Marvel Studios' CAPTAIN MARVEL Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) Photo: Chuck Zlotnick ©Marvel Studios 2019
For those looking to see a film of female empowerment, “Captain Marvel” (2019) is the movie to see. “Captain Marvel” released on March 8 celebrated National Women’s Day in the United States, inspiring girls and women all around the world.
“Captain Marvel” plays a supporting role in the Avengers’ universe. The Avengers’ is a team of Marvel superheroes that deafeat threats to planet Earth.
Captain Marvel, played by Brie Larson, is an extraterrestrial warrior with special powers who was taught to fight by Yon-Rogg, her trainer, to control her emotions from getting in the way of her fighting abilities. She later meets Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), the recruiter of the Avengers, who helps her uncover the secrets of her past and how she obtained her super powers.
There has been a major debate over how critics rated this movie. Feminists were overjoyed about the appearance of the first female lead in a Marvel film. Others reacted differently because they are used to seeing male superheroes. Captain Marvel proves she is just as strong or stronger than those male heroes.
Zachary Boyer, freshman biomedical sciences major at California Baptist University, said he saw the film and enjoyed it because it was entertaining and humorous.
“I feel that it was a good move by Marvel to make a superhero movie with a female lead. Other than Wonder Woman, we do not see very many, if any, female superheroes, and it is not often that we see one get her own movie,” Boyer said.
Joshua Lomeli, sophomore marketing major, attended the movie theater to see “Captain Marvel” on the premiere night.
“The movie was a prequel so it’s not like they just decided to add a female superhero into the (Marvel Cinematic Universe) to create diversity. If anything, it just puts another piece of the puzzle into place for the storyline,” Lomeli said.
Lomeli said he was not biased going into the movie. He wanted to see the movie because it was part of the Avengers series.
“I was familiar with some of the controversy the film created, but I didn’t go into the theater with the idea that the film would be full of feminist or female empowerment aspects. She just happened to be a female superhero,” Lomeli said.
Rachel Meenan, adjunct professor in the school of English, said she enjoyed “Captain Marvel” because she stood up to anyone whether they were male or female and fought them equally.
“I liked her attitude about stuff. She’s a super-strong woman but she still has a breakdown because of her past,” Meenan said.
Meenan said Captain Marvel was still portrayed as a woman with genuine feelings, but her emotional side didn’t make her weak — it only made her stronger.
“Critics feel threatened by female empowerment. They should evaluate themselves first instead of judging others,” Meenan said.
Captain Marvel has really brought out female empowerment and inspired many women. Young girls now have a strong female superhero to look up to. Captain Marvel will continue to screen in “Avengers: End Game,” which premieres April 26.
