‘Captain Marvel’ directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck is Marvel Studio’s newest cinematic installment. ‘Captain Marvel’ hit theaters on March 8th and serves as an Avengers prequel.
Vers (Brie Larson) is a warrior for the militaristic interplanetary empire of the Kree. Along with her mentor Yon-Rogg(Jude Law) Vers sets out on a military expedition against the Skrull, green-skinned humanoid shapeshifters who are the Kree’s main rivals. In the ensuing battle Vers is captured by the Skrull and is later imprisoned on a Skrull spaceship that crash lands in Los Angeles. On Earth Vers must confront the events that occurred during the time she served in the U.S. Air Force when she was known by a different name: Carol Danvers. With the help of S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury(Samuel L. Jackson) and her old friend Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch) and an extremely powerful cat known as “Goose,’’ Danvers fights to stop a Skrull invasion of Earth becoming one of the universe’s most powerful heroes: Captain Marvel.
‘Captain Marvel’ takes place in 1995. Much like the way the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ series pays homage to the 1980’s, ‘Captain Marvel’ makes many references to the pop culture of the 1990’s. Vers falls through the roof of a Blockbuster when she arrives on Earth, located in a Los Angles strip-mall that includes a Radio Shack. In one scene she does research at a cyber café complete with early Macintosh computers. The soundtrack also references the 90’s, with 90’s hits such as “Come As You Are” by Nirvana and “Only Happy When It Rains” by Garbage playing in pivotal scenes.
‘Captain Marvel’ also has wonderful character development. Vers/Carol Danvers is a complex character. In the Air Force and the Kree military, she is denounced as being “too emotional.” However, as the movie progresses Danver’s passionate nature is shown to be a strength rather than a weakness. The love Danver has for her friends and the anger she has at injustices aids in her ferocity as a warrior and helps her become Captain Marvel.
‘Captain Marvel’ offers the perfect mix of hilarity and fast-paced action that we’ve come to except from Marvel Studios. Jackson, Larson and Law all gave stunning performances. The CGI especially that of the futuristic skyline of the Kree home world was quite pleasing to the eye. Also, 1990’s Earth was an entertaining setting. These attributes combined with the excellent character development of Danvers makes ‘Captain Marvel’ an entertaining film to watch with friends and family.