Captain America: Civil War (M, 146 mins)

Vengeance, collateral damage, mummy issues.

Yes, as the trailer suggested, there are certainly plenty of thematic similarities between this 13th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the much-derided Batman vs Superman. However, the execution is like the difference between night and day. Sure there are vertiginous and potentially nauseainducing ‘‘shaky cam’’ action sequences that go on far too long, but there’s a swagger, an eruditeness, a sense of cohesion and a larger Vision (literally, as well as figuratively) that Zack Snyder’s superhero slugfest was sadly lacking.

Even better, there’s enough twists and turns to keep audiences on their toes (with The Empire Strikes Back a clear, even referenced, touchstone) and a genuine feeling of conflictedness as to who is on the side of right.

A globetrotting epic that takes in Africa, Europe and North American locations, Civil War feels more like a Bond film than your traditional fantasy costume drama, with its double agents, secret lairs and conflicts with authority.

Both directors Anthony and Joe Russo and screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely return from Captain America’s last, impressive instalment The Winter Soldier and that continuity shows. Characters who had minor roles last time out come to the fore, while recent and new Marvel additions are seamlessly weaved into the wider plot.

It all adds up to Marvellous entertainment. – James Croot

Culture has copies of Captain America: Civil War on DVD to give away. To enter, email go@press.co.nz with ‘‘Ironing Out their Difficulties’’ in the subject line by 5pm Friday. One entry per person.