Choose Your Side: ‘Civil War’ pits superheros against each other
This summer Marvel asked audiences to choose sides in the latest film of the franchise, “Captain America: Civil War.”
The film, out on DVD and Blu-ray this week, stared the power-house, superheroes of Captain America (Chris Evans, “The Avengers” and “Puncture”), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr., “Sherlock Holmes” and “Tropic Thunder”), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson, “Lucy” and “Chef”) and Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan, “Hot Tub Time Machine” and “Black Swan”), among others.
These heroes, who were once fighting crime together, are now pitted against one another and forced to be on the side of either Captain America or Iron Man.
The film had an estimated budget of $250,000,000 and has made over $400 million gross.
While “Civil War” made a lot of money at the box office, many complained the storyline was either too convoluted or spelled everything out to the point of overkill.
Matt Zoller Seitz, a reviewer for Rogerebert.com, said the film had a lot going on, but still remained entertaining.
“The bad news is, there are about 10 movies going on in ‘Captain America: Civil War,’ which is at least seven too many,” he wrote. “The good news is, most of them are fun, and there are enough rousing moments to elevate the movie to Marvel’s top tier.”
A.A. Dowd of The A.V. Club, wrote on Metacritic.com, “That ‘Civil War’ doesn’t collapse under the weight of its various moving parts, that it manages to be the most serious entry yet in this franchise of franchises without sacrificing much in the way of valuable comic relief, is a testament to the creative mojo of directors Joe and Anthony Russo and screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.”
The film is rated PG-13 for extended sequences of violence.
Other films out on DVD and Blu-ray this week include:
n “The Conjuring 2” starring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson and Madison Wolfe and directed by James Wan in the second installment of this horror franchise that follows Loraine and Ed Warren to London to help a family that is plagued by spirits.
The film is rated R for terror and horror violence.
n “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping” starring Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer and directed by Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone in this mockumentary that features a former boy band member as he tries to make a music career on his own.
The film is rated R for some graphic nudity, language throughout, sexual content and drug use.
n “The Fits” starring Royalty Hightower, Alexis Neblett and Makyla Burnam and directed by Anna Rose Holmer in this drama about an 11-year-old tomboy who tries to fit in with a dance troupe when they all begin to come down with violent fits and fainting spells.
The film is currently not rated.
TV series new to DVD and Blu-ray this week include:
n “The Big Bang Theory” the complete ninth season starring Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco in this comedy series about a woman who moves into the apartment across from two highly intelligent, but socially awkward men.
n “Chicago P.D.” season three starring Jason Beghe, Jon Seda and Sophia Bush in this dramatic series that looks at District 21 of the Chicago Police Department, which is comprised of uniformed cops and the Intelligence Unit.
n “Childrens Hospital” the complete sixth and seventh seasons starring Rob Huebel, Rob Corddry and Ken Marino in this comedy series that shows the lives of doctors who help treat sick children while dealing with the foibles of their personal lives.
n “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” the 17th year starring Mariska Hargitay, Kelli Giddish and Ice-T in this police procedural drama about a group of NYPD detectives who investigate sexually related crimes.
n “Scorpion” season two starring Elyes Gabel, Katharine McPhee and Eddie Kaye Thomas in this dramatic series about a group of geniuses that work together to foil threats against the modern world.