Below-average MCU in my opinion, and I enjoyed all of their output since 2015 (yup, even Captain Marvel!). Florence Pugh overshadows Scarlett in her own film.
Competent throughout but by the end feels like less than the sum of its parts. The family element was the most successful for me, even if much of the conversation between family members felt like they were just going through the motions instead of really connecting.
Some good action scenes, though sometimes overlong and repetitive. Much of the essential story exposition also feels rushed or simply not set up sufficiently to deserve the payoff. Likely this was initially a much longer script that was cut as Disney to have started imposing 2hr 15 limits on their recent straight to Disney plus films.
Throughout I felt something disconnecting me, getting in the way of me engaging more, which I largely put down the the very conventional use of music and sound, putting a buffer between me and the actual sound of the film world - but this is a very common issue I have with mainstream films, and is particularly noticeable in the David Attenborough wildlife documentaries, which can be otherwise incredible but I find my brain switching off with the music. It tells me not to pay attention and instead saps the tension from scenes. Why it’s more of a problem here than in many other marvel films, I don’t know, but it would be interesting to study.
Filling in Black Widow's back story while also giving her a Civil War-era swan song AND setting up a new Widow in the process is a lot to ask of a single MCU entry, but for me it worked. The sense of family that Natasha got from the Avengers actually stems from another constructed family in Russia, and as a unit, I thought they were fun and charming. None more so than Florence Pugh's Yelena - and you know I'm more excited about Pugh than I am the MCU - as Nat's bratty sister (if you think about the plot MacGuffin, it makes sense that she would be a stunted adolescent). She can do the action, she can be funny and cynical, but it's when she gets emotional that I completely embrace the character. Abandonment issues are at the heart of the film, along with a big dose of sisterhood (far more than "family"). The movie's action is quite a bit more gritty in the first half, eventually expanding to things only superheroes could do, and maybe we miss that Bourne Identity energy by the big climax, but not overmuch. Could have been a little trimmer, but a repugnant villain, a global adventure, fun new characters, even some twists and surprises, go a long way justifying the length.
Feels like an opportunity wasted. I don't know why I was expecting more of a spy/espionage type of movie (probably due to Widow being the lead) but instead it's just another generic Marvel entry. Widow has consistsntly been hinted at as one of (arguably) the most mentally tortured and complex Avengers and instead of really delving into that past its all glossed over with a lot of action and yet another "save the world" plot line. Could've been a lot more, Marvel phoned this one in but perhaps not surprising considering the character was already dead and gone when released. Awkward...
Florence Pugh (the sister) completely stole the movie. Was disappointed that this was not an origin story for Nat, would've worked a lot better than squeezing in a side story of being on the run between Civil War and Infinity War. Still a pretty good action movie overall, though.
It really does feel like a side-quest for the MCU. It also couldve used a better theme than just Family, especially since it's not really mentioned elsewhere in Widow's MCU appearances. On top of that, it has a very boring supervillain and cliche puppetmaster, both coudve been handled better. But, even MCU's weaker films are still pretty great. Perfectly casted and the actors play off each other great. The directing was good and the action was creative. I would love to see these characters again
Did I miss "evil" woman character, or was this just a trendy sexist movie from begining to the end. When this trend was a thing in the 80's it was bad, so why reheat s**t in new form for developing minds to consume?
Action was fine as expected and begining of the film was moving forward nicely, but later parts quickly run out of gas. Finale flew as straight as arrow and didn't aim high. Whole movie had probably just two to three surprises and rest was just another re-heat of old tropes.(some good, some bad) Won't watch this twice.
Another predictable by the numbers entry from Marvel, once again with plenty of awful attempts at the Russian accent.
Cannot understand the high reviews this is getting, there's nothing new or special about it. Just the usual 6.5/10 which is where this franchise's movies usually sit
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Comments 1 - 15 of 19
CodeV
Solid episode in the Marvel's Universe. Don't forget to watch all the credits.+ Natasha's family relations
+ You feel shadow of the Soviet Union
+ Multiple nice fight scenes
kurisu1974
Does anyone still care?And why?
Emiam
6+/10Marvel makes entertaining movies indeed! Haha!
Torgo
Below-average MCU in my opinion, and I enjoyed all of their output since 2015 (yup, even Captain Marvel!). Florence Pugh overshadows Scarlett in her own film.imokaylarry
Competent throughout but by the end feels like less than the sum of its parts. The family element was the most successful for me, even if much of the conversation between family members felt like they were just going through the motions instead of really connecting.Some good action scenes, though sometimes overlong and repetitive. Much of the essential story exposition also feels rushed or simply not set up sufficiently to deserve the payoff. Likely this was initially a much longer script that was cut as Disney to have started imposing 2hr 15 limits on their recent straight to Disney plus films.
Throughout I felt something disconnecting me, getting in the way of me engaging more, which I largely put down the the very conventional use of music and sound, putting a buffer between me and the actual sound of the film world - but this is a very common issue I have with mainstream films, and is particularly noticeable in the David Attenborough wildlife documentaries, which can be otherwise incredible but I find my brain switching off with the music. It tells me not to pay attention and instead saps the tension from scenes. Why it’s more of a problem here than in many other marvel films, I don’t know, but it would be interesting to study.
Siskoid
Filling in Black Widow's back story while also giving her a Civil War-era swan song AND setting up a new Widow in the process is a lot to ask of a single MCU entry, but for me it worked. The sense of family that Natasha got from the Avengers actually stems from another constructed family in Russia, and as a unit, I thought they were fun and charming. None more so than Florence Pugh's Yelena - and you know I'm more excited about Pugh than I am the MCU - as Nat's bratty sister (if you think about the plot MacGuffin, it makes sense that she would be a stunted adolescent). She can do the action, she can be funny and cynical, but it's when she gets emotional that I completely embrace the character. Abandonment issues are at the heart of the film, along with a big dose of sisterhood (far more than "family"). The movie's action is quite a bit more gritty in the first half, eventually expanding to things only superheroes could do, and maybe we miss that Bourne Identity energy by the big climax, but not overmuch. Could have been a little trimmer, but a repugnant villain, a global adventure, fun new characters, even some twists and surprises, go a long way justifying the length.boulderman
Bland film. Characters were ok. Indeed Pugh was brillDisneyStitch
Feels like an opportunity wasted. I don't know why I was expecting more of a spy/espionage type of movie (probably due to Widow being the lead) but instead it's just another generic Marvel entry. Widow has consistsntly been hinted at as one of (arguably) the most mentally tortured and complex Avengers and instead of really delving into that past its all glossed over with a lot of action and yet another "save the world" plot line. Could've been a lot more, Marvel phoned this one in but perhaps not surprising considering the character was already dead and gone when released. Awkward...Boei
Reminded me why I was bored with Marvel movies.ryano1076
Florence Pugh (the sister) completely stole the movie. Was disappointed that this was not an origin story for Nat, would've worked a lot better than squeezing in a side story of being on the run between Civil War and Infinity War. Still a pretty good action movie overall, though.nowhereman136
It really does feel like a side-quest for the MCU. It also couldve used a better theme than just Family, especially since it's not really mentioned elsewhere in Widow's MCU appearances. On top of that, it has a very boring supervillain and cliche puppetmaster, both coudve been handled better. But, even MCU's weaker films are still pretty great. Perfectly casted and the actors play off each other great. The directing was good and the action was creative. I would love to see these characters again7/10
amarkula
Did I miss "evil" woman character, or was this just a trendy sexist movie from begining to the end. When this trend was a thing in the 80's it was bad, so why reheat s**t in new form for developing minds to consume?Action was fine as expected and begining of the film was moving forward nicely, but later parts quickly run out of gas. Finale flew as straight as arrow and didn't aim high. Whole movie had probably just two to three surprises and rest was just another re-heat of old tropes.(some good, some bad) Won't watch this twice.
chunkylefunga
If I were Scarlett I would have sued Disney for a different reason...rubbish storyline.NourNasreldin
Disappointed because does Marvel even care how long we've been waiting for this one?I don't care if it stands as a "good action movie on its own", this is Black Widow! We expected so much more than a good action movie.
MrDoog
Another predictable by the numbers entry from Marvel, once again with plenty of awful attempts at the Russian accent.Cannot understand the high reviews this is getting, there's nothing new or special about it. Just the usual 6.5/10 which is where this franchise's movies usually sit
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