top of page
Search

Captain Marvel's Best Bit

  • Writer: Jules Robinson
    Jules Robinson
  • Mar 15, 2019
  • 3 min read

Because everyone and their mother's have done their hottest of takes on the MCU's latest release, I thought I'd keep my opinions pretty succinct when it came to Captain Marvel.


*spoilers ahead*



I enjoyed the movie, thought the pacing was great and the action-to-talking scenes were of a perfect ratio. The moment I realised I was a firm fan, the moment I was fully 'in' it, when I had my fists balled, that 'hell yeah!' kind of moment, was at the finale. Oh and once again, spoilers spoilers spoilers because it's rare I ever talk about something actually current and in the cinema and this whole piece is based entirely on the ending. So Jude Law's Yon-Rogg (probably the most ironically ugly name for a good looking man) has been raising Brie Larson's Carol Denvers to be, essentially, a weapon. A tool for a militant alien race's forceful missions. Up until this point we have seen Yon-Rogg desperately try to stem Denvers' powers in what we THINK is an attempt to show her that control in combat is essential. Carol, being a human and also kind of a 'rules are a suggestion' kind of a gal, finds herself not only utilising her powers but strengthening them and, ultimately breaking free from the Kree's shackles (via an exploding microchip) and becoming a human fireball.



Denvers, now the fully embodied version of Captain Marvel that we all know and love, zips back to Earth to confront Yon-Rogg in what we assume to be the showdown. The bit where the pupil becomes the master, the bit where Jude Law nods his head and goes 'ah yes, you are ready now'. But what happens instead is that Denvers arrives and Yon-Rogg puts up his little alien fists and demands they fight like the good old days- without Carol using her powers. And now it all suddenly becomes obvious as to why. Yon-Rogg (and presumably the Kree too) have been scared of her. This whole time. They're bloody shitting themselves at the thought of her hot-fisted moves. Cap. Marv. then swiftly catapults Jude Law's ass across the landscape and into a rock. THWAP. She then makes her way towards his scrambling body and out comes my favourite line from the whole movie: "I have nothing to prove to you."


You see? You see the exceptional metaphor? Sometimes all of this film analysis and criticsm and study seems a bit 'much' and maybe we're all reading into movies too much and maybe the director didn't really mean that. But then something like this comes along, this little joyous message wrapped in a special pink envelope addressed just me and I think 'Yes. I get it now. I get film'. Because of course Yon-Rogg is scared of Carol Denvers and what do men do when they're intimidated by women? They set up bizarre parameters, they set unrealistic standards, they deny them their freedom of choice, they gaslight, they abuse. What happens when someone not masculine-presenting states that they are a fan of something typically known for it's nerd fandom? They have to somehow PROVE themselves worthy of calling themselves a 'fan'. Just like in -oh I don't know- comic book culture? The writers of Captain Marvel knew exactly what they were doing in setting up Yon-Rogg's restrictive behaviour and having Carol Denvers, having finally realised her full potential, decide to not buy into his manipulation and posturing any more. And all I have to say is bravo for one hell of a metaphor. And bravo to people like Anna Boden.



 

Comments

© 2023 By Remi Foster. Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page