Article By: Alice-Ginevra Micheli

I had some reservations going in to see the latest installment in the Captain America franchise (Civil War). While being a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I’ve never been totally awed by the superhero genre. Add to that the fact that this film was seemingly trying to fit in a lot in a short space of time, I was worried the Russo Brothers might have bit off a bit more than they could chew. Well boy, was I wrong.

The film follows Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) as they find themselves on opposite sides of a political battle, one in which the end result could mean the monitoring and cataloguing of “super” humans in the future.

Expertly directed and executed, Captain America: Civil War is a film that delivers a good time and an auspicious experience for anyone entering the cinema. It’s been a while, but this is one of those times that I felt like I was truly experiencing something with the rest of the audience. It’s like we were connected, a bunch of friends together to enjoy the show.

Everyone around me in the theater was debating whose side they were on (Cap or Iron Man), myself included. From the outset I’d been on Team Cap, rationalizing that anyone who followed the arrogant/genius/playboy billionaire Tony Stark was just kidding themselves. However, what I received in the movie was an intricate look into both sides of the coin. It was interesting to see the reasoning behind them, and I found myself at times being conflicted in my decision.

All this comes down to the flawless directing delivered by the Russo Brothers, and the sharp writing of Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. After the great success of Captain America: The Winter Soldier it was no surprise the Russo Brothers were invited back. They delivered, never losing sight of the most important element of the film: the relationships between the characters we’ve grown to love. Regardless of their alignment, the integrity of their good nature was often tested, resulting in a more engaging conflict — one from within.

Add to that some seriously intense fight scenes and well placed humor, and it’s incredibly difficult to find fault in their method.

Considering that this was a Captain America film, I was a bit worried that the ostentatious Tony Stark might eclipse the main character. However, Chris Evans most definitely held his own. It was quite interesting seeing the healthy competition that had evolved between the two characters suddenly decay. Both actors delivered performances that they should be proud of for years to come.

Daniel Brühl plays the villainous Zemo, a wonderfully complex character that constantly kept the viewer guessing his evil plan. This added to the mystery of his character and kept viewers engaged while not distracting them from the main plotline.

All the familiar faces of the MCU get a fair amount of screen time — from Ant-Man to the Scarlet Witch to Spiderman (!), and the highly anticipated on-screen debut of The Black Panther, an intricately multifaceted character portrayed by Chadwick Boseman. Sadly, there was a lack of presence of Martin Freeman’s character, Everett K. Ross, a representative of the government. He brought great personality to the role and left people wanting more — thankfully, he is slated to appear in the upcoming Black Panther film.

To sum up: Captain America: Civil War delivers.

The film is an exciting segue into phase three of the MCU, leaving audiences hungry for a second or third viewing. I left the theater wholly satisfied — as long as you’re viewing with an open mind, an open heart, and an appetite for excitement, you will undoubtedly feel the same.