Captain America: Civil War (C) Movie Review
Captain America: Civil War stars a slew of A-listers as The Avengers, a group of vigilante superheroes who, after a recent incident in Sokovia, find themselves in hot water with the UN. When issued the Sokovia Accords, a bundle of documents detailing how the UN will have some control over their actions, the Avengers split into two groups over the issue. Captain America, played by Chris Evans, leads a group opposing the Accords, while Iron Man, played by Robert Downey, Jr., supports the Accords.
MARVEL films elude me. I can't say I understand the obsession with corporate-mandated filmmaking, only perhaps their entertainment value. Captain America: Civil War feels less puppeteered by a studio head and more like messy filmmaking.
Directors Anthony and Joe Russo's decision to pit the Avengers against each other is by far the most interesting aspect to this film. Though the conflicts take a while to explode, things boil over beautifully in one of the best action sequences I've seen in quite some time in an abandoned airport. Unfortunately, the "civil war" between our characters goes unrealized for quite some time as we witness a tedious plot blossom involving Daniel Bruhl as our main villain. Though Bruhl is creepy enough and has proven himself to be a great actor elsewhere, his characters' motives are convoluted and his screentime is too inconsistent for him to register as a seriously imposing threat.
The film has undeniable entertainment factor that albeit wears thin as the end nears. Captain America: Civil War is nearly two-and-a-half hours long, but not every minute is thoroughly captivating. Character dynamics are wonderfully explored and intriguing here but the plot involving Bruhl that surrounds them is dull. There are a few memorable action sequences in which the Russo's demonstrate a knack for capturing movement and stylishly choreographed stuntwork.
But all this can't cover up how bloated this film is. There's simply not enough time to develop fifteen different characters, their personal and emotional conflicts, and their conflicts with those surrounding them. It's a good thing the conflict between the two divisions of the Avengers works in broad strokes. And though the film tries, and succeeds occasionally, to make each character feel relevant and tormented in their own way, the screenwriters buckle under the sheer weight of how many personalities they must juggle.
What's perhaps most frustrating about Civil War is that it's exactly what I expected it to be. When the studio exec is missing from the film's touch for person vs person conflicts, you can almost hear him going "we need a big battle scene right here!" Corporate mandated filmmaking is tiresome and Captain America: Civil War does little to reverse this stereotype.
I hate to dwell on the negative because Captain America: Civil War boasts a few solid performances (including an excellent turn from Robert Downey, Jr. where he's surprisingly not all sass), solid action sequences, and spectacularly realized conflict between the divided Avengers. Captain America: Civil War works best when it's exploring the group dynamic of the Avengers, but stumbles wildly in terms of genre innovation and general storytelling.
FINAL GRADE: C
MPAA RATING: PG-13 for extended sequences of violence, action and mayhem
MARVEL films elude me. I can't say I understand the obsession with corporate-mandated filmmaking, only perhaps their entertainment value. Captain America: Civil War feels less puppeteered by a studio head and more like messy filmmaking.
Directors Anthony and Joe Russo's decision to pit the Avengers against each other is by far the most interesting aspect to this film. Though the conflicts take a while to explode, things boil over beautifully in one of the best action sequences I've seen in quite some time in an abandoned airport. Unfortunately, the "civil war" between our characters goes unrealized for quite some time as we witness a tedious plot blossom involving Daniel Bruhl as our main villain. Though Bruhl is creepy enough and has proven himself to be a great actor elsewhere, his characters' motives are convoluted and his screentime is too inconsistent for him to register as a seriously imposing threat.
The film has undeniable entertainment factor that albeit wears thin as the end nears. Captain America: Civil War is nearly two-and-a-half hours long, but not every minute is thoroughly captivating. Character dynamics are wonderfully explored and intriguing here but the plot involving Bruhl that surrounds them is dull. There are a few memorable action sequences in which the Russo's demonstrate a knack for capturing movement and stylishly choreographed stuntwork.
But all this can't cover up how bloated this film is. There's simply not enough time to develop fifteen different characters, their personal and emotional conflicts, and their conflicts with those surrounding them. It's a good thing the conflict between the two divisions of the Avengers works in broad strokes. And though the film tries, and succeeds occasionally, to make each character feel relevant and tormented in their own way, the screenwriters buckle under the sheer weight of how many personalities they must juggle.
What's perhaps most frustrating about Civil War is that it's exactly what I expected it to be. When the studio exec is missing from the film's touch for person vs person conflicts, you can almost hear him going "we need a big battle scene right here!" Corporate mandated filmmaking is tiresome and Captain America: Civil War does little to reverse this stereotype.
I hate to dwell on the negative because Captain America: Civil War boasts a few solid performances (including an excellent turn from Robert Downey, Jr. where he's surprisingly not all sass), solid action sequences, and spectacularly realized conflict between the divided Avengers. Captain America: Civil War works best when it's exploring the group dynamic of the Avengers, but stumbles wildly in terms of genre innovation and general storytelling.
FINAL GRADE: C
MPAA RATING: PG-13 for extended sequences of violence, action and mayhem