Captain America: Civil War review

Captain America: Civil War opens on Thursday
Captain America: Civil War opens on Thursday

Fact: Captain America: Winter Soldier, upon many repeat viewings, has become my favourite Marvel film so far.

So my expectations for this new Cap were very, very high. I had nothing to worry about really.

The Russo brothers Joe and Anthony did such a killer job on Winter Soldier that Marvel not only gave them Civil War, but also gave them the nod for the next Avengers: Infinity War - Part 1 & 2.

We’re in safe hands.

In the vein of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice but a master-class smack-down on how to do it properly, Captain America: Civil War pits superhero against superhero upping the ante ten-fold by making it plural and making it the Avengers.

More super-power, more fire-power, but most importantly, more brain-power makes this not just a far superior superhero move, but a far superior movie full stop.

So, simply put and spoiler-free, here we have Captain America on a mission to do the right thing by his old mate Bucky, except this time, not everyone agrees. Well mostly Iron Man doesn’t agree, and Tony Stark is used to getting his own way.

The ranks will be forced to take sides, and for different reasons. They will also be forced to audition some new recruits.

While I know you’re one click away from knowing each and everyone of them, what they do, who plays them, when they’re next in their own movie and what their favourite colour is, let me remind you how much more fun movies are the less you know about them.

So yes, Marvel fans, you have plenty of reasons to get all in a lather about Civil War.

As usual with the Russo Brothers, the fight and action scenes both intimate hand-to-hand and all-in ground and air brawls are outstanding, in IMAX 3D especially they are stunningly immersive and glorious to watch.

But tying all the action together is a tight, cohesive, superbly told story, infused with comedy and heart, a story which allowed each of the characters to play their part without ever overshadowing the ensemble. 

Two viewings in, there is plenty of time for Civil War to take on Winter Soldier as my favourite Marvel ever -- it’s already a close contest.

So my advice, get thee to a cinema. This is a big-as-you-can big screen watch.

Four-and-a-half stars.

   Captain America: Civil War:: Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo :: Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Renner, Sebastian Stan, Tom Holland, Emily VanCamp, Anthony Mackie, Frank Grillo, Don Cheadle, Chadwick Boseman:: Rating: M - Violence:: Running Time: 147 minutes:: Release Date: May 5, 2016

Newshub.