Captain Marvel (2019) Review | A decent origin story sandwiched between Infinity War and Endgame.

On International Women’s Day 2019, Marvel Cinematic Universe finally introduced its first ever solo female superhero film. It took them 10 years to get this one. With release date coinciding with the International Women’s Day, Captain Marvel as a symbol not only serves as the savior of grief-stricken & beaten Avengers but as well as the world which needs its patriarchal society to diminish. Marvel tested their formula again by allocating an origin story to comparatively new director who have no prior experience in big budget movies. The duo Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck have directed some well known dramas such as Half Nelson, It’s A Kind Of Funny Story and Mississippi Grind before taking over the Marvel cap.

Captain Marvel is set in the year 1995- chronologically speaking, by that time the world had witnessed only one superhero – Captain America. Carol Denvers is introduced as a strong “noble warrior hero” of the Kree race. The Kree are supposedly one of the most technologically advanced and superior races. The Kree have been in war with the Skrull race for a long time. The Skrull race, as depicted is responsible for the mass-scale destruction of population across various galaxies. Jude Law as Yon-Regg leads the Kree strike groups against the Skrulls. With Kree’s agent deployed on various planets, they engage with Skrull on a regular basis. One such mission – to retrieve their agent from behind the enemy lines forms the plot of the movie.

The movie is fast-paced and jam-packed with action. Especially in the first act, there are two back-to-back action sequences – in space and on earth. That’s the beauty of such an extensively detailed universe which Marvel has created over a decade. Soon, things turn ugly for Vers (Captain Marvel) as she is haunted by the unclear and convoluted memories of her past. Over the course of the movie she takes it upon herself to unfold the mystery without deviating from the mission she has been assigned to. In times of danger and uncertainty, she evolves to question her existence and her allegiance.

In terms of visuals, fireworks and aesthetics- the movie is definitely a treat. Besides this, everyone loved the vibes of 1990s- the music and the era. It was pretty evident when Blockbuster Video store was highlighted upfront- now a distant memory. However, it was the fine chemistry between a young and two-eyed Nick Fury and Captain Marvel which serves as the most delightful part of the film. It was the subtle introduction, humor infused interaction and a nice road trip which kept the drama intact. Phil Coulson is depicted as the new kid in the team of Fury- without much of a value addition. The movie did justice to the Marvel’s humor and action formula but it failed to gain the depth as compared to the recent Marvel flicks. Captain Marvel’s character got a push from a talented and Oscar winner Brie Larson, but her connection to her past and her stories on earth felt shallow.

One issue which Captain Marvel brings in limelight is the ongoing refugee crisis in the Mid-East and North Africa. Most of the war-torn nations have seen flux of refugees crossing over to European countries. The opinions on their acceptance remains conflicting across nations. Captain Marvel highlights the importance of standing and defending the refugees even if it means going against one’s own state authorities to do the right thing.

Captain Marvel as an origin story may have done a decent job of introducing a superhero with her own story and powers, but at this point of time, when the viewers are more concerned about the events after Infinity War and how it works in Endgame, the movie definitely takes a hit. However, without a doubt, Captain Marvel is the most important pit-stop between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.