Walt Disney Studios/Marvel Studios provided screening tickets for the latest Marvel film – and the last before we speed into Avengers: End Game next month* – CAPTAIN MARVEL. Delightful Life friend and fellow Marvel fangirl Whitney Young checked it out and has this spoiler-free review.
*OMG, I’m super not ready.
Marvel Studios’ CAPTAIN MARVEL
Going into Captain Marvel with almost zero prior knowledge on this character – and having seen very few previews – my overall impression was that it was a fun and exciting film and a great warmup to Avengers: Endgame.
To unpack it a little more (without giving too much away), I found some definite personal highlights – while also noticing some flaws. First up, it took me awhile to “warm up” to the film. I’d say it was a good 20 or 30 minutes before I felt fully engaged. Later, I realized it wasn’t me…it was the film that took a while to warm up.
The beginning is a bit confusing and somewhat hazy. You might find yourself questioning things and wondering what the heck is happening, but don’t worry…you’ll play catch up later.
That could be the biggest initial flaw of the film – trying to make sense of the action you’re seeing. But that is essentially the mystery of most of the movie…who exactly IS this character?
After the beginning mind boggle, you follow “Veers” to Earth – and this is where the movie finds its footing. Quickly, the audience meets a young Nick Fury. And enjoy the Fury ride, because it might be the best part of the whole movie. Never have we seen him at this point in his career. We learn so much more about him. (See if you can find the new fun facts about him that will surely turn up in future MCU trivia games!)
We are given almost an origin story for Fury. We learn so much about him that we didn’t think we wanted to know… and it makes him that much more a likable and valuable member of this universe. Without Nick Fury, we would be without the superhero team we have come to love.
I could continue to gush over Samuel L. Jackson’s performance as Nick Fury – and believe me, I could write endlessly why I think this is such an important film for his character – but I should move along.
Could (or should) CAPTAIN MARVEL be a standalone film?
Would people who have no experience with the Marvel Cinematic Universe be able to watch and fully understand this film? Ehhh… no.
So much of Captain Marvel relies on the audience having fairly well developed knowledge of not only other marvel characters, but other MCU storylines. And while that may be a major flaw for some, for others it’s part of the fun: “Let’s see how many connections we can make!”
There are a load of connections, too. Some are obvious (the entire audience oohed and aahed at these) while others are minute and nearly missable. Others are abstract and may only be based on my own perception of what the filmmakers are trying to tell us. But I’d argue that many people won’t miss the fact that Captain Marvel embodies nearly every Avenger we know.
Is CAPTAIN MARVEL good for kids?
I will say, I am thankful my 9-year-old wasn’t sitting next to me, if only for the mere fact that I would have to explain many things to her. On that note, how would most kids fare watching this movie?
It’s not terribly scary or crude. The Skrulls (an amphibian-like alien) are a little unsettling as they shape-shift into different people, and the action is thrilling, but nothing is over the top.
There are a few small jump scares, and one particular moment may have a few kids second guessing their feline friends. But overall I think if your children are Avengers fans, they will enjoy the movie.
Final Thoughts on CAPTAIN MARVEL
This movie is supposed to be an introduction to Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel. It is, and it isn’t bad. But it is almost like a shaken up puzzle. The pieces don’t seem to connect in the beginning, and you are shot backward and forward, and backwards again in Carol’s timeline. It nearly gives you a headache in the process.
But if you’re patient, and you are paying attention, it all sorts itself out in the end. I love the mystery genre, and this story is set up in that way. You know right away that something doesn’t add up, and there are big questions that arise at the start. But the movie continues, picking up hints along the way, until you think you’ve nearly figured it out.
Then, just like every good mystery, a big plot twist occurs that throws you. Everything you think you knew or thought you had figured out, goes flying out the window. Ultimately, it is very nicely explained and you are back to rooting Carol on to the end.
I started off questioning if I’d really like this new, female hero – and by the end, I was hooked. In addition to a good character and story, there were so many moments that will be missed by younger fans – but loved by anyone who grew up in the 90s.
I think Captain Marvel may be the first Marvel character that doesn’t require any kind of sidekick. I can’t recall one instance where someone needs to come in and save her in the nick of time. It’s nice to see a character that relies entirely on herself – and I can’t wait to see her back in fighting action.
Oh, and stick around for the end credit scenes of CAPTAIN MARVEL…you won’t want to miss them!
Check out our other Marvel Cinematic Movie Reviews before Avengers: Endgame!
Avengers: Age of Ultron Review
Ant Man – A Dad’s Perspective
Captain America: Civil War has Something for Everyone
Thor: Ragnarok is Thor, as he always should have been…
A Spoiler-Free, Stream-of-Consciousness Reaction to Avengers: Infinity War
Ant Man and the Wasp
Who Should See Black Panther? Almost Everyone.
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