INTRODUCTION.
Dive into the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s next thrilling chapter with “The Marvels,” a 2023 superhero film produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Directed by Nia DaCosta, the movie is a sequel to Captain Marvel (2019) and follows the events of Ms. Marvel (2022). Starring Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau, and Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel, the film explores their intertwining destinies as they swap powers.
Development began in January 2020, with Megan McDonnell and Elissa Karasik contributing to the screenplay. The movie premiered on November 7, 2023, in Las Vegas and hit theatres on November 10 as part of Phase Five of the MCU.
WHAT IS THE MARVEL ABOUT? PLOT SUMMARY.
Nick Fury, now based on the S.A.B.E.R. space station, facilitates peace talks between the Kree and the Skrull empires due to the civil war that ignited due to the collapse of the Supreme Intelligence in Hala. Fury summons Carol Danvers and Monica Rambeau to examine a jump point anomaly near S.A.B.E.R. When Rambeau touches it, she, Danvers (Captain Marvel), and Kamala (A teenage human-mutant from Jersey City who idolizes Danvers) teleport to each other’s location. The swap drives the three to battle each other’s Kree opponents, destroying the Khans’ home in the process.
Fury and Rambeau visit Kamala on Earth while the three women return to their original locations. As Kamala enthusiastically displays her abilities, she changes places with Danvers.
When Danvers takes off, she swaps places with Kamala in mid-flight. The group hypothesizes that Danvers’, Rambeau’s, and Kamala’s light-based powers are connected by quantum entanglement and that they exchange places anytime they use them.
The three meet at a Skrull refugee camp on the planet Tarnax, where plans for resettlement have fallen through. Dar-Benn smashes open another jump point, siphoning Tarnax’s atmosphere into Hala. After a rapid evacuation of the colony, Danvers, Rambeau, and Kamala create a team known colloquially as “The Marvels” by Kamala; now, this team must work as a one and hone their abilities to stop Dar-Benn from intergalactic destruction.
MY THOUGHTS ON THE MARVELS.
I couldn’t bring myself to write a review after seeing this movie. I would not have seen this movie if not for peer pressure, as I did not enjoy the previous Captain Marvel (2019) film. I couldn’t even sit through it because it had too many flaws for an MCU movie. On the other hand, this one is even worse than the first Captain Marvel film. What in the name of God is Marvel Studios doing? Okay, I need to relax.
Let’s discuss some of the film’s key elements, shall we?
CHARACTER’S PERFORMANCE.
Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan have all been hugely enjoyable characters in their respective films and T.V. shows, so the prospect of a shared adventure for them sounded appealing. However, this was different. This is a jumble of narrative and visual elements. Brie Larson seemed disinterested and bored by the whole thing; I didn’t see someone committed to the role. Samuel Jackson was quite good, but the script once again underutilized him.
Kamala Khan, whose childlike naiveté made her the most relatable of the three leads, was the only one I cared about. In her debut feature film, Iman Vellani carries over many of Khan’s human traits from the Disney+ series “Ms. Marvel,” portraying a young hero grappling with mastering her powers.
CINEMATOGRAPHY AND VISUAL DESIGN.
There are some inspired moments, particularly in specific laugh-out-loud moments. However, the film is often constrained by a restrictive house style.
The once-exciting action-packed scenes now feel mundane, reduced to bland fistfights and generic CGI blasts seen before in better MCU films. The special effects vary in quality, with moments of brilliance overshadowed by others that fall short. A stronger focus on the plot could have balanced the excessive use of CGI, noise, and random events.
WRITING AND STORY.
The writing presents an apparent problem, needing more cohesion and feeling scattered. Significant portions of the film may have been cut, disrupting the flow. The script attempts to weave together three characters’ stories and connect them to other MCU properties, creating a sprawling saga. However, the attempt to juggle these elements results in a need for a cohesive narrative. The story oscillates between characters explaining things to each other and incomprehensible action sequences, leaving the audience disoriented. Despite its brevity at only about an hour and 45 minutes, the film struggles to establish emotional connections and stakes, making them feel forced and rushed.
With all these being said, there is no doubt this movie will disappoint in cinemas. BBC even has something to say about this.
FUN FACTS ABOUT THE MARVEL.
From IMDB, Lashana Lynch, who plays Monica Rambeau’s mother, is younger than Teyonah Parris, who plays her daughter.
CONCLUSION.
The Marvel is a superhero MCU film with a great cast. One thing about this film is that you need to be familiar with Carol, Monica, and Kamala’s previous movies and series, as well as “Secret Invasion” on Disney+.
The only few positives I can identify here are actresses Iman Vellani and Brie Larson (Larson, who seems much more relaxed and settled into her superhero boots) and the flashy action sequences. Otherwise, there’s nothing here to watch, nothing to experience, and nothing to enjoy.
The Marvels is rated PG-13 for action/violence and brief language and you can watch it in select cinemas near you.
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