“Captain Marvel” marks the introduction of Marvel’s super powerful, slick-talking, photon-shooting, amnesiac superheroine into the Cinematic Universe. Carol Danvers’ (AKA Captain Marvel) existence was first teased in a post-credit scene for “Infinity War,” and “Captain Marvel” provides a full backstory for the MCU’s first female solo film as well as a closer look at the past of S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury.
The movie follows Danvers’ life as a powerful Kree soldier fighting an interstellar war against their shape-shifting enemies the Skrull. The war eventually leads her to 1995 Earth where she meets Fury and begins a journey to uncover her forgotten past and discover the secrets behind her immense power...and boy, is it immense.
What You’re Going to Like
Lots of Laughs - The movie takes a lighter, almost irreverent tone to suit the personality of Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers. Danvers is sassy, strong-willed, sarcastic, and quick-witted and there’s a lot of good humor in the dialogue between all the main characters but especially between her and Samuel L. Jackson’s "Nick Fury." The two have great chemistry that made their exchanges both entertaining and realistic.
Fast Pace - The movie flings you right into the action and moves very quickly to build the framework of Kree world and their war with the Skrulls. It’s never boring, but the pace is a bit much at the start of the film.
Abundant Action - The movie starts with action and doesn’t really stop. You get hand-to-hand combat, a car chase, an aerial dogfight, and outer space battle, and just about every type of action set-piece you could ask for.
Super Skrull - Ben Mendelsohn’s "Talos" is one of the most enjoyable character’s in the film. Despite being on the wrong side of the war, his humor and charm make him one of the most entertaining and endearing characters to watch as the movie goes on.
A Universal Bridge - This movie does a great job bridging gaps in the MCU. We get more backstory on characters like Korath & Ronin from “Guardians of the Galaxy,” additional history on the tesseract, the story behind Nick Fury’s eye, and an explanation for why Captain Marvel left Earth. This movie does a great job of bridging together loose strands that help further tie the MCU together.
90’s Nostalgia - There are some great touches like having to wait on dial-up internet to download an important file, Carol rocking a Nine Inch Nails shirt to blend in, and some mid-90’s hits blended seamlessly into the on-screen action.
Post Credits Scene - It’s a doozy that has direct ties to “Avengers: End Game.”
What You Might not Like
Blurry Beginning - Remember the fast pace I mentioned? The introduction to the Kree Empire and the Kree/Skrull war is done at a break-neck pace. The movie starts in overdrive as it speeds through the necessary elements of the back story to get to the meat of the film. The result is that the first 30 minutes or so is a bit of a blur as you’re rushed from one planet to another and one action sequence to another. It’s a lot to process at first, but the pace evens out once Carol finally reaches Earth.
No Feels - The movie has scenes that feel like they should tug at your heartstrings but don’t quite get there. It’s far from cringeworthy, but there are two emotionally climatic scenes that just fall a bit flat.
Motivation? - The main villain never really gives a concrete motivation for his role in the war. We’re never given a solid reason for why he formulated his plan and what he specifically hopes to accomplish. It doesn’t ruin the movie or anything, but it does make for another rather static, underwhelming villain like Darren Cross, Malekith, Whiplash, etc.
Powerful Powers - The finale makes it clear that Captain Marvel is INSANELY powerful, but it’s never clear exactly what her powers are. It’s not a major issue, but it would be nice to know WHY she can do things we’ve never seen before in the MCU.
Movie Rating
Plot/Story - 8/10 - It tells a rich, complex story that feels rushed at times, but is entertaining and fills in some important gaps in the MCU mythology.
Dialogue - 9/10 - [See note on “What You’re Going to Like”]
Characters - 9/10 - Brie Larson knocks it out of the park. She’s fantastic as Carol Danvers and Nick Fury and Talos make for two very entertaining side characters. This would be a 10 if not for the motivation issues with the main villain.
Music/Score - 7/7.5 - The score is rather forgettable, but extra points for the effective use of some 90’s hits.
Visuals - 7/7.5 - It’s not as eye-popping as “Aquaman” or “Into the Spider-verse,” but the special effects are good, and Captain Marvel’s “binary” mode was impressive to see on screen.
Emotion - 5/7.5 - [See note on “What you Might not Like”]
Originality - 5/5 - It’s the first time Captain Marvel has ever been brought to the big screen, and the first solo movie for an MCU heroine. Can’t get much more original than that.
"It" Factor - 7.5/10 - It’s good...but just good. An interesting story, good humor, lots of action and effective world-building for the rest of the MCU.
Final Score: 57.75/67.5 = 85% (B)
The Final Verdict
As a standalone origin movie, it’s a solidly good film. It’s not “Black Panther,” but it’s also not “Iron Man 2.” It’s action-packed, entertaining, and tells a detailed, original story. As part of the MCU, it’s a must-see in anticipation for “Avengers: Endgame.” Go, watch, laugh, and enjoy another solid entry in Marvel cinematic franchise.
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