There is another comic book movie to add to the mix. This time it’s Captain Marvel, who is an ex-Airforce pilot, named Carol Danvers with super powers. This movie stars Brie Larson, Jude Law and Samuel L. Jackson. The acting isn’t bad and there are some good scenes, that keep an average storyline going.
This movie takes place in 1995, years before the marvel heroes get to the big screen. Carol Danvers is an Air Force pilot who is taken by an alien race, known as the Kree, when her fighter jet crashes. She is brainwashed, and believes she is a Kree warrior. She is captured while on a mission, by the Skrulls, a shape shifting alien race. They probe her memories, and she slowly discovers who she is. She escapes to earth, and crashes through the ceiling of a Blockbuster Video. This is when Nick Fury comes in. He catches up to her, and they team up, to help Danvers regain her memories. They encounter the Skrulls, who turn out to be misunderstood refugees, looking for a home. They also have a long standing grudge against the Kree. Carol Danvers and Nick Fury team up with the Skrulls, and defeat the Kree. The leader of the villainous Kree, Yon- Rogg, is dispatched by Captain Marvel, and sent back to the Kree Home world, Hala, by her; leaving the story open for a sequel. With the earth safe, Captain Marvel departs with the Skrulls, to look for another planet, and everything is good in the marvel universe.
Brie Larson is good in a film, that has the feel of a buddy movie. She works well with Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. She makes Carol Danvers a good character, by relaying her pain, trying to recover her memories. Some of these memories include her time struggling with Air Force basic training, and her triumph, when she becomes an Air Force pilot. She remembers the good times,that were spent at the local watering hole, with her friend, Maria Lambeau, played by Lashana Lynch. Brie Larson gives a solid performance as a heroine, who is a good fit in the marvel universe.
Samuel Jackson reprises his role as the bombastic Nick Fury. He isn’t acting but seems to be having fun, while leading and sometimes following, Carol Danvers. He doesn’t have the best acting range, but he fleshes out Nick Fury. He manages to show a strong character, who can’t be fooled. He shows this when his boss calls him Nicholas. This is after he’s told him that everyone calls him Fury, even his mother. It’s at this point, that he realizes that his boss is a skrull. Another scene is when Fury shows his sense of humor, when he asks a Skrull, played by Ben Mendelson; about his shapeshifting abilities. He inquires if the alien can turn into a Venus Flytrap. He ask Fury why he would do that. Fury says to him that he’ll give him fifty buck to do it. It’s interesting to see Fury not supporting other heroes, but actually sharing screen time with a hero. Perhaps the Nick Fury character will get his own stand alone film, starring Samuel L. Jackson.
Clark Gregg reprises his role from the movies and television, as SHIELD agent Phil Coulson. He mainly plays Fury’s right hand man. It’s good to see him back in the role.
Yon-Rogg is played by Jude Law. His performance won’t be confused with Christopher Lee as Dracula, or any villains played by Vincent Price. The problem is the villain is not that strong of a character, and that makes it difficult for the actor. He does work well in the training scenes with Brie Larson.
This film has some good scenes. One is when Carol Danvers kicks the skrulls butts and escapes. Captain Marvel comes to earth, when she crashes through a Blockbuster Video, much to the shock of the security guard. There is something in the movie, that Hollywood loves, a good chase scene. This is after Carol Danvers escapes Fury and he pursues her. It ends with Fury’s car crashing, and a dead Skrull, inside who was impersonating Agent Coulson. One of the best scenes come when Nick Fury and Carol Danvers listen to the black box recording, that was on her fighter jet. This helps assemble the final pieces of the puzzle that are Danvers’ memories. The best scene is when Captain Marvel confronts The Supreme Intelligence, the leader of The Kree, portrayed by Annette Benning. It tells her she can’t resist, and Captain Marvel breaks free of its control, and beats The Kree.
This film is surprising, considering it features as its hero, a minor character, that is known mainly to the comic buying public. Also that the timeline, has no heroes, until Captain Marvel’s appearance. Congratulations to all involved, for coming up with another good comic book movie. Even though the field is very crowded, the character will fit into it. Captain Marvel will be featured in The Avengers movie, in a few weeks, so moviegoers wont have to wait long to see the character.