Johansson’s “Solo” 80M Box Office outing is boosted by another 60M via Streamer…
90% Spicy
Synopsis: At birth the Black Widow (aka Natasha Romanova) is given to the KGB, which grooms her to become its ultimate operative. When the U.S.S.R. breaks up, the government tries to kill her as the action moves to present-day New York, where she is a freelance operative.
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Pictures / Marvel Studios
Streamer: Disney+ Premier Access
Release Date: July, 2021
Format: Disney+ Premier Access, Movie Theaters, IMAXÂ
Genre: Live Action
Sub-Genre: Super Hero / Action / Adventure / Fantasy
Runtime:Â 2 hours, 13 minutes
Producer: Kevin Feige
Director:Â Cate Shortland
Writer:Â Eric Pearson, Jac Schaeffer, Ned Benson
Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, O-T Fagbenle, Olga Kurylenko, William Hurt. Ray Winstone, Rachel Weisz
What We said in 2020: The long-delayed release of Black Widow (2020), due to COVID-19 restrictions, is finally coming to an end. For those who cannot wait for Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to begin, watch Disney+ for original streaming series WandaVision, Falcon and The Winter Solider and Loki – available now.
We would love to hear your thoughts, predictions and exceptions for MCU Phase Four as we await Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanova / Black Widow to reprise her role, set, shortly after the events of Captain America: Civil War, within the greater context of the story before the catastrophic events of Avengers: Infinity War / Endgame.
Once Black Widow is released, we’ll post our JouleView review. If prior Marvel Studios releases are predictive of the future, we’re guessing, with a reasonable amount of certainty that we’ll rate this upcoming Marvel film, 4-5 JoulePeppers – it’ll be Hot n’ Spicy! Fingers crossed…
Full 2021 Review: Have you watched Black Widow (2021) yet? What did you think about the film, its direction, cast, the story, cinematography, soundtrack and overall themes?
The solo outing of Natasha Romanova, leaves just “Avenger” Clint Barton / Hawkeye to receive his own film / series. Clint was referenced more than once, however, throughout Black Widow, as I’ll discuss later.
An origin film, 11 years after a character debuts, can be a bit tricky if not handled properly and that was my fear, going into Black Widow considering she first appeared in 2010’s Iron Man 2. Once again, Marvel Studios delivered in this department, providing just enough of an origin, to set the backdrop for this solo adventure without overburdening us.
For those who saw Avengers Endgame (2018) and may be wondering how Black Widow is having her own film… that possible confusion is easily adverted when Black Widow (2021) takes place in-between 2016’s Captain America: Civil War and 2017’s Avengers: Infinity War.
Black Widow, having no “Super Powers” of her own and her origin film having no true “Super Villain” is more akin to Mission Impossible or 007 action / spy / thriller with megalomaniac antagonist, Dreykov, than the typical Marvel “Super Hero” fantasy / adventure. That said, the film does contain the Russian “Super Solider” Red Guardian and an amplified or in-universe, “Enhanced” or “Modified” villain in the Taskmaster. This does not detract from the film, at all it just feels like an Ethan Hunt / James Bond adventure within the Marvel Universe.
After watching WandaVision, Falcon and The Winter Solider and Loki on Disney+, I found the acting, score, pacing and visuals, most welcome. They were fantastic! Not knocking the Disney / Marvel Original Series visuals, but it was a welcome treat to view a higher budget production and on the big screen. Yes… I cheated, I watched Black Widow at the theater and not on Disney+ Premier Access via my 85 inch UHD TV with 720 watt Surround Sound. I’ve written before about my feelings on Premier Access. It’s just not something I will support, especially when it’s less expensive and more enjoyable to watch a film at a movie theater.
The overall story was good enough to keep me entertained, although it was predictable, breaking no, new ground. This did not detract from my enjoyment of the film, at all, it’s just that the plot twists, perhaps meant to surprise the audience, were expected and / or anticipated, at least by this viewer. The onscreen introductions of Natasha Romanova’s “sister” Widow Yelena Belova, “mother” Widow Melina Vostokoff and super-soldier, “father” Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian are both welcome and important, as I presume we’ll see more than one of these in upcoming “Avenger” films. There are pre/end credit scenes. One comes right away and the other is at the very end of the roll.
SPOILER WARNING: While I do not want to spoil anything… I mentioned before that I’d return to Clint Barton and so does the film. Those who have watched Falcon and The Winter Solider may remember actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus cameo role as Madame Hydra, well… she’s back and she’s looking to take-out Hawkeye, but I won’t spoil by which means.
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I look forward to your JoulePepper rating of Black Widow (2021) and I would love to read your comments in the JouleView section, below. Based on the above, I give this film 3 – 4, JoulePeppers – it’s Warm – Hot but not quite consistent enough to be Spicy!
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