Marvel May - Captain America: Civil War (2016)

         Hey guys, Chuck here. As late as it is, at the time of writing this review, I'm going to make this as quick as possible. Here's my review of Captain America: Civil War, the first film of Marvel's Phase Three, and the second Marvel film to be directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. 

        So, we open with a prologue, set in 1991, of Bucky Barnes aka the Winter Soldier, as he is tasked with assassinating Howard and Maria Stark, which he makes look like an automobile accident. Years later, Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, Sam Wilson, and Wanda Maximoff are in Lagos, Nigeria, searching for Brock Rumlow aka Crossbones, who is searching for a biological weapon, which could prove dangerous if released. Steve and the Avengers succeed in stopping him, but he blows himself up, causing Wanda to fling him several feet into the air, but civilian lives are still lost. 

        Some time later, Tony Stark, who has been working on program to give financial aid to college students to fund research projects, is called to Avengers headquarters, along with Secretary of State Thunderbolt Ross, to address the ongoing concerns of world leaders towards the collateral damage caused by the Avengers, which led to the creation of the Sokovia Accords. According to the Accords, the Avengers that agree to the terms will only operate as approved by a United Nations panel. Any Avengers who don't sign the Accords must retire from active superhero work. Tony, Natasha, Rhodey, and Vision sign the Accords, but Wanda, Sam, and Clint Barton do not, with Clint choosing to stay in retirement. 

         During a meeting of the United Nations to ratify the Accords, an attack occurs, which costs the lives of many, including King T'chaka of Wakanda. The supposed perpetrator of the attack is Bucky, which leads the U.S. government to be looking for him, as well as T'Chaka's son, T'Challa. Bucky, it turns out was not responsible for the attack at all, as he's been living quietly elsewhere. Steve, along with Sam, who were in London for Peggy Carter's funeral, learn of the attack on television, go after Bucky, only to end up in a chase between Bucky, the military, T'Challa now suited up as the Black Panther, guardian of Wakanda, and Rhodey, who takes all four of Steve, Bucky, Sam, and T'Challa into custody, where they meet Sharon Carter, Natasha, Tony, and Everett Ross. A doctor, said to be interviewing Bucky, instead activates his HYDRA neural programming, and releases him, leading to Steve and Sam to go after him. 

          Clint goes to Avengers headquarters, confronts Vision, and breaks Wanda out to head to Germany. Meanwhile, Bucky reveals that HYDRA used super soldier serum to create an elite death squad that, as the Winter Soldier, he trained himself. Tony and Natasha, meanwhile, recruit two new allies to help bring Steve, Sam, and Bucky back in, with Natasha recruiting T'Challa, and Tony heading to Queens, New York, to recruit high schooler Peter Parker aka Spider-Man. Steve, Bucky, and Sam meet Sharon, who returns Steve and Sam's gear, where they go to meet Clint, Wanda, and Scott Lang. 

        On the airport tarmac, a battle takes place: Steve, Sam, Scott, Clint, Bucky, and Wanda against Tony, Rhodey, T'Challa, Natasha, Vision, and Spidey. Steve and Bucky get away, Rhodey is severely injured to the point where he can barely walk, and Clint, Sam, Scott, and Wanda are captured and imprisoned in a remote prison in the middle of the ocean known as The Raft. Tony then learns what Steve and Bucky already knew: the so-called doctor was actually Helmut Zemo, formerly of Sokovia Special Forces. Zemo intends to put an end to anyone with special abilities, which is why he get rid of the elite squad, and tears the Avengers apart. One last fight takes place when Zemo reveals the footage of Bucky killing Tony's parents, which prompts Tony to attack. T'Challa captures Zemo, and turns him in to Ross, while Steve, who gives up the shield to Tony, goes with Bucky to Wakanda, where their experts work to remove the neural programming. Meanwhile, Steve breaks Sam, Clint, Wanda, and Scott out of the Raft, and the movie ends with Peter messing around with his new Spidey gear, which he got courtesy of Tony. 

            Captain America: Civil War gets a rating of 5/5, and I'll tell you guys why. First, of all, it continues from both The Winter Soldier and Age of Ultron. Anthony and Joe Russo did a great job bringing back fan favorites like, Rhodey, Vision, Clint, Natasha, Wanda, Sam, Bucky, Tony, Thunderbolt Ross, and introducing new characters like Black Panther, Zemo, and Spider-Man. The writing is compelling, and you definitely see both sides of the conflict between Captain America and Iron Man. The late Chadwick Boseman was an excellent choice for T'Challa, and Tom Holland was beyond perfect as Spider-Man. While Daniel Bruhl as Zemo was a weak villain, his plan to fracture the Avengers and make them fight each other was brilliant. Not even Loki could have pulled this one off, but I digress. Definitely a great start to Phase Three. 

        This is Chuck signing off. Tune in on Sunday as Marvel May heads into the strange and mystical side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Doctor Strange.