Captain Marvel

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% (2019-03-06)

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. (2019-03-07)

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% (2019-03-08)

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. (2019-06-11)

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. (2019-03-08)