Captain Marvel Is A Refreshingly Different Addition To The MCU






A few days late but well worth the wait.

Captain Marvel has been teased for the better part of a year now, and Marvel fans have been wondering how the Cinematic Universe version of the comic book heroine would be presented.

She’s presented in a refreshingly different way.

I’ll do my best here not to reveal spoilers for those who have not had the chance to see the movie yet, but I do want to touch on some key points that made this new addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe stand out, for me.

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility!

We know the line. It’s something that all comic book heroes struggle with. Many are given their powers suddenly and have to learn how to use them properly (e.g. Spiderman, Captain America, Scarlet Witch, etc...) 
With Captain Marvel we are spared a lot of that learning montage. We’re introduced to a kick-ass hero in her own right. Yes, she has her own issues to struggle with, but she is introduced to us in a ready to fight stage of her character growth. This I think is a very important thing for a standalone heroine film. It allows us to accept her for what she is and enjoy the ride.
That is not to say that this movie, being an origin story, does not show us how she got to be the all-powerful superheroine she is. It does, but where it begins engages the audience with a woman who has power, ambition, and is comfortable in her own skin.

Whodunit?

Another element of this particular addition to the Cinematic Universe I really enjoyed is the way misdirection was employed. We’re presented with many different angles and viewpoints that keep the audience guessing on who the big bad of the story really is. Unlike other Marvel Cinematic Universe offerings, there is no Thanos, Red Skull, Vulture, Dormamu, etc…
This lack of a clear concrete villain adds an extra layer of interest to Captain Marvel’s story, and keeps the audience engaged through the film.

Reverse Buddy Cop

Probably my favorite aspect of this installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films was the buddy cop partnering of Captain Marvel and Nick Fury. Though even that came with a twist. It’s been teased in the trailers so this is not a spoiler. Captain Marvel is portrayed as a very straight woman type of character. Extremely capable if not a bit in over her head. A role usually employed by the older partner in the buddy cop formula. It’s Nick Fury, the middle-aged Military retiree turn Shield agent who brings the wide-eyed, “what the hell did I get myself into,” comedy to the situation. Their chemistry really worked for me in this movie.

The movie has a lot working for it. It was thoroughly enjoyable to watch. And definitely deserving of a 4/5 stars from me.

Why I didn’t give it a full five stars?

Well, as with many comic book movies that do an excellent job to build up act one and two, by the time we get to act three it feels like a rush to the finish with some less than believable moments. The final battle sees Captain Marvel come into her own 100% and she is stunning, but a bit too overpowered. I lost the ability to suspend belief in a few scenes, and that really pulled me out of the story. Her reason for leaving earth, I know a reason needed to be given so that we can understand why Captain Marvel does not return to the Avengers until Endgame, also felt a little shallow and thrown in at the last minute.

The mid-credit scene is a wonderful teaser for Endgame, so if you have not seen it yet, definitely sit through those credits. You’ll be super excited.

Some honorable mentions.


Goose! They really went too far with the cat, but it’s a cat and we love cats so it’s forgivable. Nick Fury and the cat were ridiculously adorable. I mean seriously. I giggled every time those two were together.

Talos (Ben Mendelsohn). He nailed that role 100% I want to watch a movie all about Talos now. I just adored his character. His quips. His facial expressions. He had such great presence in this movie! Bravo!



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About The Author

Katie Salidas is a USA Today bestselling author and RONE award winner known for her unique genre-blending style.

Since 2010 she's penned five bestselling book series: the Immortalis, Olde Town Pack, Little Werewolf, Chronicles of the Uprising, and the all-new Agents of A.S.S.E.T. series. As her not-so-secret alter ego, Rozlyn Sparks, she is a USA Today bestselling author of romance with a naughty side.

In her spare time Katie also produces and hosts a YouTube talk show; Spilling Ink. She also has a regular column on First Comics News where she explores writing from a nerdy perspective.