Captain Marvel – Review

As with all of the movies created by Marvel Studios, this film was not created with foster or adoptive families as the key audience. It seems to target those in the general public who enjoy superhero movies – especially those placed in the Marvel world. The movie has been rated PG-13, and we would agree that this story will be best for teenagers on up through the adult years.

The overall movie follows Carol Danvers as she tries to discover her identity by learning about herself in the present and rediscovering her past. The special effects are stunning. Marvel Studios fans will enjoy seeing favorite characters from this universe as their younger selves. The film also scatters humor in and amongst the fast paced storyline.

Foster and adoptive parents are going to appreciate that this movie features a strong female character who is coping with discovering her identity and trying to figure out who she is able to trust.

** Spoilers Could Be Ahead **

How Is This Relevant To Adoption & Foster Care?

Carol Danvers (aka Vers) is the main character of this film, and the movie viewer will spend the bulk of the time experiencing her living in the present while trying to figure out her past and identity. Carol remembers only bits and pieces of her past. Thus, discovering her identity is both an abstract theme and literal concept in this movie.

This theme connects very much to children who are in foster care or adopted as they might be striving to learn more about their past or piece together how their past fits together with their present and future. On her journey to learn more about her past, master her talents/abilities, and complete her own picture of herself, Carol finds herself in the company of a variety of people. There seems to be a constant underlying tone of Carol attempting to assess who she can trust, who her “real family” is, and who she feels is taking advantage of her. This theme is made quite profound given that an alien race which plays a strong role in this movie, the Skrull, are shapeshifters who take the form of other people. Thus, there are many times that you, the viewer, will find yourself questioning a “trusted” ally in the film.

The struggle to trust people definitely connects with so many foster and adoptive children. A child in foster care may wonder why the “safe” adult took them away from their birth home or children may have been taken advantage of by close family friends. A foster or adoptive child may feel as though the “safe” adults in their life are hiding information from them. Captain Marvel will allow families to create an environment where they can discuss identity and trust all in one movie with, again, a strong female role who never quits or gives into failure.

Discussion Points:

• Identity – Who Can Tell Us Who We Are
  Through much of the beginning of the movie, Carol Danvers is learning how to control her power and much about herself from an alien race called the Kree, which have essentially adopted her. The Kree and their governing being, the Supreme Intelligence, seemingly want what is best for Carol, but one can notice that they constantly want her to prove herself to them.
  Later in the film Carol reconnects with her old friend, Maria. This relationship feels a bit different as Maria not only holds information about Carol’s past but Maria’s friendship offers pure acceptance and love of Carol for who she is.
  It would be interesting for families to point out the difference to their children and begin a discussion about who the people are that can tell us about our identity in everyday life.
• “Real Family”
  “You didn’t get along with your parents, so Mom said we became your real family.” This is a very brief discussion in the movie which some viewers may even miss, but the mention of “real family” can lead to a discussion of what makes a family.
• Controlling Emotions
  From the very beginning of the movie, the main heroine, Carol, is being taught to control her emotions so that she can better control her special powers. While Carol’s mentor, Yon-Rogg, is training her to fight and control her emotions, it could portray having emotions as a negative aspect.
  Foster and adoptive who have been through traumatic experiences are going to struggle with regulating their emotions. Especially with being able to communicate to other people how they are feeling and expressing what needs they need met in the moment. One child may become angered and punch holes in a wall to express their (possibly subconscious) anger and fear about not being with their birth parents. It’s not the anger that is bad but the expression of the anger that a parent would want to see changed.
  This film gives the possibility of bringing up a conversation about emotions and how we express and regulate them. It also opens up a dialogue about whether emotions are good or bad.
• The Importance Of Other Lives
  Throughout this movie we learn that Carol Danvers was not the strongest or most coordinated person before receiving her powers. Her defining characteristics were her determination and will to help other people. In fact we learn that she volunteered to fly a plane during an extremely dangerous mission that impacted her whole life because she understood that lives needed to be saved. What families can see from Carol is that other lives are important and precious and need to be held in high regard.
  This can be a good discussion to have with children coming from situations where they may not have been cared for or their existence in foster care or adoption leaves them feeling like discarded property. Not only may children have a fragile self-esteem but their fight for survival may have them taking on an inward approach to life and not being able to practice empathy for others readily.
  Parents might do well to discuss with their children why they believe their child is significant. Depending on the child, a family could have a discussion about actions/sacrifices the family has made to honor how important the child is. (Note: The emphasis of this dialogue should be put on how loved, worthy, and important the child is and should NOT make the child feel guilty that the family had to give up things in life.) This topic may also open up a good discussion which could lead to families choosing to help at a homeless shelter or make a meal for a sick neighbor. When we can help other people through a situation, it can sometimes help us to see that other people are going through tragedies also and give more clarity and perspective to our situation.
• Think For Yourself
  During the course of the movie, Carol Danvers’ knowledge about the world around her is challenged. The Kree, the alien race who have been training her and who are all she remembers, have taught her that another alien race, the Skrulls, are a dangerous threat to the universe. As the film progresses, Carol learns more facts about the Skrulls and discovers that she is not fighting on the side of “good” like she thought she had been. Carol takes the new facts and information she  has discovered in the movie to make a decision to stand against rules and regulations that are so ingrained into her life.
  Everyone must make choices throughout their day. For some foster and adoptive children who having a strong longing to be accepted by peers, it can be difficult to NOT go along with the status quo when they feel they will be rejected by other people.
  The story allows families to talk with their children about thinking for themselves and choosing to do what is right when their peers might be taking a different course of action. It would be good for a family to pose hypothetical situations to their child about them and their peers to see how they would handle the situations. (i.e. Your friends want to skip math class and are begging you to come with them. What do you tell them?) It would also be good for families to talk about how different the story of the movie would have looked if Carol had not thought for herself and made the decisions she did.

Cautionary Points:

• Discussion of Past Loss
  The movie mentions that the main character, Carol/Vers, “didn’t get along with” her parents, and this is the reason she spent so much time with her best friend’s family, who her “niece” says became her “real family.” This part of Carol’s past is really a brief part of the movie and is not dwelt upon for long. My children did not even pick up on this theme from Carol’s past. However, it is in the movie, and it is present. There is another moment during which Carol is speaking to the Supreme Intelligence, and she says, “You stole me from my family, my friends, my home!” This could be triggering to foster and adoptive children. Parents should be aware that this is in the movie. You may want to view this movie first to see if your child will be able to watch the movie successfully.
• Super Hero Violence and Thrilling Scenes
  Captain Marvel naturally includes fight scenes and suspenseful moments when the heroes are striving to stealthily get out of situations. The suspense and fight scenes are normal to superhero movies. The movie does NOT feature gory or detailed scenes of death. However, parents should be aware that this movie will get your child’s adrenaline pumping. This can trigger your child’s body to remember past moments when they were scared or abused when their adrenaline also experienced spikes. Consequently, your child may exhibit trauma-triggered behaviors.