Plot: What’s it about?
For a while, it seemed as if Disney/Marvel had a license to print money. Back in the early days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU from here on) with films like Captain America, Thor and The Avengers – they could do no wrong. Well, times and things change and due to the over-saturation of the market (and genre), it’s a bit…difficult nowadays. The phrase “victims of their own success” certainly comes to mind. So with the latest theatrical offering (there’s actually a need to delineate now as the TV series now impact the feature films) – The Marvels, we find a sequel to 2019’s Captain Marvel. But are we ready for three of ’em? Let’s find out.
Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) has found that her powers are now intertwined with two other heroes: Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani). While initially more of an inconvenience, it does come in handy when they take on. Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton), an alien looking to save her dying planet and who will, of course, stop at nothing to accomplish that goal. That’s about it. Yes, folks it really is that easy. Of course if you’re caught up on the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel (I, for one, am not) then it does make this a bit easier to follow. The real allure here is the chemistry between the trio of lead actresses.
My problem, not necessarily with this film but the MCU in general, is that it doesn’t seem to be heading in any particular direction. The movies are inspired and visually spectacular, but with the early days of the MCU there was always an overarching plot (i.e. The Infinity Stones) that led to The Avengers and, later, Avengers: Endgame. I don’t get that here. This just seems like a reason to put three different ethnicities in one movie. Maybe there’s something I missed and maybe not. The Marvels is fun, to be sure, and unlike some of the other entries in the MCU it won’t take up the better part of your day watching it – at 104 minutes, it doesn’t require a lot of time.
Video: How’s it look?
I’ve been reviewing movies on just about every disc-format known (except LaserDisc) for over two decades. On occasion I just sit there and look at my screen and think “is there something I can say that I haven’t said before?” Odds are the answer to that is “No.” There are only so many adjectives one can use to describe how good, bad or mediocre a film can look on any given setup. All that said, The Marvels represents the latest entry in the MCU and as I think anyone reading this will attest, it looks pretty darn good. The 2.39:1 HEVC 4K image is nothing short of perfection. That being said, Larson’s character has an “aura” about her for the last act of the movie, the CGI throughout looks splendid. Detail is razor sharp and contrast and black levels are rock solid. Suffice it to say that no matter how many times I try and say this, I really do mean it – this is a fine-looking picture.
Audio: How’s it sound?
The audiophiles out there are licking their chops for this one, I’m sure. It’s been said (factually, I might add) that some of the Disney/Marvel titles have had some lackluster Dolby Atmos soundtracks with them being quieter or levels not up to par, etc. If you go for the Blu-ray or watch this streaming, you won’t get the full Dolby Atmos effect. Either that’s important to you or it isn’t. I don’t know about you, but when I watch a movie, I sit in the middle of my living room and just enjoy the ambiance. I found no such troubles with The Marvels. The latter part of the film delivers more action as the hero truly emerges. This engages the surround sound, both up and down (depending on where your speakers are) and makes for a great listening experience. I see no reason that this track won’t wholeheartedly satisfy its viewer.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Entangled – Take a cosmic trip behind the scenes on The Marvels with the cast and crew of the film. Learn how director Nia DaCosta and the team took on such a vast production, and dive deeper with more details about Marvel’s first ever musical number.
- The Production Diaries – Experience the lively, upbeat set of The Marvels as cast and crew recall candid and heartwarming moments, along with hilarious anecdotes.
- Deleted Scenes – Four total, though none of which really offer a lot of insight into the film or its plot. Hence, the reason they were cut.
- Captain-in-Residence – Kamala finds herself in Carol’s ship after an unexpected switch and incredulously picks up a call from Valkyrie.
- It’s Under Control – Carol, Kamala, and Monica find themselves brainstorming for solutions on Aladna.
- Space Yoga – Muneeba teaches yoga while an exasperated Nick Fury looks on.
- The Chase – Chaos ensues as Ty-Rone chases Kamala in a tension-filled scene.
- Gag Reel – Watch some hilarious outtakes on set with the cast and crew of The Marvels.
- Audio Commentary – Listen to co-writer/director Nia DaCosta and VFX Supervisor Tara DeMarco talk about the film.
The Bottom Line
The Marvels isn’t like a lot of the other Marvel movies out there. It isn’t as big, bold or grandiose as we’ve been accustomed to lately. Maybe that’s a good thing? For me it was a little too much “girl power”, but that’s just me. Fans will enjoy a good-looking transfer with enough supplements to warrant a purchase.
