4 THE COLLEGIAN March 22, 2019 features

A review of the latest Marvel movie BELLA PACINELLI I had trouble with Vers’ rude and @AUCollegian overly sassy attitude. It seemed to me that this film overcompensated I must admit, I do not normally what it means to be empowered. watch this movie genre but I could A woman should not have to be not pass up the opportunity to hard-shelled and standoffish in or- discuss the portrayal of feminism der to be taken seriously. A woman within the new . can be kind and unguarded, while With negatively pre-judged re- still being strong. views, Marvel Studios’ first female- This being said, Vers’ attitude led film undoubtedly sparked con- plays into the false view that femi- troversy. So much so that Rotten nism involves being conceited and Tomatoes changed their policy dominant over men. Her attitude on rating films prior to the release also makes it hard for some female date. watchers to relate to her character, The surge of disapproval for the I being one of them. movie stems from depiction of I do not believe this cinematic de- Captain Marvel being male in the cision was made deliberately, but comics. With the decision to make I cannot help but think that some this character female, Marvel Stu- viewers are going to misinterpret dios risked criticism and backlash. the purpose of the feminism which However, it seems it was the right is to yield gender equality. move. One of the key themes to this film According to Vox Media, Cap- is the recurring notion that Vers is tain Marvel has brought in $760 unable to control her emotions. million worldwide in the two weeks Starforce commander, Yon- it has been in the box office. Rogg, worked closely with Vers to Despite 25 years without a f male- help her push aside emotions and PIXABAY IMAGESled film from Marvel Studios, the memories of the past. He explained Having a core curriculum helps students think about many topics and develop a wide range of skills. story is empowering and well- that she must “master herself” in developed. order to evoke all of her power. , commonly re- Time and time again, women ferred to as Vers, is a member of are seen as being too sensitive the military unit known as and melodramatic. Emotion is of- Starforce. ten seen as a weakness and many Within the beginning of the film, times, women are judged for being she is captured by enemy alien vulnerable. shapeshifters, the . Fighting The misconception that strength for an escape, she lands herself free can be determined by one’s ability in Los Angeles. to control their emotions is wrong With the help of agent Nick Fury, and actually impossible. Feelings Vers is taken to the U.S. Air Force just are, and there is no need to be FLICKR base and discovers that she was a ashamed of sadness, anger, excite- Set photos of Brie Larson in-costume on the set of Captain Marvel. pilot in her previous life. Through- ment, etc. out the film, loose ends of her past The relationship between Yon- finding her true self, she is able to both of which she is told she can- From this moment forward, she is are tied together. Rogg and Vers illustrates the unlock her full power. not do. set free from his control. This is Like many women, Vers struggles struggle women have against the This scene is very depictive of A memory of her falling off the a significant part of the film, as it with being told she is incapable of demand for rejecting emotion. Ul- women conquering inferiority and rope at military training camp re- shows the importance of self-assur- reaching her full potential. None- timately, however, it is how she uses recognizing the strength we have. veals the belief that she should not ance. theless, she overcomes the obsta- those feelings and past experiences The most significant part of the be there. Nevertheless, she climbs Vers demonstrates the message cles around her and is able to de- that she prevails. vibrant flashback scene is Vers’ the rope again. that when you remember who you feat Starforce. While being detained by the Kree unwavering determination and re- All of these hardships truly cap- are, you can overcome anything. Vers eventually realizes that her in the final scenes, Vers is subjected silience. tivate the feminist movement. It Women, specifically, must believe abilities far surmounted the need to a memory probe that forces her She is reminded of the many is about defying the odds, trying they are strong enough in order to to prove herself as a woman. to see all of the times she has been times that she has fallen and got- again when you fail, and fighting to really be strong enough. Nothing Although I felt that Captain Mar- told she is inadequate. This then ten back up. Her memories as a be treated as an equal. It is the be- anyone else says can limit a wom- vel successfully integrated femi- gives her the motivation to break child include playing baseball and lief that a woman can do anything an’s potential. nism as a foundation for the movie, free from their hold and through getting into a go-karting accident, a man can. Maria Rambeau, former pilot As a woman, I sometimes forget and friend of Vers, also helps her the barriers that stand before me. to defeat Starforce. The supportive But this scene reminded me of the friendship these women share is many ways women are underesti- very significant of the importance mated. of females empowering other fe- As a feminist, I can really respect males. All women must strive for Vers’ courage to do what she loved, equality and raise each other up despite being told it was not for her. when the moment presents itself. In the final battle scene between Rambeau is depicted as a single Yon-Rogg and Vers, there is an mother to daughter Monica. The mental battle as well as a physical relationship they hold is very spe- one. Yon-Rogg says, “Without us, cial and it is clear that Monica has you’re weak, flawed, helpless.” been raised to live fearlessly. He was getting inside Vers’ head, She symbolizes feminism with making her feel that her powers her enthusiasm for female strength were dependent on Starforce, rath- and the perspective that women er than her own ability. This seems are simply badass. Monica is a to be a representation of the sexism refreshing burst of energy with a that faces society today. loyal motivation to advance gender Women are seen as being the equality. weaker of the sexes, helpless in times of trouble, needing a man to save the day. However, Vers’ even- tual triumph proves the opposite to Read the rest at AU-Live.com be true. AF.MIL Before defeating Yon-Rogg, she Ryan Flack and Anna Boden, “Captain Marvel” co-directors, answer questions during a round table at the Pentagon, proclaims that her name is Carol. Arlington, Va., March 7, 2019.