Movie Review: Captain Marvel

Captain Marvel
Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck 
Starring: Brie Larson, Clark Gregg, Djimon Hounsou, Jude Law, Annette Bening and Samuel Jackson

Set in the 1990s, Marvel Studios’ Captain Marvel is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that follows the journey of Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes. While a galactic war between two alien races reaches Earth, Danvers finds herself and a small cadre of allies at the center of the maelstrom.

Captail Marvel marks the first time a female superhero has headlined her own movie, with Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers stepping up to the plate. The character may have been granted powers in a supernatural manner, but the film she stars in gets its powers from a rich, human story fueled by delightful twists and impeccable acting.  

Captain Marvel is also the first MCU film to be co-directed by a woman, with the team of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck helming the introduction of one of Marvel Comics’ most beloved heroes. The film has all the usual MCU humor and action (with a few surprises), and plenty of girl power moments in Larson’s strong performance.

The bulk of the film is focused on Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), and begins with her as a human far from Earth trying to figure out just who she is. She’s been living among the alien Kree for years and has earned herself a position on an elite commando unit under the leadership of Yon-Rogg (Jude Law) – but she has no memory of her life before.

Law’s Yon-Rogg manages to encapsulate everything about the haughty, holier-than-thou Kree species. He’s threatened by Carol’s unusual power, but rather than working to better himself he seeks every opportunity to keep Carol down by manipulating her into believing her abilities aren’t gifts, but crutches she leans on that make her less legitimate as a Kree warrior.

It’s the last act before this film truly lives up to its potential, but at crunch time it delivers in a more satisfying way than almost any other superhero film of recent years. Carol Danvers’ final battle offers a radical message and becomes a powerful metaphor for what could happen if we stop waiting to be told that we are enough; if we stop believing the people who tell us we’re too emotional or too weak. 

The visuals for Captain Marvel are a bit of a mixed bag. Some of the effects look really impressive. This is big action-packed adventure with a lot of smash-bang CG-laden fights. Most of them look fairly good. However, there are some moments in the third act where the CG animation does rather rough and unfinished.