Captain Marvel
IMDb Rating | 7.1
Humpo Show Rating | 7.8
Starring: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Jude Law, Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou, Lee Pace, Lashana Lynch, Annette Bening, Clark Gregg
Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Plot Summary: 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. (IMDb)
A Kree warrior (Brie Larson) finds herself caught in the middle of an intergalactic battle between her people and the Skrulls. She keeps having recurring memories of another life as US Air Force pilot Carol Danvers. With help from Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), she tries to uncover the secrets of her past while harnessing her special superpowers to end the war with the evil Skrulls.
Captain Marvel is the penultimate film to be released under the Marvel Cinematic Universe banner before the highly-anticipated Endgame, which opens to worldwide audiences next month. That colossal film has attracted most of the attention given its huge build up thus far, so Captain Marvel has probably not had as huge an impact as other ‘Phase Three’ films like Black Panther, Infinity War and Spider-Man. Despite this, the film manages to hold its own in comparison to the other origin stories. There are strong acting performances across the board, the narrative is entertaining and there is the usual Marvel mixture of action and comedy.
Many Marvel ‘fans’ on IMDb and other film review websites have took issue with this film for one reason or another and I don’t understand the vehement outrage they have splattered across social media and film forums. My best guess is that they went in to the cinema with a pre-conceived opinion of what they were going to see and feel, and they never gave the film a chance.
I went in to this film in a unique scenario…I hadn’t watched the trailer or read/seen any of the marketing. Usually I would watch the trailer and possibly read a spoiler-free review or two, but in this case, I entered the cinema with a clear mind and my expectations were not over-hyped.
The story begins in 1995 with Vers, a member of Kree Empire’s Starforce, suffering from recurring nightmares involving an older woman. Yon-Rogg (Law), her mentor and commander, trains her to control her abilities while the Supreme Intelligence, an artificial intelligence and the ruler of the Kree, urges her to keep her emotions in check. During a mission to rescue an undercover operative infiltrating a group of Skrulls, alien shapeshifters with whom the Kree are at war, Vers is captured by Skrull commander Talos (Mendelsohn), taken aboard their Earth-bound vessel, and subjected to a memory probe. Vers manages to escape, crash-landing in Los Angeles. Her presence attracts S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Fury and Phil Coulson (Gregg).
Vers and Fury then end up on a mission together which involves tracking down experimental engine technology. They have a good mix of light-hearted and serious moments, and the pair make for a good duo. The differing personalities, human-alien elements, male-female elements and the humour that comes with the various scenarios they find themselves in evoked some laugh-out-loud moments with the audience.
Larson is without a shadow of a doubt the star of the show, although Goose tries his/her best to upstage her! She leads the film very well and gives a believable performance, and her development into Captain Marvel was well scripted and directed. Although she is supported well by a strong cast of Jackson, Law, Mendelsohn and Bening, the leading lady ensures she stands above them and so she should be – Vers/Danvers/Cpt. Marvel is a fascinating character and is sure to be hugely influential in the upcoming Endgame film. She played the character perfectly well, and I can’t imagine anyone else in the role now.
Captain Marvel is a strong origin film with an entertaining and easy-to-follow narrative, good performances and direction, and it has the typical Marvel gloss. It has also increased my excitement for Endgame…
The Humpo Show | Richard
rwh92.wordpress.com 
Couldn’t agree more with this. I had the same approach to the film and only watched the trailer and I thought it was such a fun film. Goose was a brilliant addition, but I loved the dynamic between Carol and Fury and I think this film allowed Samuel L Jackson to bring out more of Fury’s personality. I’m intrigued to see the role Captain Marvel has in Endgame.
Goose was definitely a unique addition! 😂
Can’t wait to see what role Captain Marvel plays in Endgame – with her powers and the mid credits scene, she should be an important character.
Great review! I personally haven’t read any reviews for this one, nor watched many of the trailers, but it’s nice to hear that you enjoyed this one, Richard! In all honesty, the only reason I’m not too keen on watching this in cinemas, is because Brie Larson’s recent sexist comments put a sour taste in my mouth.
But, I’ll probably still watch this one soon, since Endgame is releasing soon! 😂
Thanks Kelly – it was definitely a fun and enjoyable Marvel film…just like the rest!
I wasn’t too aware of Larson’s comments before I went in to watch the film, and to be honest I haven’t really looked at them afterwards. It does seem to have riled up quite a few reviewers on IMDb.
I’m surprised at how close together this is to Endgame…
Big Ballet Day’s coming out on DVD next Wednesday
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