Weekly Discussion Post

[lynnenne]

Hello, and welcome to your weekly Sunday discussion post! Busy weekend for me, so I apologize that this is so late in the day.

The thing about Captain Marvel is... She is MARVELOUS. Let's discuss all the things we love about her.

GO!

Comments

[lazaefair]

She is the EXACT kind of stoic that I relate to as a female-presenting woman who 1) doesn’t naturally emote much to begin with, and 2) has learned the hard way that on the occasions I do wish to express passionate emotion, men get super threatened and the consequences aren’t worth it, so it becomes necessary to stuff everything down behind a blank face.

Thank FUCK for Brie Larson and her acting choices, choosing to represent a kind of woman who doesn’t ever get to shine onscreen as the hero, and thank fuck for the directors - one of whom was a woman - who let her do that.

Every male critic out there who thought she was emotionless were just further proof that men really do unconsciously expect women to be smiling paper dolls, and that they simply do not have the socialization or communication skills to discern the towering, raging sea of passions hidden behind the stoic wall that they forced women to assume in the first place.

[lynnenne]

YES TO ALL OF THIS. Especially your last paragraph.

[chelseagirl]

I felt empowered, at the movie, in a way that I remember feeling when I used to go to the New York Liberty women's basketball games, and watch an audience of adults and children of all genders cheering for these remarkable women.

I enjoyed the Wonder Woman movie, but Diana was a divine princess in a mortal world. Carol, despite her massive powers, began as a determined girl, a woman who wasn't going to be told she couldn't. I'm no Carol, but I could identify with that.

I'm honestly not much of a comics reader, but I sought out the Kelly Sue DeConnick run of Captain Marvel before the movie, and I loved that run. I'm peering around for more. Jessica Jones is the only other character I've ever done that with -- and that was after watching the first season. (And, actually, I have read the first few volumes of Kamala Khan as Ms. Marvel, but that was motivated by the fact that she sounded like my students -- a Muslim teen from Jersey City, if she was interested in engineering, she could easily go to NJIT in a few years!)

[lynnenne]

Carol, despite her massive powers, began as a determined girl, a woman who wasn't going to be told she couldn't. I'm no Carol, but I could identify with that.

That shot of her as a child playing baseball, standing at the plate and SO, SO determined! It made me want to stand up and cheer.

[luthienberen]

I LOVE Captain Marvel. I never expected to. My only reason for going-to the film was to support my brother and best friend so neither would see it alone. I admittedly am not an MCU fan as I tend to prefer magic to superheroes (apart from 1966 Batman series and Wonder Woman), so I settled in for being happy for my friend and brother and squeeing when I saw the cat.

Ten minutes in I was hooked! Brie Larson evoked Vers' loyalty to the Kree and her growing desire to understand the source of her memories so well I was captivated. While I am not at all athletic, Captain Marvel's struggle to find her place, her confidence and her shining core of loyalty and her attitude of getting up because DAMN IT, YOU/IT WON'T STOP ME was exhilarating.

Carol's chemistry with Nick Fury was lovely, especially witnessing a male-female friendship that remained that way. Her connection with Maria and Monica was wonderful and painful as she reforged those bonds.

I also loved how she didn't take any rubbish from the men who naysayed her and just kept on going. Then her acceptance of that she had been lied to and struggling to move past that with Maria's help was reassuring. Then how she strived on the ship against the Kree AI and as she had always had done, got up and declared she was worthy of her powers and not being fearful of what the full extent may be - just so fantastic to witness. I think partly it is because she is an ordinary woman who gained these powers also was refreshing. It reminded me I could also achieve a lot by just constantly brushing myself off and going at it again, and that having friends and family are part of that (and not a weakness), because Maria, Monica, Fury & Goose all were there and worked together.

Also I thought Brie showed her emotions well, so the critics are wrong there!

[lynnenne]

I think partly it is because she is an ordinary woman who gained these powers also was refreshing. It reminded me I could also achieve a lot by just constantly brushing myself off and going at it again, and that having friends and family are part of that (and not a weakness)

I'm so glad you came out of the film feeling this way! I did, too.