Captain Marvel

Starring: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Jude Law, Ben Mendelsohn, Lee Pace, Annette Bening, Gemma Chan
Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Vers (Brie Larson and pronounced veers) is being trained by her mentor, Yon-Rogg (Jude Law) to to be in the Kree army. The Kree believe working for the good of their people instead of for themselves. They do this by fighting the Skrulls (shape-shifting aliens who can turn into anyone they see) and preventing them from infiltrating the galaxy. Vers has few memories of her past before coming to her current home in Hala, but will occasionally get some in flashes in her dreams. After her first mission with the Kree goes awry, Vers crash lands in a Blockbuster on Planet C 53 (Earth). She meets young Agent Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and after a rough start, they end up pairing up to stop the Skrulls. Eventually she learns that her name is actually Carol Danvers and that she had a life on Earth. When she learns more about her past, she discovers the power inside her and becomes Captain Marvel.
I will admit, the start of this film was a little rough. Seeing things through Vers’ point of view, things were confusing. She didn’t remember much, so we weren’t given much information. It was hard to follow when we weren't sure what was going on. The choice seemed intentional but didn’t fully pay off. Even writing my summary today, I was not sure where to even start. Once she fell to Earth, however, things started to pick up and the story finally was easier to follow.
The film did a good job of creating a sense of suspicion. Anyone you talk to could be a skrull, so no one could be trusted. Unfortunately, this also made it obvious that someone Vers trusted was going to turn on her. I was actually pretty relieved that this was revealed about two thirds into the film and wasn’t the big reveal at the end. Not to spoil too much, but I very much got a She-Ra and the Princess of Power vibe from this film. Everything she thought she knew was wrong and now she’s going to do something about it.
The female characters in this film were great. I especially loved Carol’s character. Strong, smart, and perfectly laced with 90s deadpan, Larson’s take on the character was a very enjoyable one. Throughout the film, we see Carol consistently be the most competent person in the room, despite everyone trying to put her down. Carol doesn’t need to argue with them about it, she can just show them that they’re wrong. I’m excited to see her in the final Avengers film and how she plays off of the other characters.
I also loved the relationship between Carol and Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch). Although the characters never overlap in the comics, I love that they made Maria her friend in this, as well as her anchor to her life on Earth. They make the film pass the Bechdel test (even the test's original intent) with flying colors. It was also wonderful seeing a woman of color in a film being unquestionably smart and capable. The film also sets up a future for Monica Rambeau (Maria’s daughter, played by Akira Akbar) to take up the mantle of Captain Marvel (as she did in the comics).
I know that everyone is going to compare this film with Wonder Woman. I ask that you don’t. It is not the fault of either movie that there have not been more films about female super heroes. Was Wonder Woman better as a film? Maybe, but this film has a better message. Stand up for yourself, and if you fall, pick yourself back up. You are powerful for being you and you don’t need to prove that to anyone. I believe that this is the film that we need right now and I look forward to watching it again.
B+/A-