Captain America (Chris Evans) is in Africa, tracking down a Hydra agent. With him are Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson). There is much action but Cap finally finds himself face to face with Crossbones, a man he once considered an ally. But Crossbones isn't going down easily and a part of a building is destroyed and people are killed. Back at Avengers HQ, General Ross (William Hurt) confronts the Avengers about the destruction in their wake and insists that the Avengers can no longer be free agents; they must act only under the authority of the UN. Ironman (Robert Downey Jr.) is all in favor. Cap is opposed. When the UN meets in Vienna to sign the Sokovia Accords that will require all 'super humans' to register, the bomb goes off and kills many of the delegates. The perpetrator appears to be Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) the Winter Soldier.
The primary loyalties of all the Avengers are tested. Cap wants to save the Winter Soldier, his childhood friend. Falcon sides with Cap. Ironman is for registration. Vision (Paul Bettany), who is effectively Ironman's creation, sides with him. So does War Machine (Don Cheadle). Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) wants to avenge his father's death at the UN meeting and thus joins Ironman. And on it goes. What is great about this is that everyone's reasoning makes sense. No one is just being stupid and joining a side because that is what the scriptwriter decided. Moreover, unlike Batman vs. Superman, the characters do a lot of talking to one another before it finally escalates to fisticuffs. And even then, they aren't trying to kill one another. Batman went straight to kill!
The movie does demand that the viewer has been keeping up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The sudden appearance of Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) would be jarring for one who had not seen that movie. Despite that vast array of characters, no one gets short shrift. Everyone gets an opportunity to shine. Black Panther, who makes his first appearance here, has a great story arc.
The big draw of this movie will be the airport fight where the Avengers face off with a surprise visit from Spider-Man (Tom Holland). Spider-Man is great. Ant-Man is really cool too. Yeah, the bugs really take the show here. It is a big and elaborate fight that tests the resolve of many of the characters to really force their view on their friends. Some cannot.
Great, great, awesome film. Highly recommended. However, it is very long so use the restroom before you go.
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