The Marvels
I'm a little late to the party, but better late than never. After watching The Marvels for a third time, this is a solid 7/10 movie. This is a significant achievement for an MCU project in this day and age. Is it the best movie they've released? No. Have I seen this movie before? Yes. If that sounds too harsh, I apologize. I'm writing this with love. But what I think differs about The Marvels is that it's fun, fresh, and, at times, campy. Unlike recent entries, this movie didn't overtly strive to escalate the tension or present a grandiose spectacle for opening night. Especially considering how short this movie is, you don't notice it because the story picks up immediately and you dive right in. Something that stood out to me was the relationship between our main characters. We rarely see MCU superheroes with this much charisma and just downright goofiness. Every second they shared the screen was enjoyable, and if you haven't watched Ms. Marvel, you'll instantly fall in love with Iman Vellani's character. Brie Larson and Sam Jackson shined again, as usual. All I'd say is that Teyonah Parris's character needed more development. Fans know who she is, but the general audience might not. This brings me to my second concern: the story and plot. I've said this before, but the MCU desperately needs to find new and exciting ways to tell stories and engage with the fans. Regrettably, it's becoming routine to already know the plot, how it ends, and what the post-credit scene will entail. In a way, it's disheartening to witness the gradual decline of what was once a formidable movie studio. The MCU's saga aimed to transform the perception and production of superhero movies. Never before have we seen so many POC and female characters at the forefront of a major franchise, and I believe the MCU is failing in this regard. For instance, the underutilization of the villain is a common occurrence in almost every MCU project. There is so much wasted potential on a character; sadly, this isn't the last time we'll see one. The cinematography was pretty decent, as some shots stood out and others not so much. I'll say this: I've become a fan of Nia DaCosta, and I'll be the first in line to see her next project on opening night. As I always say, check the movie out for yourselves.