A simpler way to list the cast would have been to say that all the Avengers are in the movie except The Hulk and Thor. That’s a good thing for the movie tries to give each Avenger time. It’s too much as we move from one subplot to the next too quickly. It would have been a better movie if there had been focus on only a few lead characters.

 A very young Spiderman is introduced and he is simply a fun creation. He shines in his few scenes but he needed to have a larger role.

 The problem is that very early an issue is raised that creates the title of Captain America: Civil War. They are all called on the carpet due to the civilian casualties caused by their battles. This is a serious point and, if developed could lead to some very serious discussion. Basically, how do you decide what battles to fight and is there a way to avoid civilian casualties? Since the plots have always involved fighting a world destroying villain whom our heroes are barely able to defeat, how can you avoid the casualties?

 It’s an interesting question and it’s a shame the movie totally fails to take it seriously. Instead, it’s just a very lame set up where someone else will make the decisions for them and it’s all just to create the civil war with Captain America and Tony(Iron Man) going to war with each other and the rest having to choose sides.

 There’s an air of desperation to this, a sense that the franchise is out of ideas and someone thought having the super heroes fight each other would be a great plot since that allows for lots of action.

 So we end up with a movie that has lots of action, lots of plot but is hollow at the center.

 Reviewed by: Marian Powell