An enjoyable origin story and a well-suited lead in to Avengers: Endgame

Rating: 8/10 (7 March 2019)

Captain Marvel is the twenty-first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the ninth film in Phase 3. Starring Brie Larson in the title role, it is an enjoyable origin story and a well-suited lead in to Avengers: Endgame.
In 1995, Vers (Brie Larson), a powerful warrior for the Kree Empire, is suffering from nightmarish visions while training to take down the shapeshifting alien species known as the Skrulls, for which the Kree are at war with. During a later conflict, Vers is taken prisoner by the Skrulls but manages to escape to Earth with them in hot pursuit. Upon crashing into a Blockbuster Video, Vers attracts the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg), who question her about the reason why she has come to Earth in the first place.
With solid action and special effects, Captain Marvel is up to the usual standard of Marvel origin stories and once again continues to run with this winning formula. The fun 90s aesthetic is often played for laughs, such as the fashion, music, and technology of the time, and depending on the generation watching this film, it will either make you laugh or cringe. What stood out the most to me though was the impressive de-ageing of Samuel L. Jackson as the younger Nick Fury. One would swear that the filmmakers used a time machine to bring the young Jackson back with them just for this movie alone. In addition to this, Jackson has great on-screen chemistry with Brie Larson, who does a fine job playing the titular new addition to the MCU cast, even if her character's traits feel somewhat like a retread of the previous cocky-turned-humble heroes (e.g. Tony Stark, Thor). Thankfully, the film does show her in moments of weakness to prove she is not too overpowered and has noticeable flaws like the rest. In spite of all this, I am still not entirely sold on her being the new face of the MCU, as I feel that she still needs time to properly prove herself alongside the other Avengers. As is always the case, be sure to stay after the credits for two bonus scenes, one of which is heavily related to Avengers: Endgame.
I rate it 7.5/10