CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR

I think of this as more of an Avengers outing than as a solo Cap effort, given that we get a bucketload of MCU superheroes here (although not Thor and Hulk), and given that I'm not very invested in Cap's friendship with Bucky.

As such it's a whole lot better than its predecessor, 'Avengers: Age of Ultron', although that's not saying much.

It has a more coherent story, and it has an idea at its centre - whether it's OK for superheroes to go wherever, and do whatever, they please, no matter the collateral destruction and loss of innocent life.  This idea resonated with me, as someone who feels uncomfortable whenever a CGI building gets destroyed.   

Unfortunately the issues raised don't get much thoughtful reflection from the superheroes in question, it just forms the pretext for a contrived 'civil war'.  Never mind, we do at least get a fun action sequence at a deserted airport where the two warring groups go head-to-head.

I liked that the 'villain' is a more-or-less ordinary guy who is seeking revenge for the death of his family in Sokovia as a result of the Avengers' battle with Ultron.  His revenge plot is admittedly quite bonkers but it does lead to an emotionally charged three-way battle at the film's climax, involving Iron Man, Cap and The Winter Soldier (Bucky to his mates). 

I was thankful that we didn't get a truckload of other Winter Soldiers being resurrected, which seemed to be the way things were heading, which would have been very tedious.

Talking of tedious there are as always too many superheroes on view, and I could happily have done without Hawkeye, Falcon, War Machine and even (gulp) Black Widow.

On the plus side we get to see the relationship between Wanda and Vision developing, and Iron Man recruits Spider-Man.  Peter Parker's very young-looking Aunt May is played by Marisa Tomei who by coincidence I recently caught in 'My Cousin Vinny'.

RATING: ✓ Cheers