PLOT:
After crashing an experimental aircraft, Air Force pilot Carol Danvers is discovered by the Kree and trained as a member of the elite Starforce Military under the command of her mentor Yon-Rogg. Six years later, after escaping to Earth while under attack by the Skrulls, Danvers begins to discover there’s more to her past. With help from S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury, they set out to unravel the truth.
REVIEW:
What did I like?
Sense of humor. A big controversy surrounding the film before it was even was released revolved around Brie Larson not cracking a smile in all the images we saw of her as Captain Marvel. Rest assured, this is not the case. Larson cracks jokes left and right and seems to be enjoying herself as a superhero. For me, this really works because Captain Marvel isn’t really that interesting a character. Giving her some personality was a wise decision.
Tone. Keeping on the train of thought, I was going into the mindset that this was going to be a serious, feminist-type flick. Thank goodness this wasn’t the case. Yes, there are some female empowerment moments, but these are not shoved down the audience’s throat. There is a light tone to this film that works. Also, the nostalgia factor is high for someone who came of age in the 90s. I doubt we would have had those Easter eggs had this been given a more serious tone.
Stan Lee. The great Stan Lee passed near the end of the year. Rumor is he filmed a bunch of cameos before his death, so that we won’t miss him. Actuality is his cameo in this film, Spider-Man: Into the Multiverse, and the upcoming Avengers: Endgame were his final times on film. Interesting how he plays himself in this one, reading the script to Mallrats. Also, i have to mention the beginning. Normally, when the Marvel logo music rolls we see the Marvel characters, Captain America, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Scarlet Witch, etc. This time around, though, it was all about Stan Lee, a fitting tribute to the man who created or had a hand in creating long before anyone ever thought of a Marvel Cinematic Universe.
What didn’t I like?
Nick Fury. We know Col. Nick Fury as the badass, no-nonsense head of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the man who started the Avengers initiative. Watching him as a young agent, you would never guess this, as he is more or less glorified comic relief. Realizing that the years and time take its toll and change a person, the elements of who you become are still there, and with this version of Fury, I was…and still am struggling with how this guy is going to become the Fury we all respect. Conversely, Agent Coulson, same guy we’ve known from the first Iron Man all the way to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. So, perhaps there is something else that happens to Fury that changes him, but for now I’m left scratching my head.
Oh Captain, my Captain. Marvel is banking on Captain Marvel being a big to-do in the MCU. Also, they want her to be a big selling point for girls (totally ignoring Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, Shuri, and the Dora Milaje). Apparently, she is supposed to be the most powerful being in the universe, from what I’ve been reading. I argue that Thor has more power, but that’s not point here. I give Brie Larson props for the training and all she went through for this role, but I don’t see her as Captain Marvel. I see someone more along the lines of Charlize Theron, Jessica Biel, etc. Carol Danvers has lived a life and it has made her a hard woman. Watching Larson, I couldn’t help but think of a girl playing dress-up. Having said this, while I still protest that she does not have the right body type to play Wonder Woman, I have come around on Gal Gadot. Perhaps the same will happen with Brie Larson.
Kree-Skull war. The war between the Kree and Skrull is such a big event in the comics that i find it strange that it was crammed into just this one film. Surely we’ll be getting more, right? If not, then surely there are other stories that could have served to give us Danvers’ origin, right? As it stands, we have been introduced to the Kree in Guardians of the Galaxy and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the latter of which also has mentioned Skrulls (I can’t recall if any actually appeared, though). So, general audiences are pretty much aware of these two species in the MCU. Hopefully, this was just the beginning, though. Who knows, perhaps the Kree-Skrull war is where the MCU will be heading after Thanos’ defeat.
Final verdict.
Captain Marvel defied my expectation. I have never been excited for this film because of the blandness of the character and the way everyone has been using her as a feminist icon, for the sole purpose of her being a female superhero. That being said, other than having to leave the theater very early on with a stomach issue, I rather enjoyed myself. This isn’t the greatest entry in the MCU, but it is far from the worst. I’m probably going to give this another go, but as it stand in my head right now, it is most assuredly worth your time.
4 out of 5 stars
Mystery Man's Musings 