By: Julia Wengier | Editor in chief
March 21, 2019
Warning: this review contains spoilers
For the first time ever, Marvel gave its fans a movie with a strong female protagonist. Captain Marvel released on March 8, 2019, follows the story of Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), from her not-so-humble beginnings as a pilot for the United States to a powerful superhero serving the universe.
A look into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) before the Avengers Initiative features both new and old characters for thrilling backstory. When Carol Danvers, first introduced as Vers, finds herself on Earth as part of a mission for the Kree (an alien civilization), she teams up with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) to stop the “infiltration” of the skrulls into the planet. The skrulls are an alien species that can perfectly replicate the DNA of other organisms, allowing them to take the shape of others down to the chemical makeup itself.
Throughout the film, Danvers finds memories of her old life on Earth with her best friend Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch). She finds that she had gotten her superpowers in an accident involving powerful experimental alien technology, and then was taken by the Kree with her memories suppressed for her submission. Towards the end of the movie, Danvers realizes the true villains were the Kree themselves, and she helps the skrulls in defeating her former unit.
Captain Marvel was revolutionary in portraying a female superhero as a powerful person rather than just a woman. Practical costume design is alike that of male superheros, with no revealing outfits that are typically seen with woman leads. The plot was not dependent on her status as a woman, and could have been the same movie had her character been a man. With important roles for women and people of color, the movie was both inclusive and significant in the MCU.
At the very conclusion of the film, the audience is informed that Captain Marvel will return in Avengers: Endgame. Her unique story and powers can change the game that started in Avengers: Infinity War, so fans can continue to wait excitedly for this highly-anticipated movie.
Captain Marvel gave fans of the MCU insight into the creation of the Avengers Initiative, while creating a powerful and significant female lead. It portrayed women the way women should be portrayed, as people rather than objects. This, as well as the thrill and excitement of the film, itself, makes Captain Marvel a must-see.
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