While it has some imperfections in exposition, Captain Marvel has some fresh twists to the superhero tropes and is consistently exciting, amusing, and visually pleasing

Rating: 7/10 (17 April 2019)

Captain Marvel brings the standard MCU origin story solid visuals, action, and straightforward character arc but subverts some expectations in fresh ways. The technical elements of sound, action, and visuals are all very good and give a baseline of enjoyability throughout. Brie Larson is just as good as one would expect and hope - the script could've given her more depth and dimensions early on, but she does a great job with what she's given and brings energy and intensity with occasional humor that fits perfectly. I loved the plot developments with the Kree and Skrull, in forcing us to rethink our initial biases towards a group and instinctively seeing the group we associate with as better or more moral. Neither side is propped up as perfect or horrible, and their cultures are given depth that adds considerably to the themes of the film. The de-aging technology is remarkable, and Samuel L Jackson is pleasant as always in a fittingly lighter performance as this is before the stressful actions to come. Some of the closing themes felt a bit on the nose and rote, in how being human is an advantage because you pick yourself up and so on. I also found the explanation for the powers the core gave her to be completely lacking. First, as an ordinary person how could she absorb all that power and be fine? Also, how does it give her the powers it does - how could that energy transfusion make her fly freely, for example? The final action scenes felt absurd and exaggerated as she was unstoppable and had innumerable abilities. The explanations leading up to that (especially with the Kree installing a chip that both suppresses her core power and gives her their powers, which in conjunction with their memory wipe leads her to accept them) were spot on and satisfying. It's a really strong origin movie led by smart plot developments, a strong lead performance from Larson, and good peripherals. I'd say it's my #4 MCU movie, after Black Panther, Infinity War, and Winter Soldier and just ahead of Guardians and Civil War. Long live Goose!