Since it kicked off in earnest with 2008’s Iron Man, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has largely done a great job bringing the Marvel Comics characters to the big screen. At the same time, the good people at Disney Home Video have also done a good job of bringing those movies to Blu-ray and DVD. So it should come as no surprise that the Captain America Civil War Blu-ray and 3D Blu-ray/DVD combo pack are as good as the movie it presents. That the DVD edition just has the movie, though…
Based on multi-book series that ultimately encompassed multiple characters, Captain America Civil War has the titular hero and his pals in the Avengers disagreeing when the governments of the world decide that superheroes need to be registered. Needless to say, when these former allies and friends fail to come to an agreement, they deal with it as comic book heroes always do.
That this results in one of the most spectacular superhero fights ever committed to film is just part of the reason why Captain America Civil War is so spectacular. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, who previously helmed Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America Civil War has a similarly smart mix of fast action, smart intrigue, and a clever script. Though it helps that it’s also perfectly cast, especially where the new guys are concerned. With just a few quips and flips, Tom Holland instantly becomes the best actor to play Spider-Man, and Peter Parker, in any media, while Chadwick Bosman here shows why he has the smarts and serious demeanor to play Black Panther.
The result is a film that ranks alongside The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and the original Iron Man as both the most entertaining episodes in the ongoing Marvel saga, and an eminently watchable action movie.
Along with the film, the Captain America Civil War Blu-rays have a ton of cool special features…and a couple that should’ve been cooler. (Sadly, the DVD gets nothing.)
First up is a running commentary by the Russos and screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. But while it is informative, it’s hard not to wish that some of the cast had been involved, or had gotten to do a commentary of their own.
Next, the Captain America Civil War Blu-rays have a two-part, forty-five-minute-long making-of featurette called “United We Stand, Divided We Fall: The Making Of Captain America Civil War,” as well as two short, character-specific featurettes called “Captain America: The Road To Civil War” and “Iron Man: The Road To Civil War.” But while these collectively go deep into the characters, it seems like it could’ve gone deeper into the making of the movie. It also could’ve used more on the original comics, as well as an interview with their respective writers.
Moving on, the Captain America Civil War Blu-rays have three deleted scenes, as well as an extended version of one that did make the cut. But while the deleted scenes are all under a minute long, and the longer scene isn’t actually that much longer, they’re still rather interesting to see.
There’s also a nearly three-minute long “Gag Reel” on the Captain America Civil War Blu-rays that’s, well, pretty typical for these kinds of things.
Finally, there’s the self-explanatory “Open Your Mind: Marvel’s Doctor Strange: Exclusive Sneak Peek,” which features interviews with the cast and filmmakers, as well as some concept art and footage from the upcoming movie. Suffice it to say, it serves its purpose.
But while the Captain America Civil War Blu-rays have a lot of special features the fans would want, it doesn’t, unfortunately, have them all. (Or, in the case of the DVD, any of them, which doesn’t seem right.) Aside from more on the original comics and the filming of the movie, the biggest thing they’re missing are the movie’s original trailers, which is something every movie Blu-ray and DVD should include. They also could’ve included the funny new video of what Thor was doing at the time this skirmish was going down; I wish that was included as well.
Even without the trailers and enough about the comics and the filming, though, the Captain America Civil War Blu-rays are still a great way to watch what is easily the next great chapter in the ongoing Marvel movie saga. As for the DVD, well, I think I’ve said enough about that.
SCORE: 8.5/10
