The Marvels is a rollicking sci-fi adventure that defies MCU fatigue with some wacky ideas. There are two scenes in particular that you’ll never forget
Is the Marvel Cinematic Universe in crisis? 2023 has seen the franchise at its best (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) and at its worst (Secret Invasion).There’s no denying a certain fatigue towards new projects. There is particularly great skepticism towardsThe Marvels, for which a wholemountain of Marvel homeworkis necessary to understand the story.
The movie started out as a simple sequel to Captain Marvel. Since the first trailer, however, it has been clear that two characters from the Marvel series are important at Disney+ alongside Carol Danvers (Brie Larson): Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) from Ms. Marvel and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) from WandaVision. After seeing the movie, though, 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 movie is about a mysterious object that previously played a crucial role in a series. Krees and Skrulls are at war. And a trauma from the past is not to be missed. However, The Marvels doesn’t linger long enough at any of the stops for these mythological incisions to become important. Rather, the movie moves in the tradition of a rollicking comic book crossover.
You can watch the trailer for The Marvels here:
The Marvels has a lightness of touch like almost no other MCU movie. When Carol, Kamala and Monicaare catapulted from one sci-fi world to the nextthe movie 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 a world of images
If you’re not put off by the MCU shadow, The Marvels comes across with a similarly enjoyable lack of commitment, which is only overridden when it comes to the three main characters.Carol, Kamala and Monica form the heartbeatof the movie. The Marvels really 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
DirectorNia DaCosta, who co-wrote the script withMegan McDonnellandElissa Karasikknows exactly what the emotional center of the film is. She doesn’t worry about whether visiting a planet where the nativescan only communicate through songmakes sense. The creatives even go a step further than theGuardians of the Galaxy films in their weirdest moments, fearlessly plunging into the strange place before any sense of cringe.
(Welcome to a world of song)
Somewhere hidden here is the MCU equivalent of films likeBarbarellaandFlash Gordon, which are often ridiculed and perceived from a trash perspective. But what sets these films apart is thepure enthusiasm with which they lose themselves in remarkably decorated sets and peculiar ideas – freed from the persuasion that many other sci-fi and fantasy films meticulously try to achieve.
When The Marvels arrives in the singing world of Aladna, you can definitely feel a bit of that spirit. For a franchise that has become increasingly samey in recent years, The Marvelsleans pleasingly carefree into the bizarre The only omission: the movie resolves the conflict that builds up there with a big action scene instead of breaking out into a musical, choreo and all.
The second highlight scene in The Marvels: tentacled monster cats, slow motion and a musical classic
Shortly before the end, DaCosta and co. finally admit that there is a musical slumbering deep inside this entertaining MCU blockbusterWhen it comes to the evacuation of Nick Fury’s (Samuel L. Jackson) S.A.B.E.R. space station, the entire cast must be brought to the rescue space station, the entire cast must be devoured by the monster tentacled cats – the so-called Flerks – before they are safely spat out again later on Earth.
(The cute Flerks in The Marvels)
Since nobody likes to be surrounded by a slippery mass, the plan meets with resistance from the crew. Only one song in all dimensions of the multiverse is able to hold the following sequence together:MemoryfromAndrew Lloyd Webber’sidiosyncratic musical classicCats. As one S.A.B.E.R. member after another is devoured, Barbra Streisandsvoice sets in.
If you thought that slow-motion action scenes set to counterpoint music peaked with Quicksilver inX-Men: Future is Pastyou should definitely take a look at The Marvels. The Cats sequence is a whole lot more over the top. The MCU could do with more of this wonderful mix of comic book energy and pop culture in the future. Deadpool 3, the ball is in your court
The Marvels has been running in German cinemas sinceNovember 8, 2023
