Review by John Delia
Definitely not Wonder Woman, the new lady in town is Captain Marvel and she arrives with a whimper instead of a whirlwind. All her energy is in her hands and it’s like watching two hours of Storm without the tornado’s ferocity. It’s not the best origin movie and the introduction of this character really softens the Marvel Universe, rather than give it the enthusiasm needed to carry it the next Avengers: Endgame.
The movie opens in the mid 1990’s where we find Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) training with lifeforms called the Kree after having joined Starforce. Not remembering her past, she dives into learning combat techniques with her trainer Yon-Rogg (Jude Law). He’s not easy on her and each time he attacks Carol she starts to remember things that may have happened to her before.
During a battle against the Skrull led by Talos (Ben Mendelsohn), she finds herself falling to Earth. There she meets SHIELD officer Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and starts to remember things that lead her to her former co-pilot Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch) where things become clearer. When she realizes that she can use her superhuman powers for good against evil she thinks about changing sides.
Directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck helm their first major movie and when it comes to writing a script about superheroes, their amateur side shows. Having directed mostly TV, their playing field has grown tremendously and the film gets away from them spreading the story and its characters thin while trying to include ‘regulars’ to make it more Avenger’s style. But, it just doesn’t work.
What they do accomplish is a fairly good back story on Nick Fury, more development on the Kree and some incredible special effects. Beyond that, their choice to play (and yes I’m about to say it) Captain Marvel is no Wonder Woman, Storm, Black Widow or even Scarlet Witch. Her ferocity level needed to be pushed up several ticks and the back story they give her reminded me of Kelly McGillis and not Tom Cruise in Top Gun. The directors should have seen that coming so it’s not the fault of Bree Larson who never played a role so mega that would make them think she could take on an ultra-superhero in the world of the Avengers.
All that said, the film’s a must for all you action adventure superhero fans as April 2019 is closing in on Avengers: Endgame in which Captain Marvel plays a role. It will be the catalyst that will blow your mind if the trailers are doing it justice.
Captain Marvel has been rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and brief suggestive language. Maybe the film will show better in IMAX or even Dolby Atmos?
FINAL ANALYSIS: Just okay, the film mirrors that of Catwoman’s entrance into the DC Comics movie world. (3 out of 5 Stars)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Brie Larson, Gemma Chan, Samuel L. Jackson, Lee Pace, Ben Mendelsohn, Jude Law, Annette Bening, Mckenna Grace and Lashana Lynch
Directed and written by: Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-fi
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and brief suggestive language
Running Time: 2 hrs, 4 min.
Opening Date: March 8, 2019
Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Released in: Standard, IMAX, Dolby Atmos