Is the Marvel Cinematic Universe in crisis? In 2023, the franchise has shown itself at its best (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) and at its worst (Secret Invasion). A certain tiredness towards new projects cannot be denied. There is particularly great skepticism towards The Marvels, for which there is a whole Mountain of Marvel homework is necessary to understand the story.
The film started out as a simple sequel to Captain Marvel. However, since the first trailer it has been clear that in addition to Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), there are two Characters from the Marvel series Important on Disney+: Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) from Ms. Marvel and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) from WandaVision. After seeing the film, however, I can give the all-clear. There are at least two scenes that will completely surprise you.
New MCU blockbuster: The Marvels feels like flipping through the pages of a comic book crossover
Yes, the film is about a mysterious object that previously played a crucial role in a series. Krees and Skrulls fight each other. And trauma from the past should not be missing. The Marvels However, he doesn’t stay at any of the stations long enough, than these mythology cuts become important. Rather, the film follows the tradition of an exuberant comic crossover.
You can watch the trailer for The Marvels here:
The Marvels – Trailer (German) HD
The Marvels has a lightness like hardly any other MCU film. If Carol, Kamala and Monica catapulted from one sci-fi world to the next the film feels like flipping through the pages of a comic book. Often we only get small excerpts from a much larger story in a single issue. But that’s enough to immerse yourself in the world of images.
If you don’t let the MCU shadow put you off, The Marvels comes with a similarly enjoyable non-committalness that is only overridden when it comes to the three main characters. Carol, Kamala and Monica make up the heartbeat of the film. The Marvels actually just wants to find out how the three estranged women become friends, and makes several absurd stops along the way.
The first highlight scene in The Marvels: An alien planet where the locals only sing
Director Nia DaCosta, who co-wrote the screenplay with Megan McDonnell and Elissa Karasik, knows exactly what the emotional center of the film is. She doesn’t worry about visiting a planet where the locals live communicate only through singing can, makes sense. The creatives even go a step further than the Guardians of the Galaxy films in their weirdest moments, diving into the strange place unafraid of any cringe feeling.
Disney
Welcome to a world full of singing!
Somewhere hidden here is the MCU equivalent of films like Barbarella and Flash Gordon, which are often ridiculed and viewed from a trashy perspective. But what sets these films apart is this pure enthusiasmwith which they lose themselves in impressively decorated sets and strange ideas – freed from the work of persuasion that many other sci-fi and fantasy films meticulously try to do.
When The Marvels arrive in the singing world of Aladna, you definitely feel a piece of that spirit. For a franchise that has become increasingly samey in recent years, The Marvels leans pleasingly carefree in the bizarre. The only omission: the film resolves the conflict that is building up there with a big action scene instead of breaking out into a musical with choreo and everything.
Be careful, follow it spoiler!
The second highlight scene in The Marvels: tentacle monster cats, slow motion and a musical classic
Shortly before the end, DaCosta and Co. finally admit that deep inside this entertaining MCU blockbuster a musical is slumbering. When Nick Fury’s (Samuel L. Jackson) SABER space station is evacuated, the entire cast has to be devoured by the monster tentacle cats – the so-called Flerken – before they are later spat out safely on Earth.
Disney
The cute Flerken in The Marvels
Since no one likes to be surrounded by a slimy mass, the plan meets with resistance from the crew. Only a single song in all dimensions of the multiverse is able to hold the following sequence together: Memory from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s idiosyncratic musical classic Cats. As one SABER member after another is devoured, Barbra Streisand’s voice enters.
If you thought slow-motion action scenes set to counterpointed music with Quicksilver were at their peak in X-Men: Days of Future Past, you should definitely take a look at The Marvels. The Cats sequence is a whole lot more over-the-top. The MCU would like to have more of this wonderful mix of comic energy and pop culture in the future. Deadpool 3, it’s your turn!
The Marvels has been running ever since November 8, 2023 in German cinemas.
The Marvels on the FILMSTARTS podcast
Our colleagues from FILMSTARTS have looked at the 33rd MCU film for the new edition of their podcast Canvas Love and are discussing not only what the film does better than its predecessor Captain Marvel, but also what big changes its end could herald in the MCU .
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