It’s kind of sad that it’s taken Marvel 21 films to push forward with their first female-led solo film,Captain Marvel, but thankfully they managed to make the superhero a badass and easily the most powerful Avenger to date. Sorry Black Widow, but those signature spin kicks are becoming less threatening by the day.
It’s no coincidence Captain Marvel and Ant-Man & The Wasp came out between the epic Avengerstwo-parter because they each contain vital clues to how they can finally defeat Thanos and undo the damage he caused; the solutions being Quantum Realm time travel and Captain Marvel’s superior powers.
After some heartfelt title cards, the very first shot is a subtle reminder of the aftermath of Infinity War, but this is clearly an origin story from the start. What’s notably different from the usual formula is her backstory is told through memory flashbacks.
What prevents the entire first act from really making an impact is the over-marketing prior to release, because we’d seen most of it before. If it’s not too late, steer clear of the many trailers circulating the web because the less you know the better.
Thankfully the second half of the film is where things finally fall into place. It’s when most of the action scenes climax, mixing fun with thrills, but it’s also where the story unfolds into something quite unique.
Brie Larson is an excellent role model, showing all the best qualities of an iconic superhero. She embodies the strength of Thor, the wit of Iron Man and the honour of Captain America, which could be big shoes to fill if one — or all three — doesn’t make it through Endgame.
The digital de-aging of Samuel Jackson deserves an Oscar for sure, which apart from the entire ‘90s setting, brings a real sense of nostalgia. Unfortunately, the process doesn’t look so realistic on Clark Gregg’s Phil Coulson, which is probably why he doesn’t have too many scenes.
It’s surprising just how many big Hollywood A-listers are willing to jump on the franchise wagons these days, with Annette Benning and Jude Law both solid as usual. However the big stand-out is our own boy, Ben Mendelsohn, owning every scene he’s in.
Captain Marvel doesn’t hit the same magnificent high as Wonder Woman, DC’s own female-led blockbuster, but it’s definitely a good case for more diversity on our screens. It’s worth the admission price alone to ensure this succeeds so we don’t have to wait another 10 years for the next.
If that’s not enough, then the mid-credit sequence, which ties directly into Endgame, definitely should be.