Film Review : Captain America "Civil War"

When going into a comic book movie, I am not expecting the plot of  anything but a comic book. It could have turned into a cluster fuck, but in the end felt more like an Avenger's movie than a Captain America solo film. By and large the character's were well juggled. It is like the comic book event only in the feel of it's conflict. People online started saying well how does this effect Spider-man? It doesn't as the Accord the government comes up with is designed to only keep the Avengers in check, the Marvel Universe in the movies is better than the comics only in the sense Spider-Man is not an Avenger. Neither is Ant-man so when he winds up at the Raft, then it must be for destroying the plane when he turns into Giant -Man which is one of the films best moments. Evans has really settled into the role, as most of the actors who find this as their 6th installment in costume. Though War-Machine is one of the weakest portrayals. The Black Panther is cool to see on screen and has a large enough role, but he doesn't really prove himself. He never kicks any ones ass and instead gets kicked around more often than not. We get he is fast and can jump down from places to pounce like a cat, vibranium makes bullets bounce off his costume and his claws can scratch Cap's shield, but what can he do that Bucky can't do? In fact Bucky's cyborg arm is stronger than he is. Black Panther can only lift 800 lbs in the comics, so this makes sense. 

Spider-man gets a stronger introduction than Panther, and he is more of a major player so that makes sense. The hot aunt thing is beat into your face, but Holland gets right what Mcguire wanted to do.As for the rest of the gang Black Widow is consistent, Hawkeye gets better and both Scarlet Witch and the Vision prove without Thor or Hulk around they are the team's real power houses.There is the ret-conned, "I killed your father" moment,  you see coming though Zemo should have put a mask on as he could have been the Chameleon by framing Bucky. I am sure the over all spectacle eclipsed the easter eggs. So far the Marvel movies have yet to acknowledge the Net Flix shows and really considering the scale of the problems normally face vs things like organized crime the overlap might not be needed until, Spider-man's solo film. The motives for sides being chosen, given the fact Stark went into Senate hearings in the previous movies saying they could not take the suit since he was Iron-man, were a little forced. But the well paced action and bit super-hero throw down made it worthwhile. 

In fact it almost felt like the final show down was anti-climatic, even with the reveal about Barnes after the fight with Giant-man. I think both Spider-man and Ant-man stole the show in this regard and made every aside from Vision look a little silly. Black Panther did not do well at all in this regard. I think he deserves to be on screen, but doubt he can really hold his own movie. Though now Spider-man is making me re-think my statement Dr. Strange will be the last great Marvel film, Black Panther with be their next big flop for sure and not even Thanos can save where the franchise will head, so this serves as a good reminder as to what a super hero film can and should be ... fun.