Category Archives: Action

10.10.16
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Deepwater Horizon

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Deepwater Horizon is a thrilling dramatization of the April 2010 disaster when the offshore drilling rig, Deepwater Horizon, exploded and ultimately created the worst oil spill in U.S. history. The movie focuses on the crew’s struggles to make it off the rig alive.
Deepwater Horizon re-teams director Peter Berg (Lone Survivor) with star Mark Wahlberg for another intense true story that does not disappoint. Berg impressively recreates the tragic events focused on in the film, and brings in well-written and emotionally powerful characters. Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, John Malkovich, and Gina Rodriguez make up a great ensemble cast of workers fighting for their lives to get back to those they leave. The characters are all given a good touch of development, and the choices they make in attempt to survive feel very human. There’s also a great message about human nature that I won’t ruin for you, but you’ll catch it in the first act. Berg also bring us some incredible cinematography, making the disaster feel dangerously realistic. The sound editing and visual effects pull you into the oil disaster and often take your breath away. It’s easy to make a disaster film like this a mindless visually packed thriller (for example, this year’s The Finest Hours), but when you are able to make the technical aspect of the film something truly special, and have an interesting script, it can turn out to be something unique. Deepwater Horizon dares to be brutal, heart-racing, and ultimately gut-punching, which makes it an unpassable adventure worth seeing on the big screen.
Deepwater Horizon is intense, marvelously shot, emotionally powerful, and kept me on the edge of my seat of the entire second half of the film. Peter Berg has proved himself a master of covering dramatic events like this through film, and I can’t wait to see what he’ll bring us with Patriots Day later this year. If you’re looking for a movie to go see in theaters, you should definitely consider Deepwater Horizon.
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08.12.16
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Jason Bourne

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Jason Bourne (Matt Damon), the CIA’s most dangerous former operative, is drawn out of hiding when old ally Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) finds him, to uncover more explosive truths about his past.

Jason Bourne reminds us that the series it belongs to is still one of the greatest action franchises out there, especially with Paul Greengrass in the director’s chair, and Damon in the spotlight. In 2012, we got The Bourne Legacy, which starred Jeremy Renner instead of Damon and failed critically because it didn’t feel much like a Bourne movie because of Damon’s absence and the lack of everything that distinguishes a Bourne movie from a regular action movie. In this film, Greengrass shows us that this series can still return to form after a mistake like that. Jason Bourne follows the formula set by the first three films, with lots of impressive shaky-cam action while Bourne is running from the CIA. However, it gets even more personal this time around, as he starts to uncover a final secret from his past. The story isn’t very new but as a huge fan of the series, I never lost interest thanks to the pacing and intense action. Damon is still fantastic as the titular character, even fourteen years after portraying the character for the first time. He never loses character both physically and emotionally, and it’s so much fun to watch him constantly kick ass in all four of these films. Tommy Lee Jones portrays a ruthless CIA director who’s as perfectly written and developed as Chris Cooper’s antagonist in the first film, while Alicia Vikander is superb as a CIA agent that, in a way, resembles Joan Allen’s Pam Landy from the previous movies. Although both characters feel familiar, they are most skillfully portrayed by two excellent casting choices for their roles. Vincent Cassel is also a great villainous newcomer to the series, with an interesting backstory and great writing to his character. It’s so impressive that even though the main characters are part of the franchise’s formula, each one of them was written so profoundly, and I loved the way they were developed and portrayed.

If you’re hoping to get some spectacular action sequences from this movie, then you won’t be let down because there is plenty of intense bone-crunching and heart-racing action that’s just as great as what Greengrass gave us in Supremacy and Ultimatum. There’s an epic motorcycle chase during a riot that glued my eyes to the screen, as well as an enormous car chase in Vegas that kept me on the very edge of my seat. The incredible use of practical stunt and shaky camera work definitely hold up. Cinematographer Barry Ackroyd is more reliant on shaky cam than Oliver Wood, who shot the original trilogy; Ackroyd has however proved to be a master at capturing exquisite action and scenery with his style in films like The Hurt Locker and Captain Phillips. Here, his style may feel overdone to some, but I believe the camerawork was done impeccably, especially during the action scenes. A lot of critics have sadly been disappointed by this movie, saying it doesn’t live up to the previous work of Damon’s Bourne pictures, but let me tell you that skipping this movie is not the right move for fans of action movies and especially of the saga. Jason Bourne gave me everything I wanted and even more. It’s strikingly written, phenomenally acted, and stunningly shot and directed. It’s definitely on par with the first three films, probably even better than Supremacy. The Bourne movies have truly raised the bar for action movies, and I haven’t seen many others like them. Jason Bourne is another fantastic example that did not disappoint, so please, despite what many critics have said, go see this movie with an open mind like I did, and who knows how much you may end up liking it?

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08.05.16
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Suicide Squad

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In DC’s latest attempt to recover from the backlash received by this year’s Batman v Superman, A secret government agency recruits a group of imprisoned supervillains to execute dangerous black ops missions in exchange for clemency, which inevitably leads to chaos.

Suicide Squad was easily one of my most anticipated movies of the year, but I was also expecting so much from it, and unlike other films that unsurprisingly disappointed, I was almost certain I was going to get everything I wanted from this film. With great casting choices and an intriguing story, I didn’t think anything could go wrong. However, despite a few perks, Suicide Squad is ultimately a chaotic and poorly constructed supervillain extravaganza. This movie isn’t completely bad, as most of the action is tons of fun and the film’s cast is packed with awesome and entertaining performances. Will Smith leads the cast with great humor and writing, and Margot Robbie steals the movie with her insane and lively performance as Harley Quinn. Robbie always seems like she’s having so much fun in the role, as she’s always full of energy and she definitely lived up to what I expected from her. Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney, Viola Davis, and the rest of the cast are solid and mostly funny. I expected more, however, from Jared Leto. His take on the Joker is nowhere as memorable as Heath Ledger’s take on the psychotic villain in Nolan’s The Dark Knight, and his role is of little significance in the film. The DC universe just wastes this character in the film and I didn’t like his use in the film, although I liked Leto’s performance. Another thing I enjoyed about the movie was the amount of humor incorporated in the movie, and how much it delivered. Characters like Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, and Captain Boomerang were hilarious and delivered some great lines. I was impressed and overall satisfied by how much the movie made me laugh. The action mostly entertained me as well.

I was hoping Suicide Squad could help DC recover from Batman v Superman‘s terrible failure this year, however, I was wrong. Like its predecessor, the movie suffers from many continuity errors and plot holes. Many things happen that don’t make any sense later on, and although the movie tries hard, there is ultimately no emotional weight that got to me, and by the end, the story felt completely empty and pointless. The editing is too choppy and flashy, all the takes are transitioned through too quickly, and I could tell that too much was cut from the film. Not much is explained and regarded that I wish was addressed to have made more sense. A lot of the development for more minor characters was not there, so emotionally there was nothing this film gave me. Despite the backstories provided for more major characters like Deadshot and El Diablo, nothing hit me deep like other films of its genre, like Guardians of the Galaxy and other films in the Avengers saga. The film’s villain also did nothing for me, as the villain’s plot and presence were dull and effortless. The ending of the movie makes the plot and even the film itself feel so pointless and nothing seems to be in its place anymore. You may want to watch Suicide Squad for a few fun action sequences and good laughs, but don’t expect a redeeming summer blockbuster for DC, or anything close.

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07.28.16
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Star Trek Beyond

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In the third of the Star Trek reboot franchise, the  crew of the USS Enterprise explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a new ruthless enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.

Star Trek Beyond brings to the screen everything we love about Star Trek and more, even without J.J. Abrams in the director’s chair. Beyond is packed with great action, laughs, writing, cast chemistry, and editing. Justin Lin surprised me by how well he was able to direct this film without losing the energy, heart, and extraordinary style that Abrams brought to the first two films. You can’t get enough of Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, John Cho, and the late Anton Yelchin (who sadly passed away due to an accident last month) as the crew of the Enterprise. They are all filled with so much energy and fun. The chemistry between all of them is golden, the writing for their characters is outstanding, and they always seem to be having so much fun in front of the screen. Sofia Boutella (who you may remember as Samuel L. Jackson’s henchwoman in last year’s Kingsman: The Secret Service) surprised me in her newcoming role to the series, and although her role wasn’t the most original character the writers could have come up with, I didn’t expect as much from her and enjoyed watching her onscreen. Idris Elba delivers a favorable performance as an evil alien warlord named Krall, but can’t nearly top Benedict Cumberbatch’s menacing Khan from Into Darkness. In the film’s last act, Krall is given a backstory that only complicates things and makes him less intimidating. The backstory they gave him felt too familiar and flat, and didn’t work well with the rest of the film.

Can a Star Trek movie ever disappoint me visually? Not quite. The effects in this movie are splendid, and although it lacks the glamorous touch Abrams gave the visual atmosphere and look of its predecessors, there is some marvelous cinematography and visual surrounding in the film. This experience was especially enhanced for me because I saw this in IMAX 3D, which explains why I felt so sucked into the movie’s setting, which was always animated beautifully. The action is shot and choreographed very well, and it’s all very fast-paced and fun to sit through. The action definitely holds up to the excitement and intensity in the first two films. This movie is a thrill ride packed with tons of sci-fi violence throughout, even though it doesn’t forget to provide the character development we want from a Star Trek movie. Expect plenty of nostalgia and throwbacks to the original Star Trek franchise and cast, the film doesn’t get rid of the great feeling that you’re watching Star Trek, a different kind of enjoyment than most other action films. If you’re a fan, you definitely won’t get let down by how much the original franchise is paid homage to, and by how much this saga still feels like Star Trek did decades ago. Although it’s not as great as the first two films, Beyond is still tons of fun to watch, with a stellar cast, plenty of vivid action and effects, and doesn’t forget to pay tribute to the late and great Leonard Nimoy, and of course, Anton Yelchin. Go see Beyond if you’re a fan, or if you simply want to have a great time at the movies.

The USS Enterprise flying through the universe, with the film's title "Beyond", and the film's billing below.

07.19.16
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Free State of Jones

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Free State of Jones tells the true story of Newton Knight (Matthew McConaughey), a disillusioned Confederate army deserter returns to Mississippi and leads a militia of fellow deserters, runaway slaves, and women in an uprising against the corrupt local Confederate government.

Free State of Jones is definitely not as bad as critics say it is. It tells a very eye-opening tale about the Civil War that’s quite an important lesson and I’m glad it was told through a film. The story of Newton Knight leading an army of fugitives, most of which were runaway black slaves, against the Confederate government, is a very interesting story and I’m glad I learned about this through this film. There are some gerat scenes that are put to film here and it’s all done very powerfully and realistically. The movie’s trailer made it look like the film would be driven by lengthy action sequences and shootouts, but there are really only a few, as the majority of the scenes use only dialogue to carry the plot. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I’m just warning you that the trailer does not transmit the movie’s tone well, so don’t buy a ticket thinking that it’s Saving Private Ryan in the Civil War, as it’s much more of a Schindler’s List type of film, and I was actually glad that was the case. Matthew McConaughey is amusing in the film’s lead role, delivering lots of great dialogue, emotional scenes, and although he doesn’t completely blend into the role, I could tell that he gave the part his best.

Although the movie’s performances and historical messages are quite effective, other aspects of this film aren’t. The runtime drags on and on at many points, and there are parts at the end of the movie where it runs out of things to talk about, and just stretches its length aimlessly. Like I said before, the movie puts some great scenery to film, but unfortunately the cinematography does not capture it all very well. The camera is too shaky and not often pointed in the right angles in order to enhance the story. Cinematography is very important to me when it comes to watching films, and this film’s camerawork felt very lousy and unfocused. The editing within scenes was occasionally disruptive, as the cuts within scenes were way too fast and sometimes unnecessary. There isn’t enough consistent substance besides the film’s historical merit that makes it worth a trip to the theaters. If you want to see this movie for an interesting history lecture, then you may want it check it out (not necessarily on the big screen), but otherwise it’s not worth the trip to the theaters unless you want to see another great leading performance from Matthew McConaughey. If you do want to watch this, I’d recommend it for teens 14-15 and up, as it may be too tough for younger viewers to take in and/or watch.

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07.01.16
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Independence Day: Resurgence

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Twenty years after the defeat of the aliens that attempted to annihilate the human race and take Earth for themselves, another wave of aliens arrive with even more advanced technology, and we are just as unprepared as we were before.

The first Independence Day movie is great because its idea was not as popular back then, and it was a loads of fun to watch Will Smith kick some alien ass. Does any of that mean we wanted a sequel? Independence Day: Resurgence is not only unpleasant to sit through because of how unnecessary it is, but also because it’s so overly ambitious at the same time. We get lots of familiar faces from the first film, including Jeff Goldblum’s David Levinson and Bill Pullman’s former U.S. president Thomas Whitmore, but unfortunately Smith is nowhere to be seen, and his absence is hardly explained. Goldblum and Pullman feel so misused here, even though they both try their best to pull off a good performance. We also get a large younger cast including Liam Hemsworth as a pilot-in-training on the moon, Jessie T. Usher as Will Smith’s character’s son, and Maika Monroe as President Whitmore’s daughter. None of these characters lived up to the cast from the first film. Here, the younger cast felt like they were only there to save the day, and they were nothing close to interesting or fun characters. There are also some supporting characters that the writer tires to make important but instead don’t really do anything.

For the first 45 minutes of the movie, I actually found the film to be decent fun, almost like the first film minus the great character development. However, the second and third acts become so complicated and tiring that it was even hard to follow along with it all. There are too many characters that have to be kept track of, as well as an enormous battle to protect our existence, a galactic conspiracy, and a dull pitch to set up another sequel. The movie is too overstuffed with plots that at one point even the movie’s script decides to give up. The final act is so predictable, laughable, and drags on for way too long, that I felt like I shouldn’t still be watching the movie. The end is too stretched out and boring that I almost stopped paying attention. The movie at first tries to stick to the formula of its predecessor, and this sometimes works, and other times does not. Also, the CGI here is terrible, as everything feels either too overdone or too fake. This movie should have been a great and entertaining action flick like the first Independence Day movie, but instead is a lifeless and uninspired action sci-fi flick that payed twenty-something actors to stand there and do nothing, decided to call itself a film, and was released for the sole purpose of making money. The movie does have a few funny moments that were cleverly written, but they do not hide the fact that this was ultimately not a sequel worth waiting for.

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06.12.16
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Now You See Me 2

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In the sequel to the 2013 heist thriller hit, a good percentage of the Horsemen resurface for a comeback performance only to be threatened into pulling off a dangerous heist by tech prodigy Walter Mabry (Daniel Radcliffe). Their only hope is to perform one last stunt to clear their names and reveal the mastermind behind it all.

Now You See Me 2 sacrifices everything that made the first movie successful and entertaining to bring you a bloated, unimpressive, and ridiculous mess of a sequel. Jon M. Chu (director of G.I. Joe: Retaliation and other bad films) was one of the worst choices to direct this film. He turns the franchise from a heist chase thriller into an action caper, which really does not suit the films. The first movie’s original taste and fun is gone here. Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, and Dave Franco are not as good as they were in the first film, although Mark Ruffalo still delivers almost as well. Replacing fourth Horseman Isla Fisher is Lizzy Caplan, who is surprisingly entertaining and without a doubt, the most fun part of the movie. However, none of the actors besides Caplan seem like they’re having fun with the film, even Ruffalo doesn’t feel like he’s always enjoying being there, even though he gives it his all. Daniel Radcliffe’s onscreen presence here was awful, with his character having an unclear motive and barely any point in the film. Michael Caine was also very dull, and Morgan Freeman’s return was way too unnecessary. The movie’s plot is not focused well, and is badly shot and edited, with every shot not feeling continuously edited well. Even the movie’s title feels very lousy and unimaginative (what’s wrong with a title like Now You See Me: Now You Don’t?) By the end of the movie, everything is so ridiculous, not to mention that there is way too much going on, and the right things are never explained. The third act was too complicated and tiring and nothing important went explained. Also, a lot of the movie was way too predictable because of how cheesy and cliche a lot of the plot points were. This film brings the franchise on a completely wrong track, to the point where a third film just wouldn’t work.

Now You See Me 2 is a disappointing and uninspired summer sequel with unfocused narrative and directing. There is just way too much going on for you to care, and nothing is explained well when explanation is needed. Most of the cast is not great, and the movie is lost within the wrong genre. If there’s a film you want to go watch on the big screen, you should not consider this one.

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05.29.16
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X-Men: Apocalypse

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In the conclusion to the X-Men trilogy that begun with 2011’s First Class, an ancient threat resurfaces and the X-Men must reteam to prevent him from causing global extinction.

X-Men: Apocalypse tries its best to be the epic third installment we’ve been waiting for, but instead its story is in all the wrong places. There are times when the wrong characters get more screen time than the others, and storylines should be focused on more than others were. The first half of the film was unimpressive and all over the place. The events of the previous film feel treated too much like the way Man of Steel was treated in Batman v Superman and Age of Ultron in Captain America: Civil War. Almost every scene within the first hour feels very bland, and nothing flows well or feels in place. Apocalypse, in my opinion, was a terrible villain. His voice is weirdly edited, his motive is weak (not that he even has one), and his background is not written well, with everything about his origin feeling ridiculous and too forced. Oscar Isaac’s performance of the character was very disappointing, and this villain did not appeal on screen at all. Some characters aren’t treated as well as they should have been. Some characters I wanted more from, like Storm and Angel, only have a few lines and don’t do very much. James McAvoy is still a great Professor X but his character does not get the time that he needs. Jennifer Lawrence delivers a good performance as Mystique, but sometimes her character’s writing falls flat.

I was surprised by how pleasantly the movie warmed up towards the second half. The buildup of the plot is ultimately interesting, with some of the character development later on in the movie actually working. Tye Sheridan and Sophie Turner were my favorites of the newcomers to the saga. Sheridan delivers with his heart, and Cyclops ends up working as a teenage mutant character. Turner also gives it her all, bringing lots of depth and spirit to her character. This version of Jean Grey works very well because within her character’s soul, she, too, is just a lost teen who is learning to embrace her true self. Michael Fassbender is once again a fantastic Magneto, and even though his character lacks the focused development he needed in this movie, there is a scene in this movie where the character’s rage works perfectly, even though everything else about that scene does not. We all know who steals the show here once again. Yes, Evan Peters is back as Quicksilver, and he simply rocks! If you loved his memorable scene from Days of Future Past, get ready for another show-stopping sequence from him that nearly tops his previous one. He has lots of hilarious moments and is even given some relevance. A special someone also has a short appearance in the movie, and not just Stan Lee. The final battle is insanely huge and sometimes awesome, as there are some things that work and others that don’t. However, a lot of the action is quite entertaining, so you will most likely enjoy this movie if you are a fan of action movies. The ending is able to conclude the trilogy well, but does not make up for the movie’s many flaws.

X-Men: Apocalypse may not let down all action and superhero fans, but i was left quite disappointed. Although the second half of the movie is a lot better than the first, the movie still feels very unfocused and often unimpressive, but still delivers with some of its characters and its few action sequences.

Official poster shows The X-Men Team with Professor X sitting on his famous wheelchair, together with the Horsemen and the film's titular enemy Apocalypse behind them with a big close-up over his head and face, with nuclear missiles flying into the air, and the film's title, credits, billing and release date below them and the film's slogan "Only The Strong Will Survive" above.

05.22.16
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The Nice Guys

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A mismatched pair of private eyes investigate the deaths of fading stars in 1970s Los Angeles, which leads them to uncover what could be a shocking criminal conspiracy.

Man, does Shane Black know how to make a movie of his own. Both The Nice Guys and Black’s 2006 movie Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (starring Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer) are so brilliantly written and directed and work as both action movies and comedies. Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling are both able to carry the movie so well with their wit, humor, and lines. The way their characters are written and developed is great and their personalities are hilarious and entertaining. The chemistry between the two is not something I’ve seen in one of these movies before, because it is nailed so well here. That’s only one part of what makes the movie outstandingly done. The ’70s vibe of the film adds a lively setting and soundtrack to the movie, as well as some mature humor rather than what you’d see in a goofy Seth Rogen comedy. Black does a wonderful job choreographing the movie’s action sequences, and includes not only entertainment but also lots of humor within these scenes.

In a time where we get more superhero movies, remakes and adaptations than original films, The Nice Guys feels so fresh because of its originality. Although it has many similarities to Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, like its humor, excellent chemistry between two protagonists, and a mystery behind a missing woman, there are some new things Shane Black decides to try, and completely nails, like empowering a child character and making her a main character (something that didn’t work well for him in Iron Man 3). Things like this feel so daring but Black makes sure this movie turns out to be everything it wants to be, and he succeeds. The movie doesn’t turn out to be anything inspiring, but it’s not supposed to be. Instead it’s an excellent action comedy with great wit and originality, that’s meant for gags and pure fun.

The Nice Guys is the most original non-indie we’ve received in a while, with more than solid directing from Shane Black, and excellent performances. Every plot point here is nailed, even though not everything was clearly tied up at the end. It’s awesome, hilarious, and smart, more than anything else. Please help this movie do well at the box office (its struggling at the box office because it was released on the same day as a kids movie and a comedy sequel) by buying a ticket and watching this excellent movie. It’s not recommended for younger teens and kids, but adults and older teens will definitely appreciate and love this movie.

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05.09.16
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Captain America: Civil War

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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.

Never have I seen such a complex, thoughtful, jaw-dropping, and personal superhero movie like this one since Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, which was released eight years ago. Captain America: Civil War is why the Russo brothers are so good at what they do. If you enjoyed all the great non-cartoonish violence in Captain America: The Winter Solider, then get ready for a movie with just the same tone, but even darker and more breathtaking action sequences than before. The stunts and fight sequences in this movie are some of the best ever put to film, especially for such an expensive blockbuster. The 17-minute airport battle is not the only one to be impressed by, as there are some other incredible fights and chases between heroes that also blew my mind. The Russos are able to keep this film a Captain America movie rather than an Avengers one, so don’t expect as much of every Avenger, but each hero gets at least a few moments to show off their powers. The performances here do not disappoint. Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. have great chemistry and tension between their characters. You are always conflicted with who you should be siding with, and constantly switch sides between the two. You really get to see Iron Man’s dark side in this film, as well as the border of Cap’s resilience.

While many of the returning Marvel cast members (Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, and many more) still give it their best and their characters do not lose their interest and taste, the real scene stealers within the massive ensemble cast are Chadwick Boseman and Tom Holland. Boseman portrays Prince T’Challa of Wakanda, who is delivered with such interest, complexity, and heart within his human character. But whenever he puts on his bulletproof vibranium suit and calls himself Black Panther, he becomes one of Marvel’s most badass superheroes yet. Black Panther felt so motivated, unstoppable, and driven to join Stark’s team and go to great measures to do his nation and the world justice. Holland brings a fresh new take on your friendly neighborhood web-slinger. This time around, Spider-Man is in his teen years but actually looks like it as well, and whenever he is in battle, he becomes the most awesome, wise-cracking, and well-written Spidey yet. His dialogue fit excellently for his role, and for his amount of screen-time, he entertained me like no other character in the film. And just so you know, there is a lot more Spidey in this movie than it seems. Both of these characters were introduced so well into the Marvel universe that they just be the finest and freshest superhero additions to this vast cinematic universe by far.

The terrific action, directing, and performances aren’t all that make up this excellent comic book flick. If you are tired of these films thanks to Batman v Superman and don’t want to see another movie about superheroes clashing against each other, then let me tell you that this film is much different and miles better than DC’s recent attempt to set up their formerly existent future universe. The conflict here is set up so much better, and the fighting between superheroes is never forced, as the Civil War is set up so gradually that you never know exactly how the fighting should start and who you should root for. You are always so pulled into the movie, and will appreciate it as a Cap movie, an Avengers movie, and the introduction to a new wave of Marvel movies. Although I won’t spoil the ending or anything about this film at all, the movie’s setup at the end is a lot more ambiguous and not as forced as how Age of Ultron last year was trying to set this movie up. The ending does nothing more but get you excited for all of MCU’s Phase Three and no specific film. You usually can predict what will happen in the next movie, but not here. The gags that stick with you that are always featured in Marvel’s movies really hit well, and this movie made me laugh a great amount of times. The amount of screen time for each hero may not always be balanced for some, but remember that this is a Captain America movie within its core. Also, if you think the trailers give you all the movie’s action and surprises away, then you are completely wrong. Unlike Batman v Superman (which gave away 95% of the movie with just its trailers), the trailers and clips really only give you about 1% of this film. And even so, you always think the movie will play out one way, but it ultimately turns out to be something completely different than its marketing. This movie also surprisingly nailed its villain, Helmut Zemo (played by Daniel Bruhl), who is very secondary but still has a good motive and is not too over-the-top like you think he would be. I like how we will not be getting any more great big Marvel movies to look forward to, but instead are excited the most for stand-alone films like Black Panther and Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Captain America: Civil War is the Empire Strikes Back of Marvel movies. It will not only appeal to die-hard Marvel fans, but to all filmgoers who see this film. The action is terrific, the directing is phenomenal, the performances are outstanding (especially the sensational additions of Black Panther and Spider-Man), and a remarkable story and screenplay. Civil War is the reason the Russo brothers should forever be working in the A-list level of Hollywood, and why we should look forward to the rest of the Marvel universe.

Official poster shows the Avengers team factions which led by Iron Man and Captain America, confronting each other by looking each other, with the film's slogan above them, and the film's title, credits, and release date below them.