Captain Marvel: Film Review

Synopsis

Captain Marvel follows Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), an Air Force Pilot turned Kree warrior, as she becomes one of the most powerful heroes in the universe. While in the middle of a intergalactic war, Carol Danvers (then Vers) must figure out her past with the help of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and save Planet C-53 (Earth) from the evil Skrulls.

Review

To start, I must address the liberties that the directors of this film took. Overall, the film is hurt by weak storytelling. As the film progresses through about the first hour, the viewer knows more about Carol's backstory than she does. The film does not leave much room for surprise revelations because we know them already. In doing that, it takes away from 1) the mystique of the story and 2) the origin part of the story. On the flip side, there is a character turn about three-fifths of the way in that really works and gives certain characters more pathos. By looking at the marketing, one can instantly tell that this film is about female empowerment. The message that Captain Marvel tries to deliver is not delivered well, unlike the best comparison for this film, 2017's Wonder Woman (Wonder Woman is better). The message tends to get a bit muddled in the superhero context. Brie Larson's talent is somewhat wasted in this film, but her chemistry with Samuel L. Jackson kind of makes up for that repression. However, the standout performances in this film were from Ben Mendelsohn and Lashana Lynch playing Talos, a Skrull, and Maria, Carol's best friend from the Air Force, respectively. Lynch provides an empathetic portrayal of someone who has lost their best friend and Mendelsohn gives an impassioned performance as a Skrull fighting for his family. The actions scenes, while somewhat sparse, are very entertaining. The visuals and use of CGI are very colorful and stunning as per usual with Marvel movies. As an aside, in the film, it is explained how Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) loses his eye. It is a bit disappointing and kind of failed wish fulfillment.