Captain Marvel

Captain Marvel is a nice chill-out movie without the great drama of The Avengers, which it doesn’t really need. The only character whose emotions are explored in depth is the protagonist; everyone else is either there to provide comic relief or a villain with a surprising plan. The setting in Los Angeles (and the surrounding desert) in the 1990s enables a lot of cool jokes and establishes the overall lighthearted mood of the movie (Samuel is immortal!). This was what I liked best about Captain Marvel. Plus Brie Larson. The movie benefits from casting her and not a sexpot like Amber Heard. Larson is more approachable, natural and cute. (03/09/2019)

Captain Marvel is a film that, like its protagonist, seeks its true identity and is not very successful in doing so. In its better moments, it is a fast-paced buddy movie with a digitally facelifted Samuel L. Jackson and Brie Larson in a Nine Inch Nails t-shirt, thus rather an extended episode of The X-Files (but without the mystery). In worse moments, it is a sterile space/soap opera (but without a sufficiently detached view). The overarching “detective” framework, in which Vers searches for who she really was/is, has an original exposition (Carol is a more or less “burnt-out” superhero from the beginning; she only fulfils a role that is not her own), though the development remains very predictable. In addition to that, it does not raise enough questions that would maintain our curiosity (which is even truer of the second of the two origin stories, following the inception of the Avengers). Its rhythm, characterisations and (towards the end) CGI are grating. The story arc is mediocre, the environment is nondescript and, with the exception of some surprising background music, the action scenes are generic. The emancipation storyline approaches naivety and literalness (when the heroine has to stand on her own two feet, then she stands on her own two feet, in several consecutive shots, culminating for the sake of certainty with the declaration “I don't have to prove anything to you” – for its unforcedness, the scene in which Brie Larson walks through a video rental shop among VHS tapes with 1980s hypermasculine action heroes is far more telling). The problem lies in the fact that, in its old-school simplicity, Captain Marvel is not as consistent as the formally and stylistically much cleaner Wonder Woman. Other than Brie Larson, the film’s main value added, thanks to which it is not (by a slim margin) the weakest Marvel movie, comprises an orange cat and the cameo of Stan Lee reading the Mallrats screenplay. 65% (03/06/2019)

When I went to see this movie, I was like curious George. Does Marvel really plan on saving the entire superhero universe with one female heroine that has emerged out of nowhere? Brie Larson didn’t feel right to me even on posters. She looked awfully... plastic. But was I wrong! Captain Marvel is a wonderful movie. It has a bit of everything and it’s in fact a beginning of the term “Marvel”. While watching it I didn’t feel like I was watching a superheroine, it felt more like a decent sci-fi. This was due to the great effects which not only looked as if they were from Star Wars – they probably do have something in common with Star Wars since they were supplied by the same studio. Add in some emotions, jokes and allusions, which the creators will serve you indirectly or only in form of a look of one of the characters, plus some plot twists which are very well made in this movie. Even concerning Brie, half-way through the movie I was sure that there couldn’t be a better superheroine. Marvel has justly beat DC once again. My relationship with Marvel has been formed gradually but it is all the more intense now... Captain Marvel is almost a genius insertion between two Avengers movies. It couldn’t have been planned better. (03/27/2019)

Carol Danvers may have lost her memory years ago, but the alien Kree race has made her the ultimate warrior, and now she's back on Earth, where her past is being recalled. And she must figure out where her home is and what she's willing to risk for it. Captain Marvel is a classic Marvel original with lots of action, a bit of humour, and a fine heroine in the lead role. Don't expect much new from this comic book adaptation, but if you want to enjoy spectacular space battles and classic Marvel stuff, you won't go wrong. (03/07/2019)

I can hardly find a less charismatic superhero in the Marvel franchise (yes, I take into account Ant-man, Wasp and Scarlet Witch). Which is multiplied by the fact that Captain Marvel is inherently uninteresting; she has no weakness, her ability (s) are too “great", uninteresting in nature and visually manifested purely through CGI, or as soon as she takes action, Brie Larson literally disappears for several long minutes at the expense of some confused flashing animated hero with long hair. And that's a shame, because even though Brie isn't completely convincing, she still, like Carol, at least gives the impression that there's something in her. Nevertheless, despite all of the above, it is one of the best Marvel origins ever. It´s well-paced, Jackson, the characters around Carol do their job “to the fullest", the nineties stylization also fits, and especially thanks to Skrulls, it has a “heart" that is often ignored in Marvel movies. (03/16/2019)

The second blockbuster of the year and the first Marvel movie. This appetizer before the upcoming Avengers is a typical origin story that is good by default, but doesn't exactly bust your balls. On the plus side, Brie Larson is a great actress and a very strong hero, so she pulls the film off just fine, and when the excellent Samuel L. Jackson and Jude Law follow suit, things are more or less taken care of. Captain Marvel has a decent retro vibe, solid action (although the fights are shot a bit chaotically), working humour thanks to Samuel, and a rather interesting plot twist in the second half. At times the film feels like Star Wars in Marvel mode, but it's thankfully bearable. Enjoyable cinematic entertainment and a big plus for the cat, perhaps the biggest surprise of the film. 75% (03/08/2019)

While the world was trying to hate on the lead actress for answering a question she was asked during an interview, I was patiently waiting. Brie Larson is and will be her own person, and I am grateful to everyone involved for daring to cast her in the highly anticipated origin story of a new character. She has been my long-awaited Marvel character for years, and finally seeing her in a suit on screen is a small celebration for me. The movie stumbles a bit at the beginning, lacking a stronger conflict between the Kree and the Skrulls, but the earthly atmosphere, enhanced by the presence of Coulson, the irresistible Goose, the brilliantly authentic 90s atmosphere, and most importantly, the realization that this is essentially Avengers 0.5, works on all levels. Even without a deep exploration of the main superhero's character, who is somewhat dragged down by her life circumstances in the past and present, she becomes closer to the viewer when finding her purpose and her true self. (03/08/2019)

Another fine Marvel picture that fills in the gaps. Danvers borrow from Wonder Woman and doesn't excessively shove women’s superiority down your throat. Brie Larson is fine and her playing the rascal and flirting with Fury was entertaining (Sam Jackson really enjoyed himself)… but space battles alone aren’t enough. I liked the villain and some of the unexpected twists that unsurprisingly closely follow today’s trends. Great music. And what a fox. (03/07/2019)

So how’s the first female solo film from the MCU? Weak. The idea of casting Brie Larson as Carol Danvers didn't work for me, and the only actor I like in the whole film is Annette Bening, because she's great. Otherwise, it's just another piece of the puzzle. The action is unclear, and the appeal to little girls and their dreams is obviously overdone. I was hoping for more of a 90s vibe, but other than the video rental and the use of "Just a Girl" by No Doubt, it’s really not great. (03/07/2019)

A Marvel film about a strong woman for strong women, though considerably less inventive than the similarly-themed Wonder Woman from DC. Brie Larson is fine, and the subtle winking at the nineties is of course nonchalantly elegant (including the rejuvenated Samuel L Jackson), but everything is devastated by the same tired song about mysterious aliens with the goal of destroying our planet, or conquering the universe. It’s just something you don't want to see for the 25th time, even with the best execution. (06/11/2019)

What I love about Captain Marvel is that it takes place in the 1990s and is thus made in the style of action/sci-fi films from movie theatres and video rental stores. The action isn't (too) overcomplicated and action scenes don't tend to be long, good jokes are interspersed with good, more serious scenes, which don't take themselves all that seriously, and I still care about the characters and what they are doing. In particular the very sympathetic Carol, who Brie Larson conceived as a tousled young woman who is delighted with the action and enjoys the fact that training is over and she can finally do something. Similar to recently with Alita - one sneaky smile was enough and she had me in the palm of her hand. In addition, we uncover her past along with her, it's an interesting uncovering, and it's good that it persists, because it cleverly distracts from other characters who will take care of a surprise (the biggest storyline twist brought me great joy). The visual aspect probably isn't worth commenting much, because it's great; however, I need to highlight digitally rejuvenated characters who are 100% realistic, and those who don't know about the special effects will probably not even notice them. To cut a long story short, this origin is slightly (specifically one star) more sympathetic for me than the more traditionally conceived Doctor Strange, and I look forward to seeing what Captain Marvel will show us next month.____P.S. It's the first film that ever moved me during the opening logo. (03/06/2019)

A smart film, no doubt, though not that tight. It knows how to surprise when it comes to the identity and the motifs of the main villain and carefully develops the psychology of the protagonist, so in only one film, the viewer will understand her potential and immediately take her into the upcoming epic milestone of the massive franchise, with a narrative that is much more strongly connected to it than Black Panther or Ant-Man. The setting in the nineties offers a lot of possibilities to play with genres and pop-culture references, so, in addition to a super-hero origin story, we also follow an easygoing buddy cop story with a wisecracking Jackson (who’s having a lot of fun), while we get funny reminders of the computer technology of the time and some sequences that are smartly inspired on scenes of blockbusters of the era (the final chase above the desert is like Smith vs the UFO in Independence Day). The pace is great, the humour is mostly effective and Brie Larson is as brilliant as expected. The only major shortcoming is the CGI action, which, especially in the ending, is awful, the worst and least original Marvel has ever delivered. Another complaint, and quite important at that, is that everything else could have been more, and better; not only the action drive, but there could have been more 90s, deeper conflicts, more formal attractions of the kind that would be memorable like Wakanda or the clash on the moon in Infinity War. On the one hand, Captain Marvel is very good in its modesty and subordination to a higher thematic goal, on the other, it lacks magic and leaves a feeling of it being a snack, though an expensive, likeable and smartly put together one. In any case, the excitement for Endgame has been fully renewed, and only for that the 4* are mandatory. (03/13/2019)

After the devastating Infinity War, we have the opportunity to go back a few decades, to a time when the Avengers were still in their cradle and the "greatest achievement on Earth" was Windows 95. Captain Marvel offers the first all-female hero movie within the MCU and it shows to some extent – the emancipation radiates quite visibly, but I personally didn't find it distracting. I welcomed the return of a rejuvenated Nick Fury and Coulson, and was pleased to see a cameo from the recently deceased Stan Lee and a tribute to his name. I liked that the film wasn't completely transparent script-wise and I didn't really know who was on whose side. Brie Larson is a real looker and I'm curious to see how she performs in Endgame after Fury's final "Hello from the other side". A briskly made outing that falls short of the quality of the Marvel team-ups, but it's still fun to watch, it has a good pace and doesn't lack action and humor. P.S. Careful with that cat! (03/07/2019)

A film-product, particularly despicable in the way it holds contemporary social issues hostage to give itself an extra edge. If Captain Marvel is formally backwards, tediously combining the formal approach of retroversion, pastiche, and static comic book framing once again, I have no choice but to dwell on the details of the internal universe out of boredom. And this is where it just started to stink. When a squad of alien commandos went on a super-secret mission with guns that unknowingly kept glowing, I just rolled my eyes. When the protagonist used her powers to blast five bad guys around her into the distance without moving any other unfixed objects in the vicinity, I was starting to beg for mercy. Once Samuel L. Jackson started telling me that he had been deployed as a spy to Budapest and Belgrade during the Cold War, it was virtually impossible to get me out of my seat. The irony is that the one vital element of this misadventure, the natural, by any measure fantastic Brie Larson, provides just the right painful contrast to the rubbery artificiality and sterility of the rest, where nobody gave much of a shit. Just the tired design of alien civilizations, technology, and alien planets. As I watched a digitally rejuvenated Samuel L. Jackson nuzzle a CGI cat in a three-foot space wrapped in green screen, everything that's wrong with the current mainstream entered me with a definitive jolt. But if you're the type who cringes when old rock songs play during action scenes, protagonists walk past VHSes and make phone calls from pay phones (because the 90s were different hahahahahaha), please shoot yourself immediately. (06/06/2019)

A cool apéritif before the fourth Avengers. If I'm being a bit critical, this original about the strongest heroine in the Marvel universe isn't really that surprising and thoroughly relies on the MCU's universally repetitive creative practices. On the other hand, it still works (in the 21st film in this universe!) and I still enjoy it a lot. A little more could have been squeezed out of the 90s vibe, but all the jokes based on the contrast with modern times worked great (the file loading speed in units of percent – that was nostalgia like crazy). I like that there's no misguided feminism oozing from Captain Marvel, and that the motif of a strong female heroine is handled with the utmost conscientiousness the entire time, and much more likably than that of rival DC. Brie Larson is another casting bullseye (maybe not the best phrase to use) and Kevin Feige is perhaps the best-planning big-screen producer in history. (03/07/2019)

An origin story that played it safe, and a Marvel movie which was mediocre through and through. Despite the great concept of ​​the perseverance of the human (namely female) spirit and the fact that not everything is what it seems at first glance, it is all shot so incredibly routinely that you struggle to remember an actually inventive scene which would really blow your mind. In terms of acting, it is absolutely impeccable. For various (often utterly bizarre) reasons criticized award-winning Brie Larson gives a perfectly good performance, which is spot on given the character of Captain Marvel. In fact, there is not much to complain about, except maybe for the directing duo. They sadly did not fully exploit the potential of the 90s setting, overstuffed the movie with completely generic action scenes while strictly following the rule "if you don’t know how to shoot action and combat scenes, move the camera a lot, cut a lot, preferably shoot it in the dark so there is not much anybody can see". My satisfaction after leaving the theater faded away pretty quickly. (03/12/2019)