Where do I begin?

I’m afraid that any attempts I make will be inadequate to express the sheer awesomeness that was Civil War. It seems impossible to bring together the chaos of emotions, thoughts, and reactions into an articulate review.

I’d just as soon run around in circles saying, “It’s awesome. Amazing. Incredible. You NEED to see this movie!”

I could babble like a crazed fan at the magnificence of the movie, gushing about every detail I loved, every scene that held my attention as if exerting an enchantment upon me.

One thing I’m certain of. Nearly twenty hours have passed since I exited the theater, mind numb, emotions churning. I’m far enough removed from the post-movie euphoria to say that Civil War (CW) was my favorite Marvel offering. Ever.

Fans expectations for what this movie would be soared higher than Iron Man. CW has been touted by the critics as the best superhero movie made. I can confidently say that it lived up to the hype.

What made it so incredible? *NO SPOILERS*

Why Civil War Was Fantastic

One of my problems with superhero movies is the sameness they display. Rare is the plot that deviates from the standard norm. Until CW stormed onto the scene and said, “Enough of these stories fashioned from the same mold. Let’s do something bold and different. Let’s have a battle of superheroes.”

Brilliant. Perfect. EPIC.

It’s one thing to see superheroes battling villains with powers. But to see friends, teammates, allies pitted against one another? On one level it was chilling to see the division between them. From a purely fan-based perspective, getting to see their powers clash made for raw entertainment.

We each have our favorite superheroes. In a way, the opportunity to see them come to blows is something we crave, because we want our loyalty to those favorites confirmed. Is Cap better than Iron Man? Let them duke it out and see where things stand when the dust settles.

The movie was packed with action. A few times it felt too drawn-out, but it didn’t reach the point of battering the audience with unnecessary stimulation. Plenty of milder scenes were woven throughout.

To me, the originality of the story arc was a breath of cool air in a desert of same-old, same-old. CW wasn’t content to stop there, however. The underlying themes at work added meaning and depth, another oft-neglected area in the superhero realm. It built upon previous events, creating unity and a sense of progression and adding more weight to the themes at play.

The driving factor is simple yet profound: what are the consequences of people using tremendous powers?

Should they accept limitations, or are the safest hands their own? The way in which the characters each dealt with and answered this question was what made the movie possible.

The breakdown of the teams was fascinating, especially with Cap being the equivalent of a rebel and Tony opting for government oversight. It’s as if their personalities switched roles, but in the context of the story, it made sense.

In typical Marvel fashion, one-liners and memorable phrases were present in abundance. The humor interspersed through the film relieved the tension, came at just the right times, and infused the scenes with the perfect amount of comedy. The thought makes me grin.

Were there too many major characters? No. The presence of twelve meant some lesser characters didn’t enjoy as much screen time, but the cast didn’t feel overloaded, and including such a large number allowed the interactions to remain fresh and entertaining throughout the movie.

The inclusion of Black Panther, Spidey, and Ant-Man, rather than bogging down the cast, added more diversity. Especially Black Panther, who’s so utterly different from any of the other Avengers. I can’t wait to see how his story develops.

CW was a Marvel fan’s paradise. Resonant themes, a compelling storyline, snappy dialogue, side-splitting humor, neat tech, uniquely motivated characters. What more can you ask?

One scene stands out in my mind. Without giving away anything that happened, I’ll say it made my geeky heart race with sheer ecstasy. I would watch the entire movie again and again and again, just to see that scene. I had a hard time staying seated and preventing myself from

It was that riveting.

Was the movie perfect? No. There were parts that could have been improved upon, details that if tweaked slightly could have taken CW from amazing to truly mind-blowing.

But I’m going to see it again in the theater. Possibly twice, which I’ve never done before.

There’s so much more I could say, so many things I want to talk about and geek out over. I promised no spoilers, so I’ll leave you with this:

GO WATCH IT!

If you’ve seen Civil War, what did you think (without spoiling anything)? I’d love to hear your thoughts.