Michelle Phares

According to the ratings, people either loved it or hated it. I’m falling mid way due to the show re arranging some key pieces of the plot, and making the show racially centered when the book was no where near that. As much as I’d love to see a period piece encompassing those aspects of the time, this was not it. To me, the Lessons book was about feminism, more specifically about sexism in the working and private lives of women. Focusing on a black woman’s struggle to be recognized within a law firm would have been more on brand, even though the original character didn’t work outside the home. I was also very disappointed to see (***spoiler ahead***) the whole subject of Elizabeth and Calvin’s groundbreaking research just forgotten at the end- replaced with- her becoming a teacher?! They threw in that she was working on her doctorate, but that was a horrible wrap, and felt like a win for the scientific institution that threw her out for being a woman in the first place. Overall, the actors were all amazing. The screenplay writing was mediocre sprinkled with bits of breakthrough goodness.

Loved the movie overall. I felt there were strong underlying messages, but maybe not the ones I’d like to see as a woman. For instance, the music. Don’t get me wrong, I love No Doubt, but was that the right song for Captain Marvel’s break-out moment!? I felt it made the moment seem girly and almost childish. Male characters get amazing songs for those moments. She was wearing a NIN shirt for a quarter of the movie, and you come out with that? I would have also liked to see a strong father figure in her life. Instead of her dad telling her she couldn’t do something, maybe her dad being supportive and telling her to keep getting back up and trying would have been a better message. Maybe having a good relationship with her father (and having that be threatened by her enemies) could have made the character more believable as well. Even when she tries to summon some emotion when relating to the little girl in the movie, she comes off as flat and unfeeling. Brie pulls off Captain Marvel without a hitch, but what she didn’t pull off was connecting with the audience as a human and fallible being. Maybe it was her acting, maybe it was the script or director. The result was a character with an undetectable arc, with the exception of the acquisition of some power. I wanted a more dynamic character. Give me a little Jessica Jones or The Supreme Being, Leeloo. Make her character more believable. A woman who is vulnerable at times is more realistic. I’m sorry Hollywood, but vulnerable doesn’t equal weak. Even Superman had vulnerabilities. Trying to shelf that in an effort to push a feminist agenda left the human side of Captain Marvel feeling like flat soda. On a positive note, Brie really pulled off the physical aspects of the role very well. The costume design was spot on. Can’t wait for the new Avengers movie, and perhaps a chance to get to love this character more.