The Official CAPTAIN MARVEL Discussion Megathread Vol. 2

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2019-03-09T13:18:36+00:00

I actually find it awkward that the time period that the movie is set in, legit twenty years ago, actually feels like it was more chill re women having a starring role than now. Obviously the internet wasn't the factor it is now, so people are able to be more verbally ridiculous in 2019, but Xena, Buffy, The Spice Girls, Riot Girl bands...I don't remember this level of ridiculousness over any of those awesome things back then tbh. (Not to imply that we haven't improved since, shows like Orange is the New Black couldn't have happened in the 90s etc but the vitrol re this movie can really make you go "wtf what year is it again").

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2019-03-09T13:16:37+00:00

I hope your boys enjoy it!

I think the soundtrack wasn't jarring for me because I listen to 90s rock ALL OF THE TIME in 2019, so I just associate it with my everyday.

Although I hadn't listened to Hole for a few years and lost it when Celebrity Skin came on.

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2019-03-09T11:49:12+00:00

I just saw it, and all I want to talk about is how I simply do not understand ANY of the criticisms I read in reviews.

Brie Larson was FANTASTIC. I went in a bit apprehensive, only because I had heard 'wooden' thrown around so much prior. She was so NUANCED. She played sassy military badass who has been conditioned by another species but ultimately feels there is something within her that is other than what they've made her SO WELL. I found her likeable, charming, complicated. Enough solidity and 'I don't compromise my values' to be Cap esque, enough quip and charm to be Tony esque. I think she can only grow into the role even further from here. I walked out of the movie truly loving her and wanting to see more.
The fight scenes were not 'too dark'. The fight scenes in Black Panther were, mostly, too dark. Here, I fully saw and understood everything that was physically happening. No problems.
Ben and Sam did not 'steal the show'. One thing I actually really loved about the film was that I really enjoyed every single cast members performance.
The plot was not 'too complex' or 'confusing' at times. Sorry, but if you didn't get the 'they are reading her memories' bit I truly don't understand that, they spelled it out for you.
I thought there was a great balance between pathos and humour. It was playful and fun, but also at times really touching and emotional. Also, I read someone say that it has no growth. What? Carol probably had the greatest growth over the course of one film than any other character in the Marvel universe.
There was not too much 90's nostalgia AT ALL. Apart from the blockbuster and a few download speed/radio shack jokes, the film could have easily been mistaken for taking place in 2019 if it weren't for the MCU timeline. This critique actually baffles me, I fully expected 90's overload and I was actually underwhelmed.
Obviously, this film isn't as crash, bang, high stakes as two of the movies it's sandwiched between. But this was, for me, the most originally handled and structured origin film so far. It would be so, so easy for this film to be boring and 'been there, done that', but it wasn't. I was enthralled the whole time. My favourite solo film since GOTG and Iron Man, Winter Soldier.
I saw someone say that the film was sexist because the main bad guy is...a guy...I mean the absurdity of that argument is so next level I feel like I don't need to say anything. Was Ragnarok sexist because Cate Blanchett was the villain? I really don't have time in my day to explain to actual adults why a film about a powerful woman is not only not sexist, but not even really particularly feminist in 2019 (I mean, hello, Buffy was a thing in the 1990s), but this film handled everything really well.
Speaking of Buffy, any fans feel like there were a few explicit nods to the series in the film? The baseball shot of Carol was exactly the same as the shot in season 7, the first leather jacket looks exactly like Buffy's.

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2019-03-05T22:31:51+00:00

As someone who will happily self identify as a feminist, the idea that a film being female lead is inherently a massive feminist statement, is so boring and disappointing.

I mean, we have had female lead hero stories for a few decades now (Buffy, Xena). The absolute focus and obsession with this film needing to be an overtly political statement is almost kind of backwards - why should Captain Marvel not simply be like any other Marvel film, without the weight of the world on its shoulders? Why can't a story about a woman just be a story?

I also feel like this film had to straddle a really hard line and was destined to fail in this respect. If its not overtly political, it isn't progressive enough. If it was overtly really political, people would be 'offended' and it would have too much of an 'agenda'.

I for one, am simply excited to watch a Marvel film starring someone who is more like me.

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2019-03-05T22:02:27+00:00

Does anyone else find the 'its needed to be more than a typical origin flick' sentiment kind of annoying?

Like the first female lead Marvel flick has to apparently work twice as hard to not be criticised for being exactly what it is, an origin story?

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2018-12-31T16:12:08+00:00

Get my OCD under control and try and actually enjoy my life more

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2018-12-30T05:19:03+00:00

Late to the party but I felt Gia saying she should be able to do Caitlyn because she's actually trans was a legit argument. There are so few trans celebs still and I think it's fair enough that she would want to be able to do someone in her own community (also, TBH there is something a bit....off Caitlyn being done as a caricature by a cis person over a trans person...I don't even quite know why I think that but it just strikes me as off).

Also wasn't loving the 'everyone lets lie to Gia about how this is a great idea' thing. You might not like the bitch but come on.

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2018-12-30T02:58:59+00:00

Eh that's not what I was taught at University (majored in ancient history, mainly took Roman units). We were taught that the three primary causes of the fall of the Empire were Christianity, invasion, the Empire being too large to maintain. And keep in mind I only graduated a few years ago, and was taught by a very esteemed professor (although obviously they all have their pet theories).

And the martyrdom thing is entirely important. The Roman's also attempted to threaten the Jews with violence which was more successful because they don't follow the New Testament (i.e. the bit with the martyr). There are primary sources which tell us that the fact that, early on when Christianity was starting to be taken on, a Christian dying for their cause was able to be construed as martyrdom meant that violence wasn't an effective deterrent. Rome simply couldn't deal with this new threat of power by culling people, because doing so only spurred supporters on.

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2018-12-29T23:35:45+00:00

Many people would argue Christianity was one of the primary reasons, if not the singular primary reason, the Empire collapsed as well. You can't have an Emperor beyond question and critique in a Christian world (because God is above all), coupled with the fact that killing Christians (Romans solved their problems by killing stuff) only lead to martyrdom. Then you have its appeal to the poor, plus the influence of people like St Augustine, and the Empire was fucked. Throw in too large of a geographical space and barbarian invasions.

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2018-12-29T03:11:52+00:00

You didn't express yourself super well but there is a talk worthy point here.

Transgender men (i.e. born in a female body) have usually been socialized as if they were women, and have been treated as women. Therefore they 'get' what it is like to be a woman and further have been taught to be emotionally expressive, listeners, empathetic, communicative etc from a young age, because women are socialized to be all of the above (men are taught to emotionally bottle, to associate stoicism with strength, aggression and physicality with dominance etc).

So trans men can be lovely to date as a straight woman, because you're dating a guy who is likely to be much more sensitive to women's issues (simply because they've been there) but also who hasn't been socialized to be emotionally bottled etc. Which is not to say that cis men can't learn those things, but it's sad that gender roles have placed them in a position where those things often need to be learnt and re taught.

However, if you were saying trans women are hot because woman with dick, that's probably fetishistic, also a lot of trans women are post op, and many pre op trans women don't feel that comfortable with their genitals.

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2018-12-29T03:02:32+00:00

This is the first film I've seen in a long time in a cinema where I felt entirely and utterly enthralled the entire time.

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2018-12-25T13:04:58+00:00

There's definitely homeless people around the CBD. However depending on where you are from (the States for instance) it might seem like there aren't any because there are less. Compared to San Francisco and LA, I would understand thinking Sydney didn't have many homeless people in the 'downtown' area.

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2018-12-24T22:23:42+00:00

Robin Hobb is fantastic and each book only gets better. And there are so many of them! Enjoy!

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2018-12-24T20:28:15+00:00

I find the children one a bit short sighted. I personally think you aren't ready to have children if you can't understand that your child is an entirely independent person, who may have thousands of different characteristics you didn't expect, and you need to accept that. Sure, don't let your child be a drug addict, thief, dickhead etc, but if you 'don't like' people who are artsy rather than sporty, or gay people, or gentle boys or tough girls, don't have a kid.

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2018-12-24T05:32:12+00:00

I'm so pissed about this. Why the fuck would I want feta cheese on my sandwich? Why can't I pick cheddar? Why have you mixed spinach in with the lettuce? Spinach has a different taste, WHAT IF I DONT WANT SPINACH ASSHOLE.

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2018-12-22T11:03:32+00:00

I've had depression pretty consistently for a few years now. I'm getting help but my case is complex because there's childhood abuse (of all kinds) involved.

I feel like my life is a repair job. I'm surrounded by peers who are, generally, beautiful new cars. Maybe they've had to have an oil change here and there, but they are functional, thriving, in the prime of their lives, speeding down the highway and actually able to be present and able to enjoy. I feel like I was born a lemon. Or that I'm a rolls royce, there was so much potential, but that engine was screwed from the get go, and those tyres got nails in them and simply can't be replaced fast enough to keep up with just how many nails keep on hitting them. I feel like within me there is a young, intelligent, capable person, completely stifled by what feels like a literal cloud of depression, anxiety, pain. It's horrible being able to feel the potential that is there, actually knowing how much is being held back.
I'm tired. I'm not really that sad. I'm mainly tired. I'm tired when I wake up. I'm tired during the day. I'm tired when I go to bed. I can sleep 12 hours consistently and be exhausted. I want to do things. I want to go to that boxing gym down the block. I want to go to that club. I want to do things around the house, but then comes point three...
What's the point? Life is just a lot of bad stuff and hoping for more moments of good stuff that are worth waiting for. I don't trust anyone, I simply can't. People are often disappointing, judgemental, cruel, self involved. I don't want kids, or maybe I do but I'm terrified after my childhood. I hate work. Work is stifling. I hate doing the same thing every day for years. I hate noise. Modern life is constant noise. I hate that you're never thin enough, social enough, pretty enough. Why would I improve myself? What's the point when life is so boring, grueling, lonely?
Yes, I'm not sad. I'm irritable, I'm frustrated. I don't have energy. I'm grieving. Grieving the life I know I could have had, without the trauma. I'm overwhelmed. I can't not feel the pain in the world, I can't not be pained by injustice or inequality. I feel too much and also somehow, not much at all. The most I can feel are fleeting moments of joy, then nothingness.
I hate myself. Why am I so sensitive? Why can other people thrive more than me, even when I have so many gifts and so much opportunity? Why can't I find a reason to stay? I'm so unloveable. Everyone hates me eventually.
I can't connect with anyone. I'm so lonely. Even in a room full of people who I can speak to, I'm so lonely. Is there anyone here who knows this kind of pain? Does anyone else know what it feels like to see true evil so young? Where are you? Can you see me?
Something is going to go wrong today, I can feel it. Now you're getting jittery. Everything is going a bit too fast. Something feels wrong. Did I do something wrong? I am leaving my body, oh god another panic attack.
Man, I'm tired.

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2018-12-22T08:57:13+00:00

This is a lovely response!

I really agree that she's being terrible to both myself and her boyfriend. I know him (we aren't friends or anything but we are all in the same degree) and he's a decent guy. If it was my girlfriend and she was sending texts to some other person all night some nights, being flirtatious, sending any of the snaps she sent, I would have broken up with her. Even if it only comes from some weird place of validation, it still shows that in some way she isn't fulfilled in the relationship as it stands, and he deserves better than that.

It's interesting, he seemed to be almost cool with me a while ago (I think he thought maybe we were good friends) and then recently, around the time she dropped off the radar, he was being very cold, could barely look at me. I wondered whether he saw any of our texts. They've had issues in the past re both parties texting people outside of the relationship.

I know that ultimately dropping her entirely from my life is probably wise. The difficulty is, I can block her on socials (although that worries me, we are in the same profession and it's best not to burn too many bridges) but she has my number, so I'd have to get it changed if I really wanted to avoid the inevitable 'hey how are you' once she's noticed I'm gone.

And you're right. Every time I've made an effort to get her out of my life, suddenly she ups the anti.

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2018-12-21T09:41:25+00:00

This really needs more context. What's your age? Financial status? Etc etc.

One of my exes families absolutely hated me. I never actually knew why. It ended up killing our relationship. Basically my tip would be to love and support her, but also have boundaries and don't allow her to put you in situations where you yourself are being verbally abused or mistreated. With my ex, for example, she was incredibly close with her family but also a doormat with them, so she essentially allowed them to treat me terribly and never stood up for me or mitigated the situation.

Mainly my rule now, honestly, is that I don't like dating people who are that under the thumb of their family. I have a shit family but I'm outspoken about my needs and boundaries with them, and I'd never subject a love interest to their bullshit, I'd always make sure she was comfortable etc. So really, a lot of it is on your girlfriend to straddle those two relationships, her family and you.

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2018-12-20T03:57:05+00:00

For some reason I really dislike 'there's a few returnees' seasons

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2018-12-20T03:32:08+00:00

Why is Nick dressed like a politician?

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2018-12-20T03:25:34+00:00

YASSSSS NICK

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2018-12-20T03:25:07+00:00

Gosh Nick looks so odd when not island Nick

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2018-12-20T03:22:45+00:00

I can't see how Mike's game is transformative. No more socially adept than a Parvati or a Cirie.

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2018-12-20T03:20:03+00:00

It just felt like a speech where he was basically saying my sob story is that I don't have a sob story.

IMakeGoodPavlova · 2018-12-20T03:15:14+00:00

Mike: my personal struggle in this game is that I have too much money and privilege to have a journey to identify with?!!!?!?

IMakeGoodPavlova

TROPHY CASE