Looking back, I’ve never reviewed a Marvel movie. Which is why I’m excited about the Black Widow review. I mean, sure I got to express my opinion about Loki this week. (Here it is again). But I don’t think I got the chance to do a proper review of any other project from the MCU.
Disney? Sure. The Mandalorian’s review was a cool article to write (check it out here). Especially since I’m a huge fan of the show. And just recently I introduced the upcoming Obi Van Kenobi TV show (available here). Yeah, I’m looking forward to that project as well. However, unlike most of my articles, there’s not one particular game that inspired this Black Widow review. There are several of them in fact, and I’m all about them here.
Black Widow VS Cool Video Games
And right here in this part of the article, I should mention that both Disney games and Marvel games fit really well here. Since Disney owns Marvel and Black Widow is part of Marvel of course. And IndieGala is filled with a great list of games to choose from. We have Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite (available here) and ULTIMATE MARVEL VS. CAPCOM 3 (available here). But don’t despair. When it comes to Disney’s offerings things are looking really great. IndieGala has more than 40 Disney titles and they’re all amazing. Whether you’re leaning towards Disney’s Hercules (just click here). Or perhaps Disney’s The Jungle Book is more to your liking (available here). Just click here and you can pick and choose your favorite titles. Trust us. You won’t leave IndieGala with empty hands.
Black Widow Is A Long Over Due Project For Marvel
Indeed it is. However, the premiere date was originally set on May 1st of 2020, but… You know what happened last year around that time. The pandemic halted the movie for so long. So, more than a year later, Black Widow was finally released this month. At Disney+ and in the movie theaters. But what about the movie itself? Is it good? Scroll down to find out more.
Black Widow Is Not An Origin Story
It is not. However, there’s a 15-minute throwback at the origin story of Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), and her younger sister Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) and how they become Black Widows. The throwback scenes start in the mind 90’s Ohio, and it’s there that we get a glimpse of their „parents“. Alexei Shostakov or The Red Guardian (David Harbour) and Melina Vostokov or Black Widow (Rachel Weisz) respectively. However, the main mission behind the two main Black Widows is to take down the notorious Red Room. The notorious program behind the creation of the Black Widows. And of course the mastermind behind it. Ray Winstone’s Dreykov. On the one hand, Dreykov has an ace up his sleeve (the one and only Taskmaster) while Natasha has the help of „family“.
Does It Live Up To The Hype?
For me, not so much. The movie doesn’t have the gravitas that’s expected from the second solo movie centered around a female character. Although I have to admit, it was a lot more darker in tone and themes than its predecessor. Especially the intro scene where human trafficking was presented most brutally and shockingly. Seriously I didn’t expect it from Marvel, but I’m glad it’s there. On the plus side of things, I’m also glad that they showed the bond between the two sisters in a rather realistic fashion. OK given the circumstances. I’m not a trained assassin per se, so I can’t be 100 certain on this. But I have younger sisters as well, and we also tease each other about clothes, past events and whatnot. Oh and we used to fight like we were part of the WWE SmackDown event, but that’s a topic for a different article.
While I’m on the pro’s side of things I kinda have to say bravo to the humor among all of the dark sub-plots (although it’s still creepy at times). Hey, Marvel does know how to do humor, so Black Widow is no exception here. Marvel also does deflecting pretty well. You know deflecting heavy and tense emotional scenes with jokes but now in some of the scenes… I feel is not the time and place for that. But hey…. A for the effort Marvel.
Lack Luster Villains Are Depressing
Yup. One thing that Marvel still doesn’t know how to do well is to give us a decent villain. Yet again, the villains (actually there are two here) are underwhelming and disappointing. I know that Natasha and Yelena need to shine here but come on! The Dreykov family duo is underwhelming, to say the least. Disappointing is the word I’m looking for here I guess, and yeah. But over here you have the writers to thank for that, because the Taskmaster is pretty dope villain. Sadly not here in this movie.
Not even their own agenda (The Dreykov’s I mean) is enough to keep you entertained, and the minuscule screen-time doesn’t help matters much either. Oh, what have they done to you Taskmaster! Seriously, I felt cheated of a great character. But you know… At the expense of introducing new (dare I say more important characters), he’s the collateral damage that every MCU fan knows all too well.
Good Cast Though
Look, it’s been more than a decade now, and you can already assume that Scarlet is well settled in the role of Natasha. She’s great here too, but there are a couple of newcomers that steal the spotlight in Black Widow. I’m talking about David Harbour as the Red Guardian and Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova. Especially Florence. Oh my god, how great is Miss Pugh here? And the chemistry that she has with Scarlett is just dynamite, I tell ya. We definitely need more of Yelena, Marvel. Take notes Marvel!
But the thing is… the bonding, the mission ahead and even the emotional backstory reveal of past events don’t really deliver the satisfactory crescendo for Natasha. Have you also felt that? Despite the focus on the family, the ramifications of the past and the re-appearing of an old enemy…. Black Widow still doesn’t feel wholesome to make you invested. The great set pieces are top-notch as well (my favorite is the Russian prison one), and if you look closer you’ll see a nice homage to the previous MCU movies. Like Captain America Winter Soldier for instance. The handheld camera during close combat scenes is another trick up Marvel’s sleeve, and don’t even get me started about the mid-air action scene.
A Satisfactory Thank You To One Of The Best Characters?
Well, I would argue that it’s not. At least not for me. The family drama is crowding out the main character that is supposed to be in the center of attention. Stealing her thunder if you will. And the solid performances from Pugh and Harbour are doing the rest for Miss Johansson. The plot is uneven while the movie is also thin on the villain department. It’s a hot mess for MCU, and I can only hope that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is gonna be better.
Your Thoughts On Black Widow
Did you like the movie? What do you like about Black Widow the most? Let us know in the comment section. We’d love to know all about it.
