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Here Are the Biggest Takeaways From the Early Reviews of Captain America: Civil War

Captain America: Civil War
Critics are calling Captain America: Civil War the best Marvel movie yet.

Marvel/Disney

This year’s flagship Marvel movie, Captain America: Civil War, was already looking like it could be the biggest blockbuster of 2016. Now that it’s had its premiere in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Joe and Anthony Russo’s followup to their lauded Captain America: Winter Soldier seems like the summer movie to beat—and it’s going to pick up some serious critical acclaim along the way.

Here’s a roundup of the biggest takeaways from the early reviews.

Many critics say it’s the best Marvel movie yet.

Dan Jolin, Empire:

Captain America: Civil War is the best Marvel Studios movie yet.

Justin Chang, Variety:

 … [It] ranks as the most mature and substantive picture to have yet emerged from the Marvel Cinematic Universe … Even more impressively, the film feels sincerely invested in the questions it raises about freedom vs. responsibility, heroism vs. vigilantism, and what those distinctions say about the individuals making them.

Jen Yamato, the Daily Beast:

This might be the first time a superhero movie has captured what superheroes should look like in hand-to-hand combat—not floating on wires or clouds of pixels, but delivering crushing blows and super-powered punches that remind us these are superbeings on Earth and not cartoon characters in a video game.

Mike Sampson, Screen Crush:

If Captain America: Civil War is peak superhero, I want to climb to the top like Sylvester Stallone in Rocky IV and pump my fists in exultation … I was acutely aware that Spider-Man would be making his debut in this movie alongside Captain America, Iron Man and the rest of the Avengers. Yet midway through the movie, I was so invested in the film, when Spider-Man shows, it was a legitimate surprise. Civil War is so entertaining that I actually forgot Spider-Man was coming. It’s like enjoying a delicious meal and then the chef reminds you that was just the first course.

Jim Vejvoda, IGN:

Without a doubt, Civil War’s airport battle sequence is the best superhero brawl ever depicted on the big screen. It is a comic book fan’s wet dream, with every character getting a moment to shine in battle. 

And it might have the best Spider-Man, too.

Brian Truitt, USA Today:

Previous movies have had issues balancing the youthful banter and scientific confidence of the comic-book wallcrawler, but Holland nails the role in every aspect.

Sheri Linden, the Hollywood Reporter

Tom Holland’s agile performance bodes well for next year’s Spider-Man reboot.

Dan Jolin, Empire:

His introduction to the action is resoundingly joyous, the reboot the character truly deserves. 

Jim Vejvoda, IGN:

Actor Tom Holland captures what makes Peter Parker such a sweet, great hero and leaves the audience wanting more. And after five big screen appearances so far, Holland’s is the closest and arguably best approximation of the comic book character yet.

Fans should also get excited for Black Panther.

Scott Mendelson, Forbes:

Chadwick Boseman is a towering delight as the Black Panther, and you’ll be ever-so-psyched for his stand-alone movie.

Jim Vejvoda, IGN:

Panther’s fight scenes are very cool, his costume looks great, and his emotional arc essentially satisfies the need for an origin story in his own upcoming movie. 

Not that it’s perfect.

Justin Chang, Variety:

In the almost-too-smooth fashion that has come to define even Marvel’s non-Joss Whedon-directed entries, a steady undercurrent of droll, wisecracking humor punctures the tension at key intervals, to continually amusing if somewhat ingratiating effect; it’s a bit deflating when Iron Man at one point actually invokes The Manchurian Candidate, rather than simply allowing the obvious reference to speak for itself.

Scott Mendelson, Forbes:

Captain America: Civil War is a good movie, one worth enjoying on the biggest screen you can find, and one that will entertain the hell out of lots of people even as it goes against the grain in some surprising ways. But the film is periodically an exercise in long-form frustration, one which flirts with “The Idiot Plot” more often than it should. 

Jim Vejvoda, IGN:

As for the bad guy, Daniel Bruhl’s Zemo (no longer a Baron here) joins the increasingly crowded ranks of the MCU’s underwhelming villains played by fine actors. 

… Though next to the atrocity that is Batman v. Superman, it damn near looks like it.

Jen Yamato, the Daily Beast:

Finally, a big budget superhero sequel that manages to be both effortlessly entertaining and utterly sobering, instead of just one of those things—or, as we’ve endured too frequently in the past, neither of them. (Looking at you, Batman v Superman.)

Justin Chang, Variety:

The shaming of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will continue apace — or better still, be forgotten entirely — in the wake of Captain America: Civil War, a decisively superior hero-vs.-hero extravaganza.

Mike Sampson, Screen Crush:

If the idea of watching even more superheroes punch each other after Batman vs. Superman feels like a chore, let me assure you this film could not be more dissimilar.