Captain Marvel

 

If there was ever a movie to cause so much controversy, it was Marvel's first female centered film. Due to Brie Larson's rather negative, feminist and sexist comments prior to the film's release, a great deal of strife ensued from many rabid Marvel fans. While I myself found Brie Larson's statements to be extremely annoying, I began to notice that the fans started to take on a "Crucify Brie Larson," campaign for no other reason than they just didn't like her or the film. Fans were determined to find fault and problems with both Brie Larson and Captain Marvel. Even clear into Endgame, people were sill hating on Brie and her character.

So, I was surprised when I read the reviews of Captain Marvel from the people I follow on Blogger and they were absolutely praising the film and thought that it was excellent. The problem with Captain Marvel is that she came too late into the game. They should have introduced her after the first Avengers film and have her story start from there. Because they just threw Captain Marvel into a mix of an already established group, she really didn't belong anywhere or with anyone and that was certainly the case in Endgame as well. 

After watching Captain Marvel I have to say that it was very good. The hatefulness and vitriol from the rabid Marvel fans was completely unnecessary. Brie Larson is entitled to say whatever she wants, whether fans like it or not. She's a good actress and seems to be a very sweet and kind person. Captain Marvel was not a bad film either. It was different and maybe a little out of place, but it does have its place now. 

Young and promising Starforce member Vers from the planet Hala, lost her memory six years ago. She has flashes of events and people, but nothing strong enough to grasp onto. Hala is planet inhabited by the noble Kree people who are at constant war with the shapeshifting Skrulls. Vers is trained by Yon-Rogg to control her emotions and her extraordinary powers that seem to be going out of control. While on a Starforce emergency mission with Yon-Rogg and their crew, Vers is kidnapped by the Skrull and held hostage. 

While the Skrull are looking into her mind, lost memories begin to appear. Vers manages to escapes and crashlands onto Planet C-53 or Earth. While on Earth, Vers crosses paths with some familiar (at least to us) faces. Agents Phil Coulson and Nicholas Fury from S.H.I.E.L.D. It takes little convincing for them both to acknowledge that the Skull have now landed on Earth with plans to infiltrate it.

With limited time on their hands, Vers and Fury (and it's just Fury) must discover the Skrull's plans for coming to Earth. In the process of uncovering the Skull's intentions, Vers uncovers secrets about herself. She's from Earth and her name is actually Carol Danvers. She was an Air Force pilot who had friends and fun and a promising future. All of it is stolen from her and the life she has known has been nothing but a lie. Now Carol must decide between what she is and what she can be, to separate the truth from the lies and take on a legacy that chose her before she even realized it. 

There was something very sad and sweet about Carol Danvers. She's strong, but also fragile. She believes in the truth, but fears where it might lead her. I found Carol to be wonderfully written and not too different from Diana in Wonder Woman. Both were alone with questions, trying to understand a new world with new people and making unlikely allies. Both were soldiers fighting for what they believed to be right. Both were gifted with powers so extreme that they hardly control them. Both fell down over and over and over, and both had the strength to get up again. 

Surprisingly, I saw little to no rabid feminist undertones either. Carol never once opened her mouth to say that women were better or stronger than men or that she was better off without a man. As a military pilot, Carol was in a world that was dominated by men. The military is a man's world built by men and for men. Carol had to work twice as hard and become twice as strong to prove that she belonged and she was successful.  

What I also enjoyed about this movie was zero love story!!! Now, I like a good love story, but why does a leading female character always have to have a romantic subplot? This is seen frequently in superhero films. Female characters are either used as the love interest (Pepper Potts, Peggy Carter and Jane Foster) or eventually obtain a love interest (Diana Prince, Wanda Maximoff and Natasha Romanoff). Women do not need love interests to show their softer or more vulnerable sides. They can do that with friends and enemies just as easily. It was good to see a platonic relationship on the screen that you could tell was just written as a friendship. 

As it was dealing with an aliens and galactic plot, Captain Marvel wasn't my favorite, but as a storyline, I thought it was very well written. Brie Larson did an excellent job as Carol and portrayed her with a plethora of characteristics. A gifted pilot who wasn't afraid of taking risks, a friend who was always there, a soldier who never compromised, a mystery to herself and everyone else. The unfortunate hate that the film received came from bad timing and Brie Larson not knowing what to say or how to say it properly. You can't fault the film for the actresses mistakes. Captain Marvel was unjustly prejudged and holds just as much importance and relevance in the MCU as the rest of the films.