A comic-book movie in the pejorative sense of the term, starting with the bizarre moral acrobatics required to set up the internal strife mentioned in the title. Sure, members of the Avengers saved the world a few times over, but innocents died in the process, and so someone’s got to take the blame. Or at least accept a government collar. Human computer The Vision must have fried a circuit explaining it thus: “strength invites challenge; challenge creates conflict; conflict breeds catastrophe.” Never mind that the Avengers were gathered in response to a threat, not vise versa. The red-blooded patriot Captain America holds to principle, but former arms dealer Iron Man’s bad conscience gets the better of him, and the conflict is, as they say, created. (Just try not to giggle at the notion of the US Government gravely fretting over collateral damage.) Moving on to the tension-free spectacle of heroes punching heroes — lots of flying bodies, minimal damage done — that serves as both dramatic centerpiece and climax. And finishing with the final reveal of the evil mastermind’s absurdly convoluted plot. The jokey super-banter remains to provide comic relief, and there are one or two moments that really stick (Cap vs. a helicopter, Iron Man vs. his own rage, and hey look, Spider-Man!). But mostly, this one registers as sound and fury, signifying sequels. Directed by the Russo brothers, Joe and Anthony. (2016) — Matthew Lickona
This movie is not currently in theaters.