Higher. Further. Faster. And with a whole hell of a lot of Flerkens. The sequel to Captain Marvel is fun, quick, full of some sweet action beats, and it is exactly what Marvel Studios needs when it comes to their output. Hell, it is what we, the fans, need, too, as it sends a message loud and clear to Marvel’s OG fandom: ALL ARE WELCOME HERE.
Of course, with many people - after 33 films and some seriously good television shows - touting MCU fatigue (read as a cliched excuse to not support anything after the boys club is smashed to bits) and all the online hate geared to whip up the racists and the misogynists toward the original film (and then anything with a woman as a lead) and, yeah, some people aren’t going to show up to get this film to its projected goal of $60 million this weekend.
Which is a shame.
Perhaps it is because Marvel continues to put the COMIC in comic books when it comes to their films. They, like Captain Marvel herself, don’t back down from an adversary. Hell, they even add a musical number to The Marvels, which is sure to ignite a whole lot of online hatred as the team arrives on a planet in which song is the only language they speak. That’s right. Get over it now and maybe you will have a better experience with the characters and the film itself.
Combining the spirit of the Ms Marvel television show with the thrilling heroics of Captain Marvel, director Nia DaCosta (the Candyman reboot) and co-writers Megan McDonnell and Elissa Karasik bring returning MCU stars Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, and Samuel L. Jackson together to battle Zawe Ashton as Dar-Benn, leader of the Kree as she sets out to destroy everything that Carol Danvers holds dear.
Even Goose is along for the ride!
Quick with its action entanglement prowess (the women switch places whenever they use their powers), the new team assembled by Fury, with a lot of help from Kamala, must really learn how to work together in order to collectively fix the hole blasted wide in the universe by the actions of Dar-Benn, who has more than a literal ax to grind against Captain Marvel’s skull.
The chemistry between the stars, who have multiple challenges when it comes to their roles and the hole in the time space continuum, is off the charts and that makes for a whole lot of fun as the three women juggle family, cosmic entanglements, expectations, and a whole lot of Flerkens in their journey together.
The Marvels feels like an effortless blast of cosmic energy. It is fun, full of great relationships, and brings together the ethos, logos, and pathos of the MCU with a nice use of comedy, wit, and chemistry as these superheroes fly a WELCOME banner for all to see.
4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital 4K
Home Video Distributor: Disney/Buena Vista
Available on Blu-ray - February 13, 2024
Screen Formats: 2.39:1
Subtitles: English SDH; French; Japanese; Spanish
Audio: English: Dolby Atmos; English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1; Spanish: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1; French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1; Japanese: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1; Audio descriptive
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free; blu-ray locked to Region A
The Marvels arrives on 4K with a two-disc 4K UltraHD + Blu-ray + Digital Code edition. The 4K disc holds the film, while the blu-ray holds the 1080p version of the film and the bonus content. The digital version of the film can be redeemed via your MoviesAnywhere app. Everything comes housed in a black two-disc case which is, in turn, sheathed in a cardboard slipcover with identical cover art.
VIDEO
Well, as expected from Disney, it's not Dolby Vision, but it's still a pretty solid presentation. The 2.39:1. HDR10 upscaled picture is impressive in both live-action and CGI scenes. Speaking of CGI, it's flawlesss, integrated perfectly with the practical effects, and is rarely ever exposed by the 4K detail.
This is a very colorful film and represents a great showcase for both the 4K UHD format as well as the craftwork of the transfer to disc. Fine details are spectacularly displayed on fabrics, hair, faces, props, and the practical sets. You will not be disappointed with this transfer.
AUDIO
The Dolby Atmos track is the star of the show here and due to the subject matter at hand, is another perfect specimen to show off your home video system. Also available is a DolbyTrueHD 7.1, a Spanish language Dolby Digital Plus 7.1, a French language Dolby Digital 5.1, and a Japanese Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 track.
Sit in the middle of your room, close your eyes, and listen in awe to the motion as the action moves about the room. We are particularly impressed by heights as characters, ships, and debris whiz about above the head. There was never a struggle to comprehend the dialogue, even during the film's more bombastic segments.
Supplements:
Big props for the audio commentaries - same one on each disc, but the ball is bobbled with the remsinder of the bonus content. We get less than 20 minutes of material including a glossy EPK, a handful of deleted scenes, a gag reel, and a backstage pass reel.
Commentary:
- Audio commentary by Nia DaCosta and Tara DeMarco (4K UHD Disc)
- Audio Commentary by Nia DaCosta and Tara DeMarco (Blu-ray Disc)
Special Features:
- Entangled (10:57)
- The Production Diaries (05:30)
- Gag Reel (01:59)
- Deleted Scenes (05:48)
| Movie |  |
|
| Video | |
|
| Audio | |
|
| Extras |  |
|
|
Composite Blu-ray Grade
|
||
MPAA Rating: PG-13.
Runtime: 105 mins
Director: Nia DaCosta
Writer: Nia DaCosta; Megan McDonnell; Elissa Karasik
Cast: Brie Larson; Teyonah Parris; Iman Vellani
Genre: Action | Adventure
Tagline:
Memorable Movie Quote: "Confusion is the first step to knowledge"
Theatrical Distributor: Walt Disney Studio Motion Pictures
Official Site: https://movies.disney.com/the-marvels
Release Date: November 10, 2023
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: February 13, 2024
Synopsis: Carol Danvers gets her powers entangled with those of Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau, forcing them to work together to save the universe.
