A standout in the MCU

Rating: 9/10 (24 April 2019)

One of the better standalone films by the studio. Being a prequel of sorts, it isn't constrained by the previous two dozen or so movies before it. It feels fresh, and a big part of it is because we've already seen many a crossovers and sequels with the same old characters. This seems like a return to form, Captain Marvel being one of the few well-crafted, self-contained stories. It can exist independently of the cinematic universe.
There is an interesting plot, with a tasteful twist. Even though a significant amount of the runtime is spent in space and in alien environments, the movie stays simple, and focused on its characters, their goals, and relationships to each other.
It also has a nice message, and for some reason that is a negative thing for a surprising amount of people. Nevertheless, Captain Marvel ranks high on the list of MCU movies in my opinion, in part because of the same heart and humor that made the audiences love Iron Man and Thor: Ragnarök.