Captain Marvel The Rotten Tomatoes/Critic's Reaction Thread

[psylockolussus]

Just for fun, and some perspective, let's remember that this movie is a solo hero origin, something that is slave to probably the most well-worn and limiting formula in the genre (and just about any genre, outside of rom-coms, lol), certainly more so than the sequels and group films. So let's look at how it's faring against Marvel's other solo hero origins:

1.) Black Panther (97%) - which I feel barely counts here since we got to know him and he had a whole arc in a previous film before it.
2.) Iron Man (93%)
3.) Doctor Strange (89%)
4.) Captain Marvel (83%) - for now, obviously
5.) Ant-Man (82%)
6.) Captain America: The First Avenger (80%)
7.) Thor (77%)
8.) The Incredible Hulk (67%)

It's in a perfectly good place, imo, especially when the difference between 10 percentage points on RT hardly means anything when watching the actual products - hell, I enjoy all those other origins below Doctor Strange, minus TIH (and this film, obviously since I haven't seen it yet), more than Doctor Strange.

Its basically close to the Rt ratings of thor, Ant-man and captain America. To me the trailers had a Middle of the road vibesimilar to those films, but still good enough.

Its awesome that Marvel Stud10s has yet to end their streak on Rt.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

Jeremy Jahns review is an interesting one, and he seems to be the only person from the reviewers I checked who thinks the character is very underwhelming and uninteresting the way she is.

 

[Jh7058622]

About to see it.

Hopefully you enjoy it.

 

[Shuri]

Still holding at 84, I hope it doesn't fall much. I voted 85-90, still optimistic about that.

 

[Webfoot Hero]

The Deadline review from Pete Hammond isn't all that positive, may be another rotten but he gives out so few of those that it may turn out fresh. Seems his main complaint is the use of flashbacks to tell much of the story, which can make for a confusing film and sometimes doesn't get very deep into the character of Carol/CM. Also says it doesn't have one standout quality like GOTG's wit, IW's action, or BP and WW's social relevance. He does compliment Larson for making do with what story/character arc she does have, makes note of Mendohlson's Talos, says the movie does serve as a fun placesetter for Endgame, and the Stan Lee tribute is a real highlight.

 

[jmc]

84% is generous to say the least.

 

[Abudefduf]

I just wanted this film to excel like WW did. Still really looking forward to it

Let's face it, this is kind of a bad look for Marvel. It took them ten years to make their first female-led movie, and now that it's here it's just... okay? Even DC knocked it out of the park on their first try.

 

[Zyraquis]

No. And also no.

 

[Flint Marko]

Triple no. A few middling reviews that amounts to a high 70’s-low 80’s isn’t a “bad look” for anyone.

DC is inevitably going to make a black superhero movie and odds are it won’t be as good as Black Panther, but that won’t be a “bad look” for DC.

 

[Aximili86]

*Winces*

One thing that's pretty clear by now is that even the positive reviews (most have at least certain good things to say about it)...ain't all that positive.

Think I'm more just surprised than anything by all of this, they're good directors. Like going into Thor 2 it's sort of like "no-name Game Of Thrones director guy, trailer's a little blahh, gonna temper expectations, it's probably lower-tier of the MCU stuff so far", but here I just really got the sense it'd be pretty awesome. Not a great feeling reading the reviews, definite pattern with the critiques.

 

[Abudefduf]

No. And also no.

I don't know what the second no is for

A few middling reviews that amounts to a high 70’s-low 80’s isn’t a “bad look” for anyone.

For this movie that's simply not enough, just like it wouldn't have been for Black Panther. Unfortunately we still haven't reached the point where female and PoC led blockbusters can afford to be "just okay", especially not ones that have so much riding on them, like Captain Marvel does.

It's not fair, but that's the reality of the situation.

 

[flickchick85]

Its your skewed reality. 84% positive reviews with a 7 average score constitute a well-reviewed film. The sky is not falling.

 

[Flint Marko]

I don't know what the second no is for

For this movie that's simply not enough, just like it wouldn't have been for Black Panther. Unfortunately we still haven't reached the point where female and PoC led blockbusters can afford to be "just okay", especially not ones that have so much riding on them, like Captain Marvel does.

It's not fair, but that's the reality of the situation.

....

You’ve lost me here. What do you think is going to happen now that Captain Marvel has received a *gasp* 84% on Rotten Tomatoes? Is this now going to be outright rejected by audiences and pulled from theaters?

 

[Zyraquis]

??????!!!???…

 

[Spider-Fan]

Why is a movie that is good a bad look? If the movie is good and it makes money, that is good for everybody. Not every movie needs to be a 97% on RT, 1.5 billion dollar movie to be considered a success. Yeah, it would have been nice to get all that for sure. But we have way less even just "good" female led action movies than we do male ones, so one such movie turning out good and being a success is a win no matter how you slice it. You're basically saying any female led action movie needs to be an A+ otherwise it fails by applying that logic, and that is the type of logic that prevents even good action movies being made with female leads. If this movie was an F, you may have an argument. But again, this movie hitting a single and not a home run is a more than fine.

People's expectations on these are way too high. Not every Marvel film needs to crack a billion. A&W was a runaway success, and it is looking like Captain Marvel will be as well.

 

[samsnee]

It’s hit or miss when you are trying to bring independent directors into a big budget movie. Some adapt better than others for sure. I’m surprised it sounds so uneven because I had thought having two directors who worked together before would help, similar to having the Russos.

 

[Iceman]

....

You’ve lost me here. What do you think is going to happen now that Captain Marvel has received a *gasp* 84% on Rotten Tomatoes? Is this now going to be outright rejected by audiences and pulled from theaters?

I think the protocol is for theaters to announce to audience members at the end of the film that this project was unfortunately a failure as per RT, so please understand that anything you think you enjoyed during this experience was in fact false and check those feelings out as you exit (along with any 3D glasses).

 

[Abudefduf]

Its your skewed reality. 84% positive reviews with a 7 average score constitute a well-reviewed film. The sky is not falling.

....

You’ve lost me here. What do you think is going to happen now that Captain Marvel has received a *gasp* 84% on Rotten Tomatoes? Is this now going to be outright rejected by audiences and pulled from theaters?

Why is a movie that is good a bad look? If the movie is good and it makes money, that is good for everybody. Not every movie needs to be a 97% on RT, 1.5 billion dollar movie to be considered a success. Yeah, it would have been nice to get all that for sure. But we have way less even just "good" female led action movies than we do male ones, so one such movie turning out good and being a success is a win no matter how you slice it. You're basically saying any female led action movie needs to be an A+ otherwise it fails by applying that logic, and that is the type of logic that prevents even good action movies being made with female leads. If this movie was an F, you may have an argument. But again, this movie hitting a single and not a home run is a more than fine.

People's expectations on these are way too high. Not every Marvel film needs to crack a billion. A&W was a runaway success, and it is looking like Captain Marvel will be as well.

By all means guys, please keep arguing against things I never said. I love when that happens.

At no point did I say anything the score. Who cares about the score. It's what the actual reviews are saying that has me worried, because I'm seeing stuff that I THINK could potentially hurt the movie's success (and also my enjoyment of it, which is kind of a problem).

I'm not saying Captain Marvel had to be the next Black Panther or Wonder Woman (that would be ridiculous), but it sure as heck didn't have to be the next Ant-Man & the Wasp either.

 

[Spider-Fan]

By all means guys, please keep arguing against things I never said. I love when that happens.

At no point did I say anything the score. Who cares about the score. It's what the actual reviews are saying that has me worried, because I'm seeing stuff that I THINK could potentially hurt the movie's success (and also my enjoyment of it, which is kind of a problem).

I'm not saying Captain Marvel had to be the next Black Panther or Wonder Woman (that would be ridiculous), but it sure as heck didn't have to be the next Ant-Man & the Wasp either.

Am I hoping for it to be better than A&W? Sure I am. But that said, I do enjoy A&W. So if it ends up only being that good, at least I will still enjoy it. Also, this movie is tracking for higher BO than A&W. Which I would agree, A&W grossing numbers would be a bit underwhelming given I am sure this movie cost more than A&W did. But let's not forget, A&W was very successful given it was the 2nd cheapest MCU movie they made (only slightly more expensive than the 1st Ant-Man).

 

[flickchick85]

Also, maybe see the film for yourself before you pass judgement like that. I’ve read several very positive reviews, some from top critics. While our own jmc hated it. Opinions are funny like that.

 

[MahvelBaby!]

Dying to see this for myself already.

 

[Flint Marko]

Same. Got my tickets for 8pm tomorrow.

 

[jmc]

Also, maybe see the film for yourself before you pass judgement like that. I’ve read several very positive reviews, some from top critics. While our own jmc hated it. Opinions are funny like that.

That’s not what I said.

 

[Aximili86]

God, the Captain Marvel section of the forums isn't going to be any fun over the next 24 hours it seems. Polar extremes & headbutting, huzzah, fandom.

Like someone else said, 84% assuming it stays around that is hardly some panned film. It's rated fresh overall, the movie's going to make big bank, the "this isn't a good look" stuff people are pushing is hilarious. That's no worse a score than the Cap & Thor origin movies. Whether the movie's as good or not I have no idea, but the review score's about where origin movies generally tend to land.

Sounds like worst case scenario is the thing just doesn't quite get into fourth gear and really excel. A little unfocused, maybe juggling too many disparate elements and aiming to achieve more than it actually pulls off.

That's still...not a big deal. I'm a little concerned on a personal level as far as how much I may enjoy it compared to what I'd hoped to, but extrapolating that into anything larger for Marvel going forward is hilarious hyperbole. Even if the movie's a mistep, it's not going to be their biggest one so far as a company. All-in-all, if you've got the hardcore "feminism whoo!" people adoring it as the greatest thing ever and the "durr hurr, Brie Larson duzn't smile enuff lolz" trolls saying it's some sort of agenda-driven abomination, the truth's probably smack-dab right in between those extremes.

Which is...you know, "flawed but solid, a good time at the movies."

I was optimistic it'd be more, but even if it's not that's not the freakin' end of the world. If it's like a little under Doctor Strange & Homecoming or whatever, that's still a fun time out at the movies.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Just for fun, and some perspective, let's remember that this movie is a solo hero origin, something that is slave to probably the most well-worn and limiting formula in the genre (and just about any genre, outside of rom-coms, lol), certainly more so than the sequels and group films. So let's look at how it's faring against Marvel's other solo hero origins:

1.) Black Panther (97%) - which I feel barely counts here since we got to know him and he had a whole arc in a previous film before it.
2.) Iron Man (93%)
3.) Doctor Strange (89%)
4.) Captain Marvel (83%) - for now, obviously
5.) Ant-Man (82%)
6.) Captain America: The First Avenger (80%)
7.) Thor (77%)
8.) The Incredible Hulk (67%)

It's in a perfectly good place, imo, especially when the difference between 10 percentage points on RT hardly means anything when watching the actual products - hell, I enjoy all those other origins below Doctor Strange, minus TIH (and this film, obviously since I haven't seen it yet), more than Doctor Strange.

Agreed, and I think this list offers a good insight into how hard the origin story really is. For the MCU, my favorite origin film is Captain America: The First Avenger and that is almost at the bottom!!! Though I fully recognize I am likely in the minority on that. Perhaps a bit biased too But seriously, I love the movie's heart, the style, and almost everything about it.

I don't count Black Panther as an origin film, really. It's effectively a sequel to Civil War.