CAPTAIN MARVEL

SYNOPSIS:
Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) becomes one of the universe's most powerful heroes when the Earth is caught up in a galactic war between two alien races.

Review by Louise Keller:
A new kick-ass heroine, a cat called Goose and Samuel L. Jackson as a young Nick Fury are the best things about this spectacular action-packed adventure from the Marvel cinematic universe. If emotion is the most dangerous attribute for a warrior, Brie Larson's Captain Marvel is dangerous indeed, and here she stands tall as Marvel's first female fully fledged heroine, a bold warrior who struggles with her emotions and is working on controlling her impulses. Propelled by its relentless score, the film is a high energy trip on a backdrop of special effects. There are also splatterings of humour and a beautiful colour palette.

The plot involves an interplanetary conflict between the Skrull and the Kree, which brings the characters to the planet known as C-53 - or Earth. Watch for the scene when Larson's Vers crashes through the roof of Blockbuster Video. But the film is essentially a journey of discovery for its heroine, who is trying to piece together the secrets from the jigsaw from her forgotten past. Jude Law plays a Kree training commander, Annette Bening is a mysterious mentor in the Top Gun mould and Jackson a wonderfully digitized 'youngered' Fury from Shield. Ben Mendelsohn makes a splendid Skulls shapeshifter, who can take on any form of anyone he sees. Yes, it's derivative, but hey, it's Marvel!

It's been 4 years since Larson won the Oscar for Lenny Abrahamson's thriller, Room. Captain Marvel may not bring another golden Oscar to her mantlepiece, but is guaranteed to bring her to the attention of a hoard of Marvel fans and splashes of cash.