Carol Danvers becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races.

Rated: 

PG 13

Directed By:

Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck

Starring: 

Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson, Jude Law, Annette Bening, Ben Mendelsohn, Clark Gregg, Gemma Chan, and Lashana Lynch. See full list here.

IMDB Synopsis:

Carol Danvers becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races.

I don’t love this synopsis so here is mine – Vers is a woman without a past, stuck between her desire to be a Kree warrior and the memories invading her mind of her life as Carol Danvers. When a mission lands her on earth (in the 1990s), she begins to piece together the memories of her past and the truth of the war between two alien races.

Review:

I have never been more excited but more nervous for a movie since Wonder Woman came out in 2017. It is not often that we find a female lead in a movie, especially a superhero movie, and there’s so much speculation that it isn’t done because they won’t do well, they won’t make money. And even though there are plenty of male led movies that crash and burn and they still make them, we don’t have that same luxury. When Wonder Woman came out, I cried during a lot of the movie, tears of absolute joy at finally feeling like I was represented on the screen. I was dying to see Captain Marvel, to have that same feeling again and I was not disappointed.

I saw the movie on Thursday night and saw it again last night, something I haven’t done with a movie in a very long time. I’ve also managed to purchase two Captain Marvel shirts, a pair of Captain Marvel shorts AND the Captain Marvel POP vinyl this weekend. I’m hooked, I’m obsessed and I’m 100% in. I will fight any hater or troll that comes my way because this movie made me happy both times I left the theater. Representation matters and I’ve seen it in myself, my female friends and their daughters.

Captain Marvel is a joy from beginning to end. I laughed, I cried, I was hooked from the moment it opened. Brie Larson is fantastic as Captain Marvel, Vers, Carol Danvers. She is strong, powerful, emotional, passionate, determined, stubborn and a person I wish could be my best friend. I love what Brie brought to this role and what she brought to female superheroes. She was badass and she was able to be strong and feminine but she just…she was tough. She smiled when she wanted to smile, not because someone told her. She’s beautiful as all hell but her beauty wasn’t her weapon. I loved that her costume was for performance. It was amazing, because it was a movie about a female superhero, but it was also amazing because it was just about a superhero in general and Brie was absolutely perfect for the role.

What makes this such a great movie is that Carol is strong from the beginning – she’s a fighter, always has been a fighter, always was a hero but she had to get through the deception, the missing memories and the truth of who she was to remember all of that. It wasn’t the powers that made her a superhero, though those were awesome as hell. She already was. She was a pilot in the US Air Force when women weren’t even allowed in combat. She took risks and was brave and passionate and stubborn before she was handed any special powers and that’s what I love about her. Its her humanity that makes her a hero.

I love the friendship dynamic of the film. I’ve always said that I don’t think romance is a hindrance in a female led story, and that it doesn’t make the main character any less strong (ie Wonder Woman) but it is so rare to see a story that focuses on the strength of a friendship and I truly enjoyed the friendship between Carol and Maria. It further shows that it is their bravery, determination and courage before Carol loses her memories that makes them great because Maria has no  powers and she is just as amazing as Carol. Her ability to fly and fight and stay cool in high stakes situations makes me love her nearly as much as Carol.

Lastly, I truly love the fact that they created this movie in the 1990s. I think it makes for a stronger story for Carol and for Maria but also it just felt so nostalgic for me. I grew up in the 1990s – I was born in 1988 so in the 90s, I was ages 2 to 12, literally growing up. I loved the style and I loved the jokes about the internet loading slowly and I loved the nods to Blockbuster and Radio Shack and I am head over heels in love with the soundtrack because its just so 90s. There is a song that is done during a fight scene, I won’t say more than that, but it is absolutely perfect. It was one of my favorite songs as a preteen/teen and it just…it made me smile both times I saw the movie.

Okay, I lied, one last thing – the after credits scene. I will be posting spoilers so I warn you now to stop reading if you haven’t seen this movie or Avengers: Infinity War yet. Seriously. Stop reading now. Last chance…I like that we got the smallest glimpse into what is happening after the tragic ending of Infinity War and what is to come in Endgame. We get a brief appearance of Captain Marvel before it cuts to black and reads “Captain Marvel will return in Avengers: Endgame”.

Sign. Me. Up.

Rating: 

5 out of 5 Stars

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