HOLDING OUT FOR A HEROINE
ARVEL finally puts a female superhero front and centre in its first blockbuster to be co-directed by a woman.
While Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, Zoe Saldana’s Gamora and Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch have sometimes felt sidelined by the comic book giant in the decade since the success of Iron Man changed the landscape of modern cinema, Captain Marvel is finally given a chance to shine.
The wait is worth it, too. Brie Larson, who won an Oscar for 2015’s Room, takes on the title role in an origin story directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.
Set in 1995, with a toe-tapping soundtrack to match, the film follows US Air Force pilot Carol Danvers (Larson) on her journey to becoming one of the most powerful heroes in Marvel comics’ history.
The film sees Danvers unite with a younger Nick Fury (a de-aged Samuel L Jackson) – when he still has both eyes and is pushing paper as a low-ranking member of S.H.I.E.L .D – and a truly scene-stealing cat.
We meet Carol far from Earth, on an alien world ruled by a shape-shifting race known as The Kree, where she joins an elite military unit called Starforce.
Operating under Starforce’s leader Yon-Rogg
Having a blast: ( Jude Law), Carol hones her superhuman strength and fighting skills alongside Kree warriors Minn-Erva
(Gemma Chan) and Korath (Djimon Hounsou).
Carol’s time with the Kree, who are controlled by the Supreme Intelligence (Annette Bening), is cut short and she returns to 1995 Earth with fragmented memories of her past.
Nick Fury subsequently seeks Carol’s help to protect humanity from an invading race called the Skrull, led by Talos (Ben Mendelsohn).
If you’re a fan of the comics you will know this war is a legendary part of Marvel folklore, but don’t worry if you’re coming in blind.
The film’s s deft script, penned ned by Boden,
Fleck and
Skrull the conqueror: Geneva Robertson-Dworet, rattles along at a cracking pace and carries you along with enough references for the die-hard fans and pleasing gags for the newly initiated.
It also takes ta seriously the fac fact that this is Marvel’s Mar first film about ab a woman and a does not shy away from addressing the misogyny Danvers faces (a ( male pilot tells te her there is a reason it’s called a “cockpit”), regardless regardle of which planet she is on.
But it is also a celebration of friendship and endurance. The relationship between her and Air Force pal Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch) is touching and there is a montage about perseverance that has reduced grown women to tears.
While the film sets up the events that will unfold in
Avengers :
Endgame (due out in April), it is
Captain Marvel who is pitched to be the future of the film series, taking the place of founding members such as Iron Man
(Robert Downey
Jr), Thor (Chris
Hemsworth) and
Captain America
(Chris Evans).
Captain Marvel is the hero we need right now.
Review by Laura Harding.