CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (A+)

Making last month’s Batman V Superman look like a blindfolded, third grade, schoolyard slap fight, Marvel’s explosive latest (and Phase 3 jump starter) is the type of film that bellies up to the summer blockbuster bar and won’t have to pay for a single drink all night…  The action is pulse-pounding, the visuals are stunning and the narrative is thoroughly engaging.  It is at once a massively entertaining culmination of its 12 predecessors, a marvelous standalone film with explosive intrigue and a sprightly springboard for future installments (like Spiderman: Homecoming, Black Panther, et al).  Built firmly on the pillars of brotherhood and bloodshed, equal measures both – it deftly covers thought-provoking themes of morality, obedience, accountability, revenge and close-minded, governmental meddling.  …and this crowd-pleasing, blockbuster epic does it all with heart, humor, heavy metal skirmishes and a confidently mind-blowing scope.  Aggressively gorgeous action sequences and the tightly wound, ticking time bomb plot aside, the most glorious attribute to the picture as a whole is that each member in this cavalcade of crusaders is given their chance to shine (for example, this is the most rousing iteration of Spider-Man I’ve yet seen committed to the big screen).  A cinematic line in the sand has been drawn, sides are chosen and each hero is saddled with deliberate and appropriate doses of depth.  Captain America: Civil War is a beefy, big budget, balancing act for the ages.  It’s smart, slick and full of smack down sass – a movie not to be missed on the largest screen possible, with as many people as said theater can hold! 

Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Emily VanCamp, Daniel Bruhl, William Hurt and Tom Holland 

Directed by: Anthony and Joe Russo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) 
Rated: PG-13 
Running time: 2hr. 26min. 
Story: Marvel's "Captain America: Civil War" finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps-one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark's surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability. 
Website: www.marvel.com/captainamerica#/home