Its about (damn) time the MCU had its first female led super hero film; after three movies each for “Iron Man”, “Captain America” and “Thor”, two for “Ant-Man”, one for “Black Panther” and “Doctor Strange”, don’t even get me started as to how many Spider-Man movies there are.
“Captain Marvel” is indeed a long time coming and as a female film reviewer in a mostly male dominated niche I say, “Hell Yeah! Bring it on! We want our seat at the table!”
Now before we get carried away and become too “political” -you may say that I will be biased just because I am a girl (a Mom, actually) well, no, I will still be objective and spoiler-free about this review and I will start by saying that despite being a fun and exciting piece of the MCU big picture “Captain Marvel” starts slow at first. It takes a bit to warm up but once you’re done with that first bump, its one thrilling ride until the end.
A reverse super hero origin story, the film opens with Brie Larson (Vers) as a Kree warrior (sorry, heroes, noble warrior heroes). Now this is where it gets weird; she has a meeting with the Kree leadership (a sort of Artificial Intelligence) which manifests itself in the form of whoever Vers admires the most (Annette Benning) who unfortunately Vers can’t remember.
Eager to prove herself to her Captain (Jude Law) Vers is excited to kick some green, shape shifting Skrull butt.
You see, the Kree are on a mission to put a stop to the menacing race of the Skrulls.
When their mission goes sideways, Vers finds herself on Earth and with her past catching up to her and a group of Skrulls also having infiltrated Earth. Vers must discover what truly makes HER a HERO.
Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel is a powerful hero, you would not want to mess with, seriously Thanos would be a little nervous with the power she displayed in the film but the real MVPs in the movie are none other than Goose the Cat and a young Nick Fury.
Samuel L. Jackson is unlike the Nick Fury we’ve known in the past MCU films, he is young, naive, trusting and actually really funny, his refreshing humor and undeniable chemistry with Brie Larson (and Goose) is just adorable to see on the screen.
There is also a much appreciated twist in the plot which will keep you on your toes.
Just have to pick a complaint and that is knowing when its CGI and you’re just expecting something is going to happen, but I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’l just leave it at that.
Bringing in some of the best “tricks” of the MCU, “Captain Marvel” is nostalgic like “Guardians of the Galaxy” not only because of the music from the 90s (all of which I sang to when they played on the screen (it was inevitable for me to create a Spotify playlist right after seeing the movie) but by making it an amusing period film, poking fun in every day life in the 90s, such as the “Blockbuster Video Rental”, “Dial up Internet” and the concept of “loading a CD” all of which would be alien (pun intended) to kids nowadays but it would also be a real laugh and enjoyable throwback to 90s kids (like me). After all, the best period films are the ones you actually lived in. Its not just about costumes or props or sets but the essence of an era and this is what Captain Marvel imbues, so much so that the heroine herself is the very epitome of the grunge subculture. A “come as you are” stubborn, rebel who got up every time she fell down. Fighting for her place.
Destroying a system in search of the truth. She is not pretty and shiny, she has unkempt hair, (no blowouts for her) she will not smile for you unless she feels like it (but she does smile) -instead she is a bit broken and missing her past and memories. Other super heroes run away from their past but Vers has to embrace hers, not so that she could fight in wars, but rather end them.
“Grunge – is a good look for you” Nick Fury says when she puts on a leather jacket on top of a Nine Inch Nails shirt and my friends, she has never looked better.
8.8 / 10 – I can’t wait to see all the girls dress up as Captain Marvel come Halloween or even a costume party or even maybe, any girl (or boy, or anybody for that matter) of any age just get to wear a Captain Marvel shirt and feel a bit of her photon blasts flow through them, making them feel powerful enough to face a particularly bad day.