Looking Deeper Into Captain Marvel

Captain Marvel was what you would expect – full of fun, excitement, and ladies kicking ass. I enjoyed the story line, even with the changes that were made from the comics. There are some great underlining messages in this movie; collaboration, equality, change, and prejudice.

Mar-Vell Changed

Marvel made a big change from the comics; Mar-Vell is a woman versus a man in the comics. It felt like they integrated two of Carol’s mentors – Mar-Vell and Helen Cobb. Mar-Vell is the one who gave Carol her powers, and taught her how to use them, and Helen Cobb was a big influence for Carol in her Air Force career. There’s a reason there are so many comics. There are tons of universes and stories for each character, and they more often mesh together to create new universes. This was a great way to combine Carol’s history and honor both of her mentors.

Collaboration is a big theme in Captain Marvel

I’ve been hearing a lot about Brie Larson’s acting stating it was sub-par; that the movie had to have so many scenes with other strong actors to help make the dialogue and acting stronger. I believe there’s a huge point being missed. Collaboration and teamwork is stronger than doing it alone. Carol could have gone on her journey alone, but she didn’t have to. She didn’t get along with her biological family, and she found her true family along the way. That made her stronger than trying to be on her own. I feel people were so focused on technical acting techniques rather than seeing the importance of their collaboration, especially in regards to how the Carol/Fury team up truly is the beginning of the Avengers Initiative. Honestly, it’s Samuel L. Jackson. He is f*ing amazing. I think if you try to compare anyone’s acting to his, they will fall flat. Going to use this phrase – comparison is the thief of joy. Stop comparing acting techniques and enjoy the collaborations between brilliant actors. Captain Marvel was a great example of we are stronger together.

Equality

Along with collaboration, we see equality throughout the film. This speaks volumes about what the movie was trying to do. Not one person was more important than the next. One character was not more important than the other amazing characters that are so key to this story. Carol is amazing yes, but so are Fury and Maria. Fury is the one who brought the Avengers together to protect the world, and Maria is one hell of a pilot who is such a big part of Carol’s life. Carol wouldn’t have been the hero she is without Maria’s encouragement and support, and that is crucial to any great story. Just like Steve Rogers needed Bucky, Carol needs Maria.

Through Carol’s flashbacks, she remembers being constantly told she is a woman and cannot do what the men were doing. She was berated time and again for just being herself. I feel like we are not at a point in our culture where we can stop pointing out toxic masculinity. Until it is completely gone, we need to continue to call it what it is and correct bad behavior.

Prejudice

Things aren’t always what they seem, and I loved how the directors and writers captured this. As a culture, we are so quick to judge based off of prejudices that we were told, based on information that has been passed down. We don’t question it, we just say “OK” and perpetuate the prejudice. Carol thought the Skrulls were bad – which might have been true for some of the Skrulls. That shouldn’t define all Skrulls. Each individual decides their own fate and creates their own story. We should have empathy to understand the context of the unique stories before we rush to conclusions.

Captain Marvel shows us change

When we first meet Carol as Vers, she has spent the last 6 years as a Kree Warrior. Yon-Rogg has repeatedly told her to control her emotions. All she knows is fighting and not to become attached to anything. Every time she loses her temper she has to go meet with (supreme leader name here). It’s not until she understands that she is human, and that we use our emotions to guide us, does she unlock her full potential. She was able to change and adapt to become the strong hero when she used her emotions.

Everyone will have their own opinion and interpretation of the Captain Marvel movie. For me, it was a wonderful portrait of a character who embodies strength and tenacity. That is such a key importance for comics. It gives us people in which we can relate. Carol faced so much adversity and found strength within herself to overcome. She surrounded herself with others who were her allies and encouragement. She used her depths in emotions to make her stronger. Through her friends, she found her home and identity. I hope that everyone can find empowerment through Carol’s story.