Captain Marvel arrived in theaters and has gone higher, further, and faster in the box office. Is this movie a worthy origin story of the supposed Thanos-killer?
If you haven’t watched any other Marvel films or aren’t up to date with them, Captain Marvel is a fun, action-packed superhero film. It takes place in the mid-90’s (before most of the Marvel films), and shows the origin story of Carol Danvers (or Captain Marvel). She has been fighting the alien, shape-shifting, Skrulls for the Kree Empire in a system far from Earth. She remembers nothing of her past, and is told that the Kree gave her the superpowers she uses. She discovers her true origins after being trapped on Earth, meeting the young Nick Fury and Phil Coulson, who are new to SHIELD and not as prestigious as they are in the other movies.
The plot of the movie is quite entertaining. Although the stakes aren’t as high as Avengers: Infinity War, it is still a fun film to watch with lots of action, and adventure. There are multiple references to older Marvel films, some are obvious (Nick Fury, Ronan the Accuser) and others aren’t as noticeable (Project Pegasus, Quadjet). The story was a bit confusing at first, but as it went on and as she started to learn her past it all connected and made a lot more sense. There are a few twists and surprises that help to connect it to the other movies. Not only does it connect with films already released, but it even has connections to Avengers: Endgame to hype to viewers for the next Marvel film.
The soundtrack of Captain Marvel is a very fitting one. The music has a sci-fi and mystery vibe to it to match the setting. When the villains appear on screen, the music turns very ominous. On the contrary, the music will sound like it’s from a 80’s cop show when Phil Coulson and Nick Fury get into a chase. If you are a fan of music from the 90’s, there is a bit of that in the movie to help establish the time period. Although the soundtrack may not be as memorable as others, it helps convey the setting of the movie.
Fans of other Marvel films definitely have their share of easter eggs in Captain Marvel. The younger and more lively Nick Fury is one of the main characters, along with Phil Coulson who is just a rookie in this movie (which by the way, the de-ageing tech to make them look younger is astonishing). The Kree are also a big player in Captain Marvel, and were mentioned in Guardians of the Galaxy. Ronan the Accuser and Korath the Pursuer are minor characters in Captain Marvel, and they had their share of screen time in Guardians of the Galaxy. A certain cosmic object makes a surprise appearance as well. This film has lots of easter eggs that tie it to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which reminds the viewer that all these films are cohesive and together.
Despite there being some debate around this film (mainly due to political issues surrounding female empowerment in movies), this film does a great job at not making a big deal out of it. If have or haven’t seen your share of Marvel films, I strongly suggest you see Captain Marvel. I would give this movie a solid 8/10. Not only does it establish the newest (and one of the most powerful) superheros in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it also prepares the viewers for what is to come in Avengers: Endgame.
