Posted by It has been over a week since the release of Marvel Studio’s Captain Marvel and by now, you have probably come across the news about its financial and critical success. During the opening the weekend, it earned over $100 million and continues to rack up both domestically and worldwide, while having a fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes at 79% for critics, and 62% for audiences. Hopefully, you have had the opportunity to see the film because this post is getting directly into the depth it all in this spoiler analysis! And as you can guess, this post contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Captain Marvel, so, reader’s discretion is advised.
Krees vs. Skrulls: Whose Side Are You On?
One of the major plot twists in the entire film is something that was not to be expected. In the trailer, viewers get the general idea that an alien race known as Skrulls have infiltrated earth and that Captain Marvel is hunting them down. Towards the halfway point of the film, it is revealed that the Krees who are the real threat in the end and the Skrulls are simply looking for a new home due to the war and submission to their oppressors. What was expected to be a simple good guy vs. bad guys story, became a turning point for Captain Marvel. This plot point is highly significant not just because it is a major plot twist, but because it is one that has not been seen since Captain America: Winter Soldier (2014), at least in my opinion. Throughout the first half of the film, the audience is completely on the side of the Krees, and likely so since our hero is on their side. This whole theme can play a significant role in today’s society regarding immigration, racial stereotyping, and history is written by the victor. Even just by a first glance at the Skrulls, one would simply think that they were bad while the human-looking characters are quickly seen as the good guys.
This article is in no way a political post, but simply pointing out the depth of the film and how it is woven into our own lives as a whole. Also, considering that certain comic book characters and story-arcs are created due to the inspiration of our own history and current events, it seems fitting for film adaptations to do the same.
Captain Marvel: The MCU’s First Female Hero
The moment I heard that Brie Larson was to portray Captain Marvel, I was completely all for it, having been a fan of her films and acting for some time. I honestly enjoyed her take on Captain Marvel, as her focus – in the first half of the film – was proving herself in controlling her powers and completing the rescue mission. Even when she falls into captivity by the Skrulls and crash lands on earth, her mindset in being mission-oriented was honestly something new to see with heroes when they don’t recognize their surroundings. On that topic, seeing her character pursue and work hard toward her goals was, once again, another achievement in MCU films. Even in the flashbacks of her as a child and in the military was fascinating as she constantly pushed through despite the put-downs and fall shorts from those against her. As mentioned earlier, the parallels between Captain Marvel and Captain America are striking as they resemble the underdogs becoming the heroes in the end as they bring heart and will than just brute strength. While I was not sure how Marvel would handle their first female solo film, I had faith knowing they would learn from other filmmakers’ mistakes regarding former female superhero films (I’m looking at you, Catwoman and Elektra).
S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Founding of the Avengers Program
As a comic book fan, nothing pleases me more than seeing the portrayal of humanity’s response to outside powerful forces. While this film is in no way cosmic horror based, it does bring out the fear of the cosmos in us. If there is another force out there that is more powerful, how significant are we in the grand scheme of the universe? Rhetorical question: We’re not, and that’s the point.
In the MCU and even in the DCEU, humanity comes up with responses and programs in case any greater threat arises, and likely so. That being said, there was honestly hope for more. During the dissection of the deceased Skrull in the lab, the responses between Agent Coulson and Fury were anything but captivating. It almost came off as if they had seen a dead alien before. Granted, they may have seen something – working for the government and all – but not on the scale of an alien being human height and size, let alone a shape-shifter. Later in the film, however, as Fury teams up with Captain Marvel, there is a makeup for it as they constantly hide and battle the Skrulls on the military base, questioning quickly who is who. And while we are on the topic on Nick Fury, there is a major disappointment in the film that overall did not sit well with me and yes, that is–.
Nick Fury’s Eye Loss: Comedy Over Depth
One of if not the major difficulty I have had with the MCU after the first phase was how they handled in-depth, serious moments and tones. In many scenes and encounters, moments that had significance behind them were quickly overlooked as a comedic moment came in right afterward for no other reason other than a laugh from the audience. Examples:
- Stark and Rhodey’s conversation toward the end of the film being interrupted by Stan Lee’s “Tony Stank” cameo.
- Quil and Gamora’s conversation about death and Thanos being interrupted by Drax’s “invisibility” moment.
- Doctor Strange putting on the uniform and cape before the magical cape playfully dabs at his facial wounds.
- Quil’s dance-off with Rhonan as a “distraction” (Do NOT get me started on that!)
- Ego’s harsh choice of words to Quil until shape-shifting into David Hasselhoff.
And so on and so forth. This is not to say that everything has to be serious as if it were Batman v. Superman (2016), absolutely not. There are many great comedic moments in the MCU films, but there are also many that are misplaced in certain scenes that takeaway consequential and foreshadowing moments. None of these compare to the “big” reveal of Nick Fury’s eye loss. The reason itself is actually more than the cat scratching and scarring his eye, but how it destroyed the built up and depth behind it. In order to understand that, here’s some context.
In Captain America: Winter Soldier (2014), Rogers has a serious talk with Director Fury – without comedic interruption – regarding Project Insight after coming back from a mission. Their exchange of dialogue can be found below.
Rogers: You just can’t stop yourself from lying, can’t you?
Fury: I didn’t lie. Agent Romanov had a different mission than yours.
Rogers: Which you didn’t feel obliged to share.
Fury: I am not obliged to do anything.
Rogers: Those hostages could have died, Nick.
Fury: I sent the greatest soldier in history to make sure that didn’t happen.
Rogers: Soldiers trust each other, that’s what makes it an army, not a bunch of guys running around, shooting guns.
Fury: Last time I trusted someone, I lost an eye. Look, I didn’t want you doing anything you weren’t comfortable with. Agent Romanov is comfortable with everything.
Rogers: I can’t do the mission when the people I’m leading have missions of their own.
Fury: It’s called compartmentalization. Nobody spills the secrets because nobody knows them all.
Rogers: Except you.
I added this large amount of dialogue because it is absolutely important to the topic…also, it’s one of my favorites in the MCU. This scene as a whole is the backbone of the entire film let alone the set up of Age of Ultron. This scene foreshadows H.Y.D.R.A. having plans of its own within S.H.I.E.L.D. and the double agent backstabbing between minor and major characters. The context of this scene is soldiers trusting each other, while also leading to never letting their guard down, even with the people they trust the most on the battlefield. This whole scene in itself allows audiences to question Fury’s mysterious past regarding the loss of his eye and what it cost him. What audiences get instead is yet, another laughable comedic moment that throws seriousness and depth out the window as the cat scratches Nick’s eye. Talk about a major let down let alone a disservice to the Russo Brother’s work. This specific moment did not have any place within the Captain Marvel film to significantly further serve the plot and answer audiences questions. Horribly written honestly.
As entertainment, the film was good for a solid amount. Some pacing here and there was rather difficult to sit through but picked up very well later on. Whether or not a film is good or bad, there is always something one can pull from whether that is directly related to the story, or the in-depth philosophy behind it all, especially comic book films. What did you think of Captain Marvel? Any major plot points that could have been expanded on? Let us know!
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