Captain America: Civil War

"Who's speaking?"

"It's your conscience. We don't talk a lot these days."

Steve Rogers / Captain America (Evans) and the Avengers travel to Sokovia to capture Brock Rumlow (Grillo), but their actions cause several deaths.  Governments around the world are concerned about the Avengers actions, and the death tolls they bring, and band together to create the Sokovia Accords to keep the Avengers in check.  As half of the team signs the documents, leaders from around the world gather in Vienna to ratify the Accords.  Their meeting is interrupted by a bombing and the Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier (Barnes) is named as the culprit.  Rogers and Sam Wilson / Falcon (Mackie) set out to find Barnes before he is killed.

Their actions put them at odds with other members of the team.  The government tasks Tony Stark / Iron Man (Downey Jr.) to bring the others to justice.  But Rogers, Barnes, and Wilson find a bigger problem is out there and assemble a team to save Barnes.  With the Avengers divided, can they still save the day?


This is the first film in Marvel Studios Phase 3, it is also the third Captain America film: after Captain America: The First Avenger in 2011 and Captain America: The Winter Soldier in 2014.  And like the previous two Captain America films, this film changed the stakes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  The first film set up the Avengers.  The second film destroyed S.H.I.E.L.D and introduced Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson to the MCU.  This film divides the team and sets up the rest of Phase 3.

The creative team behind the scenes of the 2nd film return for this film: directors Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, and screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.  The film feels like a mini Avengers film, with most of the other Avengers appearing here.  But the stakes are high and the big fight between the team feels earned.  You know and care for all of the characters.

The story is serious, but still allows the characters to have light and quippy moments.  The cast is great, but the 3 newest heroes are the standouts.  Paul Rudd is a great addition to the cast, he fits well and brings humor.  Chadwick Boseman is incredible as T'Challa, and I look forward to his stand-alone film (set to debut in 2018).  Tom Holland is a great Peter Parker, and sets up his character and stand-alone film.  The other characters reactions to these three was also great.  As good as these characters were, the real focus was on Chris Evans' Steve Rogers.  Again, Evans is compelling as Captain America: heroic and still human.

The fights and action are well-choreographed and keep you on the edge of your seat.  Even with the the longer run time, it never feels like a long film.  And the trailers didn't spoil too much.

Overall, another stellar Marvel film that lives up to the hype.  I'm excited to see where the MCU goes from here.

Captain America: Civil War (2016) 146 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for extended sequences of violence, action and mayhem
Director: Anthony Russo & Joe Russo
Starring: Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America
Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man
Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow
Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier
Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson / Falcon
Don Cheadle as Lieutenant James Rhodes / War Machine
Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton / Hawkeye
Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa / Black Panther
Paul Bettany as Vision
Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch
Paul Rudd as Scott Lang / Ant-Man
Emily VanCamp as Sharon Carter
Tom Holland as Peter Parker / Spider-Man
Daniel Bruhl as Helmut Zemo
Frank Grillo as Brock Rumlow / Crossbones