By Mollie Campbell
Genre: Superhero, fantasy, action, drama
Cast: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Lashana Lynch, Ben Mendelsohn, Jude Law
Rating: 8/10
I must admit, in recent years I have grown a little tired of the relentless domination of superhero movies that have been overriding our movie theatres. MCU movies really took off again with the release of Iron Man in 2008, but it is over the last 3 or 4 years that they have really controlled the film industry, just when the hype for one movie has died down, another Marvel movie is released, breaking more box-office records. Despite this all being one heck of a lead up to the final Avengers movie, set for release next month, this tyrannical reign from Marvel has really started to feel quite boring to me, it’s constant. But I’ve kept on going, watching them as they are released, sometimes more for the depth and rich histories of the characters than the actual plot. This is why I was pleasantly surprised when I watched Captain Marvel, it was actually fresh, unique and thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish.
When the film started, for around twenty minutes it felt a tiny bit stagnant, not a desirable beginning for the most highly anticipated movie of 2019, but after a while the plot starting emerging with more of a natural pace to it, enchanting the audience and not letting them out of its spell until the end credits. The film focuses on Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), a member of the Kree (military organisation); she has extraordinary superhuman powers, a result of an explosion, which caused her DNA to transform. The film follows her on her journey through the universe, (ending up on earth during the 1990’s), fighting the ‘Skrull’, the shape-shifting enemies of the Kree. As these events unfold, she delves into the life she had as a human on earth, discovers how her past has influenced her, learns the dangers of blind trust, and gives us as the audience an insight into the origins of the entire Avengers saga plot. Larson plays the role to a really high standard, refusing to conform to the negative stereotypes of female superheroes that have been portrayed over the years, whilst still staying true to the source material. This is exactly how we envisioned Captain Marvel to be, but it combines modern storytelling with a classic tale.
With Marvel movies, despite the constant action we see on screen, I sometimes find there is a lack of pace in terms of the plot, but this movie just got better and better as the minutes crept by. It is different than other Marvel movies, firstly, it has its own unique soundtrack that fits in perfectly with each scene, appropriate but never too corny. It also portrays a strong female protagonist (the first of its kind for a Marvel movie), which is inspiring to women/young girls everywhere. It also doesn’t rely heavily on the Avengers movies; it stands on its own two feet. It is comical but never forced, and the nostalgic 90’s references are an added bonus. The relationship between Captain Marvel and Nick Fury is given time to develop naturally, nothing in this movie feels rushed, it’s action packed yet it still grounds itself, bringing the origin story back into reality at several points. The acting is great, the special effects were thrilling, overall it was a very satisfying movie and I would definitely recommend watching it. Lastly, I didn’t realise that 2019 would be the year in which I needed to see a friendship between Samuel L. Jackson and a cat, but here we are… that’s what’s happening. Enjoy!
Mollie Writes 