Captain Marvel (2019)

I've tried to walk into this movie with no prejudices. If you read this review years later, no memory will probably be left of the 'controversy' surrounding it, and that like a lot of internet-based controversies did not tip the balance a single bit, with the movie being a smashing box office hit. So, the movie starts off with a well done if a bit generic sci-fi setting, and then delves into Earth, 1995. Nostalgia factor, yay. Chemistry between Brie Larson and Sam Jackson is palpable, and the special effect used to 'rejuvenate' the old man have been pretty much a great success. The movie visually is good (again, even if feeling a bit uninspired in design) and in true Marvel style it keeps a levity all across the spectrum that makes it an easy watch.

Two things were a bit of a problem to me: the first is integral to the whole MCU especially as of late, and that's the forced humor. It really feels like they have to shoehorn in some joke every few 'action' and 'character' moments, to get a bit of a giggle that releases good endorphines to the audience. I really could have done without the "growling back at the Skrull" bit or "Your A$$" moment, and others that luckily were not bad enough to be cringy.

But the biggest 'joke' that makes me honestly puzzled about the movie and the new frontiers of storytelling, brings me to my second point. So, the main character here starts more powerful than any other Kree. She does not understand why she should learn to fight without relying on her power, and in fact 'cheats' using it during her sparring. In fact, at the end of the movie, the mere concept of a 'fair fight' is ridiculed as the pathetically outgunned former mentor uses it to try to bring the newly aware Carol down to his level, and gets blasted away like the pathetic wimp he is.
The traditional moral compass is here as the instrument of those who were deceiving Carol and keeping her down. To their own level. But Carol is secretly better than them. And so Carol in the climax goes on what's well, a murderous rampage, destroying singlehandedly to pop tunes the whole army and fleet (filled with Kree men and women, but they are movie Nazi-like pawns after all), complete with jubilant screams. In other words, the most testosterone-filled display of power imaginable. It's funny, because by any conventional rule of storytelling, Carol's arc would eventually be one of a villain, someone who uses an absolute crushing power with exhilaration and no boundaries.

However, and here I do have to address something that goes beyond the pure filmic content, I have seen and spoken with a great number of women who really were thrilled and inspired by this movie. Exactly because of its message I don't quite understand. Exactly because sometimes we just need a big show of power even with questionable morals at its foundation. So, well, no mansplaining on my part on why women should not enjoy what is so frigging awesome (I really ....do not qualify!). I kept the ranking relatively low due to my fundamental disengagement from the character towards the end and several other minor qualms I have with the writing in general, but overall very watchable as an action flick, with an old style hero of crushing strenght and overwhelming power that you can see in an unironic way these days only as female empowerement character. For some reason.

Sammo ★