Five reasons why Captain America: Civil War is better than Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Five reasons why Captain America: Civil War is better than Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

1. Humor. Even though there are some dark undercurrents in Civil War that bring about deep seated emotions the characters never lose their wit and ability to entertain. They take themselves only as serious as need be to convincingly deliver the moment. No one laughs in DC films.. ever. 

2. Class. The Avengers are at odds. Hence the Civil War. But they manage to always keep things civil. The respect is always forefront. These are not warring clans hell bent on destroying each other. They happen to be on different sides of an opinion but never lose site of the kindred bond that is a driving force. Even before Civil War there was layers of animosity. But it never gave birth to malicious hatred. Even here they play fairly and not out of personal gain. Batman and Superman will never share a beer... ever. 

3. Motive. 30 minutes into the film and it is perfectly clear to the audience what is causing this riff. If you have never leafed through a comic you are still on the same page as everyone else. There are no hidden ideas that are only found in issue 48 of a random comic. You get it. That allows you to choose a side and high five your way through it. The story is never muddy or undecipherable. It is completely understandable. No one knows why anyone in DOJ is doing anything... ever. 

4. Characters. Civil War brings familiar characters into the fold and allows them the ability to shine in huge ways. It does not hide them in a folder somewhere and only give you brief glimpses and choreographed poses. They are allowed to be funny, heroic, and utilize their gimmicks. The stage is not for those only with their names in the title. It is welcoming and better for it. No one gets to play with Batman and Superman... ever. 

5. Truth. In this installment the Avengers open up quite a bit about how they feel. There are a lot of therapeutic moments that make the characters, their motives, and their likability more prominent. We learn things about them that again helps solidify and validate the decisions they make. Like any family they have words, get angry, and sometimes the healing takes time. Just like life. Batman or Superman never share their feelings... ever.

The 5th Wave [Blu-ray] - 5.03.16

• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: 
   PG-13 
   Parents Strongly Cautioned
• Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: May 3, 2016
• Run Time: 112 minutes

Synopsis: Four waves of increasingly deadly alien attacks have left most of Earth decimated. Against a backdrop of fear and distrust, Cassie (Chloë Grace Moretz) is on the run, desperately trying to save her younger brother (Zackary Arthur). As she prepares for the inevitable and lethal fifth wave, Cassie teams up with a young man who may become her final hope - if she can only trust him.

Based on the novel by Rick Yancey with a screenplay by Susannah Grant and Akiva Goldsman & Jeff Pinker, THE 5th WAVE is directed by J Blakeson. The film is produced by Tobey Maguire, Graham King, Matthew Plouffe and Lynn Harris, with Denis O’Sullivan, Richard Middleton and Ben Waisbren serving as executive producers.

Review: I was hooked on this after watching the first trailer. The visuals were jaw dropping and breath catching. Based on the popular YA novel following in the popular footsteps of films like MAZE RUNNER and The DIVERGENT series. This one removes the dystopian feel and adds a more human feel with Cassie and her brother. 

Chloë Grace Moretz is a powerhouse actress and her presence in this one elevates the film cred immensely. She has the ability to go from one extreme emotion to the next without losing the fire in her eyes. She convinces us that the danger is real and that helps sell the story. 

The story is geared toward older teens with Cassie being a High School student. But all ages will find something to gravitate to. Parents, siblings, and anyone who has ever had an "end of the world" paranoia will find this thrillingly disturbing. 

THE 5TH WAVE is rated PG-13 for violence and destruction, some sci-fi thematic elements, language and brief teen partying. 

Blu-ray Extras Include:
§  Commentary with Director J Blakeson and Chloë Grace Moretz
§  Five Featurettes:
o   “Inside The 5th Wave
o   “Sammy on the Set”
o   “The 5th Wave Survival Guide”
o   “Training Squad 53”
o   “Creating a New World”
§  Cast Gag Reel
§  Deleted Scenes
§  Bonus sneak peek excerpt of The Last Star, by Rick Yancey

HYENA ROAD - On DVD 5.3.16

• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: 
   R 
   Restricted
• Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: May 3, 2016
• Run Time: 120 minutes

Synopsis: Inspired by true events, HYENA ROAD is a modern-day war epic set the heart Taliban territory in Afghanistan. When expert sniper, Ryan Sanders and his crack-shot team are forced to take shelter in a nearby village, they come face-to-face with The Ghost, a legendary Afghan freedom fighter who’s been forced into seclusion by the Taliban. When intelligence officer, Pete Mitchell learns of their chance encounter, he enlists Sanders’ team to track down The Ghost in hope of creating an unlikely and powerful ally.

Review: These films have a large genre following like any other. If you are in that grouping then you will find this one on par with some of the best. If you are not, then this may feel repetitive and a continuation of any other ops based story line. The key is to go into expecting intense action and a modern war setting. 

This is the first full length endeavor by Paul Gross who wrote, directed and stars in this one. He does a fair job at keeping this one upright throughout. Also his script is just not shooting and shouting but also brings in characters from different mindsets and thought processes to up the cerebral tension.

HYENA ROAD is Rated R for bloody war violence, language throughout and some sexual material.