Iron Man (2008) saw the beginning of what Marvel producer Kevin Feige tentatively titled the “Marvel Cinema Universe”, with The Incredible Hulk (2008), Thor (2011) and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) introducing some of the key players that would go on to become one of cinema’s greatest superhero teams, debuting in 2012’s The Avengers.

Widely considered the strongest Avenger (sorry Thor/Hulk), Captain Marvel finally got to hang out with her teammates (albeit in some pretty hairy circumstances) in the all-conquering Avengers: Endgame, triggering millions of fans to cry out “IT’S REALLY HAPPENING” in perfect unison, probably.

Although Captain Marvel is the 21st entry in the film series, chronologically, it’s actually the second. This origin story starts in the 1980s and continues through to the mid-90s. So expect plenty of throwback references – the hair, the clothes, the music and, in one early scene, a Blockbuster video store. We really are in the 90s here...

When a mysterious, superpowered being named Vers (Brie Larson) crash lands on Earth in the midst of a galactic war between the Kree (last seen in the original Guardians Of The Galaxy film) and the shape-shifting Skrulls, she weirdly has some recognition of our little green and blue planet. But why? And who is Carol Danvers? She teams up with a youthful, pre-eye patch Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson) to find the answers she has been seeking for so long – and in the process, becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes.

Packed with incredible action, big laughs and brilliant performances from Larson and an aged down SLJ (thanks to CGI trickery), it has everything you’d want from a Marvel movie, plus enough twists and shocks to keep you guessing right to the end. Oh, and it also has a scene-stealing cat. Seriously. That cat is utterly amazing, and worth the admission price alone!

Still feeling Marvel-lous?

If all this superhero talk has left you with a rather sizeable, spandex-shaped hole in your life, check out our Marvel hub for even more shield-throwing, hammer-smashing goodness.

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