Captain Marvel: Higher, Further, Faster
PC: Kayla Potts
Nicflix
I think we can all agree that—TV shows and animated series aside—the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has more human stories, deeper character development, stronger timeline consistency and is just better than DC overall—it’s a scientific fact … Nic-science. On International Women’s Day, they did play a little catch up to DC’s “Wonder Woman” with the release of their first female-led superhero movie, “Captain Marvel!”
Captain Marvel is basically the MCU’s “Superman” and at one point in the movie she recognizes she’s been fighting with “one arm tied behind her back” which I saw as a strong parallel to the state women and other minorities have been living in—basically forever—and begs the question: what would happen if they were able to reach their full potential, free of limitations? Imagine the “heroes” we’re keeping down.
A lot of people were worried or upset that “Captain Marvel” might be used as a “statement piece” to further a feminist agenda, but does it matter?! Did the movie happen to feature powerful and intelligent women? 100 percent! Is there anything wrong with that? Absolutely not.
To put it in perspective, this wasn’t a “FEMALE superhero movie,” it was just a SUPERHERO movie and an incredible addition to the MCU made better by its empowering themes.
Set in the ‘90’s as a prequel to the rest of the MCU, “Captain Marvel” nailed it with hilarious and nostalgic ‘90’s references, super sick action sequences and amazing character development. It served as an origin story not just for Carol Danvers but for Nick Fury as well, intertwining their stories together and capitalizing on their strong and fun dynamic, on and off camera. The witty banter and friendship that formed between the two characters was entertaining and refreshing, especially since there was no romantic subplot at ALL—something extremely rare in any genre lately.
I wouldn’t put “Captain Marvel” up there with “Black Panther” or “Avengers: Infinity War,” but it was still a great movie that tied into the MCU timeline better than “Spider-man: Homecoming” and “Black Panther” did as stand-alones.
I thought Brie Larson brought a lot to the character and while her performance was stronger in the more playful moments than the extremely dramatic ones, she still KILLED it and I’m excited to see her growth as a character in the future of the MCU (unless they kill her off in “Endgame.”)
-Your Friendly Neighborhood Movie Guy
P.S. The mid-credit scene is DOPE— you won’t want to miss it—and the end-credit scene is funny, but you don’t NEED to stay for it.
Nicholas Morrison is a senior studying graphic design.