Captain America: Civil War adds moral dilemma to bang-pow action, says CBC's Eli Glasner

SpoilerWarning: Attentiontrue believers,there are references tonewcharacters, alsofeatured in the trailers.

At the heart of the latest Marvel movie Captain America: Civil War is an amazing shape-shifting ability.It isafilm that confrontsthe consequences ofsuper-heroicintervention, while also providing a popcorn-worthy bang-pow experience.

It's impossible to avoid comparing Civil War with the all-too solemnBatmanv Superman: Dawn of Justice because they explore the same terrain. Is thecollateraldamage created by these enhanced beings too high a price to pay? Are they the cause or the cure?

After a harrowingopening set piece in Lagos, Nigeria, Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt) confronts the assembled Avengers witha sobering tally: New York;Washington D.C.; Sokovia.The lives lost from the city-shaking battles are mounting.

The United Nations wants the Avengers on a leash. First step, sign the Sokovia Accord, named after the European city that had the misfortune of being the setting of evil Ultron's climactic battle.

With conflict comes catastrophe

As the android Visionso eloquently explains, the very presence of the heroes invites challenge, and with conflict comes catastrophe.

Since Iron Man's first emergence, the number of disasters hasincreased. But while Batmantalked himself into confronting Superman with logic flimsier than Clark's forelock, the conflict in Civil War is the natural outcome of two characters' back story.

As Tony Stark/Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. has become theconflicted conscience of the team. A swaggering genius with the means to create an armada of weapons, he struggleswith the best way to deploy his gifts. Downey's talent has always been to infuse his charisma with a slice of something haunted.With the furrowed brow, the hint of exhaustion, we get the sense of the guilt he carries.

Then there`sChris Evans as Captain America. He began as theliteral poster boy for the war effort, but he's witnessed the danger of unchecked authority first-hand (during the events in Captain America: Winter Soldier), hence his reluctance over the United Nations' ultimatum.

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Spideysoars,Panther pouts

Similar to BatmanvSuperman, Civil Waracts as a launching pad for a string of new spinoffs. But whereas the introductions in BatmanvSuperman were laboriousand awkward (let`s watch Wonder Woman click on encrypted files!) Civil WarintroducesSpider-Man with such panache it's a pity we have to wait until July 2017 for the followup. As young Peter Parker, Tom Holland hits every note with a fresh energy all his own.

The only real fumble is Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther. With a forthcoming film directed by Ryan Coogler, there's lot riding on Panther's shoulders.Boseman's version of the African king finds the proud warrior holding his own and then some.With a hint of a South African accent, T'Challa is noble,but frankly dull compared with the rest of the flawed and funny characters.

Fascinatingface-offs

The real magic of Marvelis how inthis baker's dozen of heroes, all seem likable and compellingin theirown distinctive ways:the earnest Evans as the undaunted Captain America;Falcon and War Machine, the regular soldiers trying to keep up in a world of titans;Black Widow, the ex-spy torn between her allegiances;Vision, the sweater-wearingandroid grappling with his own emotional evolution; andHawkeye, the retired covert agent turned family man pulled back into the fray.

Part of this credit is due to the dynamic duo of screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who keepthings moving while wedging in more locations than a Bond movie marathon.As well, co-directing brother act Anthony and Joe Russo avoid overwhelming the audience, separating the combatants into a series of fascinating faceoffsAnt-Man vs. Spider-Man,Hawkeye vs. Black Widow.

And as always, between the plasma blasts, a constant backbeat of one-liners. Paul Rudd in particularsteals the show as the awestruck Ant-Man, who goes full fanboy in the presence of Captain America.

There comes a point when Iron Man tells Cap to stay down;you kind of wish he'd listen.

The biggest problem with Civil War is that the various subplots the new villain played with finesse by DanielBruhl, the fate of the brainwashedBucky can't compete with the satisfying smash of comic characters colliding. Which is why perhaps Civil War pits them against each otherone too many times. There comes a point when Iron Man tells Cap to stay down, and you kind ofwish he'd listen.

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While Civil War lacks is the sense of closure the first Avengers film provided.Marvel mega-producer Kevin Feigeis playing the long game here,shuffling the deck and setting new story lines in motion that will likely pay off in the next Avengers instalment.

While suffering from some of the inevitable signs of blockbuster bloating, Captain America: Civil War is a potent reminder of Marvel's greatest power thehuman element beneath the suits of iron and spandex.

RATING: 4out of 5 stars