Want to hear more from the actors and creators of your favorite shows and films? Subscribe to The Cinema Spot on YouTube for all of our upcoming interviews!
A life long cinephile from the Bay Area in Northern California. Aside from having written for various outlets since 2019, I've been podcasting since 2020.
(Currently Co-Hosting the Geekly Goods Roundup)
When I'm not indulged in a ridiculous amount of media consumption or losing track of days on my Nintendo Switch, I can be found at concerts or playing basketball.
Nia DaCosta’s The Marvels is a historically controversial film for ridiculous and unfortunate reasons. Even before its very release, it had a steep mountain to climb in terms of acceptance from fans and the overall attitude towards the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole. After 33 feature films and 7 TV shows, The Marvels does have a lot to prove. Although not groundbreakingly unique, the follow-up to the original Captain Marvel film is an enjoyable and light-hearted adventure that captures the fun spirit of previous Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) entries whilst celebrating the talented and charismatic stars that lead the story.
Shining Stars
Acclaimed director Nia DaCosta deftly introduces our two new leading ladies in impressive fashion. She presents them both with just enough backstory and setting to establish who they are. This way people can enjoy themselves without feeling the need to watch Ms. Marvel or Wandavision. Fans of these characters of course can visit those shows if they would like to.
Teyonah Parris shows off her range in portraying the steady, battle-hardened Captain Monica Rambeau. Monica is the daughter of Maria Rambeau, who was Carol Danvers’ best friend before she got bestowed with the powers that made her Captain Marvel. The beauty of her performance is we see her become that adorable little girl from the first film in key emotional moments. There is a lot to unpack between Monica and Carol, and although the film could have benefitted from more, what we got was well-acted and impactful.
Stealing The Spotlight
(Laura Radford/Disney-Marvel Studios via AP)
Iman Vellani’s introduction as Kamala Khan is absolutely perfect. Khan is equal parts loveable little sister and earnest, big heart hero. Her growth as a character and as a hero echoes the awkward, exciting journey of Peter Parker. Yet, The Marvels still showcases the amazing uniqueness of her personality and the effect of growing up in a superpowered world. She idolizes Captain Marvel the same way ‘Swifties’ sell out theaters to watch Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert on the big screen. It’s something we can all relate to and let’s be honest: we all have something. Nia DaCosta perfectly captured the spirit of the show in Kamala’s first few minutes on screen. She wisely let the best parts of that series shine in her film. One of which is Kamala’s loving family portrayed by Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, & Saagar Shaikh respectively.
Another Kree to Bite The Dust
Zawe Ashton has some strong emotional moments but unfortunately joins a long list of formulaic MCU villains. I love Dar-Benn’s motivations to seek revenge against Captain Marvel for putting her home planet on the edge of death. However, her plot schemes and overall demeanor are far too reminiscent of Ronan The Accuser from Guardians of The Galaxy. We needed more of a performance like Cate Blanchett’s Hela in Thor: Ragnarok.
Storywise, the film left a lot to be desired. On one hand, it’s because of the weaker villain, but it’s also in due part to the Kree-Skrull war that comes with it. The Marvels is at its best when it lets the three women take center stage, and every time they do, it is an absolute blast.
The Future is Bright
Admittedly, Captain Marvel’s first 2019 film is a lot better than I ever gave it credit for. Brie Larson’s chemistry with Samuel L. Jackson was superb and that is on full display here once again. Brie also showed the more vulnerable side of the all-powerful Captain Marvel with some tender moments, but ultimately her character plays a lot better within a group.
With that being said and without spoiling, there are some truly exciting cameos and developments for the future of the MCU. The post-credits scene is one of the very best in a long time and I nearly jumped out of my seat. Fans of the MCU should rejoice and prepare. There is a huge wave of awesome coming and The Marvels is the first true step towards it.
A life long cinephile from the Bay Area in Northern California. Aside from having written for various outlets since 2019, I've been podcasting since 2020.
(Currently Co-Hosting the Geekly Goods Roundup)
When I'm not indulged in a ridiculous amount of media consumption or losing track of days on my Nintendo Switch, I can be found at concerts or playing basketball.
This article was edited by John Tangalin.