potential of becoming the biggest film of the year.’
……….in America.
Winter Soldier didn’t break $715 million worldwide.
‘here we’re treated to a delicious, visual treat which may be the ‘can-do-no-wrong’ Marvel Studios best adventure yet.’
That’s not saying very much, as most of the MCU’s film’s are very much flavour of the week.
Watch them and forget them – Ant-Man who?
The only one that has stood out in recent years was Winter Soldier.
How much did Winter Solder make again?
LOL
The Hollywood News
Apr 21, 2016 at 8:31 am
This really is something else. The Russo brothers have taken this to an altogether different level. This is more of an Avengers film though, so should do better – we’re saying $170 million opening weekend (domestic)?
fluxCAPS
Apr 21, 2016 at 8:41 am
If it beats BvS’s final box office total (worldwide), I will be very surprised.
The Hollywood News
Apr 21, 2016 at 8:47 am
OH we think it’ll surpass that. It’ll have great word of mouth – something that BvS didn’t have, and it’ll stand up to repeat viewings. That is just our opinion though.
fluxCAPS
Apr 21, 2016 at 8:58 am
The only way that could happen is if WB do not release the BvS director’s cut theatrically,
And Civil War doesn’t put off select international audiences the way Winter Soldier did because “Captain America” is in the title.
Imho.
The Hollywood News
Apr 21, 2016 at 9:01 am
Agreed. Were you a fan of BvS?
fluxCAPS
Apr 21, 2016 at 9:09 am
Yes, and MoS.
fred
Apr 21, 2016 at 9:34 am
And your point is. Did Winter Soldier have Iron Man, Black Panther, Spider-Man, The Vision, Scarlet Witch, War Machine, Ant-Man and Hawkeye hell no. You have no idea what the addition of the other heroes will bring in, but your dumb self will find out very soon starting next week. Don’t be surprised if ‘Civil War’ doubles what ‘Winter Soldier’ made globally bruh.
fred
Apr 21, 2016 at 9:36 am
Haha dude you must be high on one, BvS is probably going to end up making a little over 900 million worldwide, this will fly past that amount homie.
fred
Apr 21, 2016 at 9:38 am
Don’t waste your time trying to explain nothing to this dude because he will find out in a few weeks how dead wrong he is. He has no damn idea what he’s talking about, he’s just running off at the mouth talking nonsense trying to be funny.
fluxCAPS
Apr 21, 2016 at 9:39 am
Don’t think so.
Some international audiences won’t go anywhere near anything with “America” in the title.
fred
Apr 21, 2016 at 9:46 am
Plus Paul didn’t say or guarantee ‘Civil War’ would be the biggest hit of 2016, he only said it had the POTENTIAL to be 2016’s biggest hit which I agree with. The reviews have been fantastic, the people who have seen it have loved it and the buzz from the film has been very strong, what part of that you don’t understand dog?
fred
Apr 21, 2016 at 12:10 pm
Okay let’s see ‘Cap 1’ made 195 million overseas and 370 million total worldwide, ‘Cap 2’ made 455 million over seas and 715 million worldwide total. So ‘Cap 2’ more than doubled ‘Cap 1’ overseas and nearly doubled it’s worldwide total. ‘Winter Soldier’ made over 100 million dollars in China, the name America sure in the hell didn’t affect its box office take in that country did it. Now you’re going to tell me with characters like Iron Man and Spider-Man in this film people are going to be stupid and stubborn enough to stay away from this film because of the name America, I doubt it homie. And when this film easily makes over 1 billion worldwide don’t say I didn’t tell your blind self so lol.
fluxCAPS
Apr 21, 2016 at 12:20 pm
Well, we will just have to wait and see, won’t we ; )
fred
Apr 21, 2016 at 2:05 pm
That we will, but even if you really followed the trajectory of Cap’s movies common sense would tell you that this last one would be the biggest hit in the franchise. And than you throw in the Civil War with fellow Avengers including Spider-Man and you have a monster hit on your hands. And no matter how much in denial you might be, even you should realize the incredible buzz this film is generating right now.
darkknight76
Apr 21, 2016 at 8:15 pm
I liked them both too. But you are wasting your breath here. If BvS had been light and colorful and ‘fun,’ as so many like to say, THN, as well as every other media outlet would have complained that DC was ripping Marvel off. There is no point trying to reason with people that are unreasonable.
fred
Apr 22, 2016 at 11:59 pm
Well so did I. While I didn’t think BvS was perfect, it’s certainly not nearly as bad as the reviews would have you believe. Deadpool was good, BvS was good and here comes Civil War next. 2016 is already off to a stellar start for CBM and we still have more to go.
fred
Apr 23, 2016 at 12:01 am
I’m cool with DC having their own style like i’m cool with Marvel having their own. It would become too damn boring, predictable and repetitive if both studios made the exact same films. It’s good to have your own identity.
The Hollywood News
Apr 23, 2016 at 9:26 am
We’re cool with DC having their own style too. I think there’s a lot riding on Suicide Squad this summer – Paul
fred
Apr 23, 2016 at 9:39 am
True. I think it’s great “Civil War” is getting great reviews and strong buzz, the CBM genre needs that so it can shut these fools up who think it’s going to burn out anytime soon. The fact is both “Deadpool” and BvS grossed over 300 million domestic this year and it seems like “Civil War” is destined to do that and perhaps quite a bit more. With ‘Apocalypse’, ‘Suicide Squad’ and ‘Doctor Strange’ to follow this could easily shape up to be the best year CBM’s have ever had and you won’t hear a whimper from those sorry ass haters and doubters who claim it’s a fad. Sorry to break those chumps bubble, but the demise of CBM’s was very premature haha. I think ‘Suicide Squad’ will do well, for one that film and ‘Doctor Strange’ both offer something completely different that we’ve never seen in CBM’s movies before and that’s also a plus.
fluxCAPS
Apr 26, 2016 at 5:03 pm
I don’t think so.
Both MoS and BvS have amassed almost 1.6 billion and counting at the (worldwide) box office for the DCEU.
With BvS set to easily break a billion itself if WB release the Director’s Cut into theatres, as has been rumoured.
The DCEU is doing just fine, thanks very much.
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