Review | BLACK WIDOW | Not What It Could Have Been Or Should Have Been 

"it definitely better than captain Marvel" well, there's no bar at all, any freaking episode of Tom and Jerry is definitely better than captain Marvel 😂

Apparently the script for this movie was written in 11 days. At least according to the writer. Dunno if he's bragging or trying to excuse himself. I have a suspicion it's the former. This idiotic disregard for writing is the core problem of modern Hollywood movies. Remember when Roundhead was bragging that TLJ's script was a first draft? After all, why waste time to perfect the very foundation of your movie. The part that can't be bad, because if it is, it makes all the acting, music, special effects etc. meaningless?

Its TASK MA'AM

Taskmaster got disrespected

Given that the audience knew Black Widow was firing on all cylinders in Endgame, there was no way to get excited about her being in any apparent danger.

The whole metoo crap and her whining about the suit prior to this movie turned me off a lot tbh. Not as bad as Brie Larson's bs don't get me wrong, but just don't want to waste my time with these feminist movies using our beloved comic characters to project or the actors themselves griping about it. This is why to me WW was done so well and still the best heroine comic book movie to date(not 84, the first WW) The Task Master was botched and another example of Hollywood saying "hey source material 🖕you"..... The last two big Heroine movies in comics were disappointing. Makes me worried about future DC and Marvel heroine solo movies tbh. Great review.

The "Twist" of the Taskmaster alot of people predicted it from the very first trailer 😂😂

Yeah, some people predicted the Taskmaster "twist" 3 years ago. I'm surprised you weren't expecting that from the moment you saw him...

Movie made Red Guardian, A Russian Super Soldier, look like a clown and turned Taskmaster, a snarky mercenary with a tragic backstory, into an emotionless female robot whose entire story is "Woman abused and manipulated by a man." Fail on every level.

The real sad part about this movie was it could have been good. They did an excellent job setting up Taskmaster initially. They created a competent villain, one we were curious to see how the hero would overcome. Then instead of giving us an epic fight at the end, they have to go ruin their villain. I mean I get that they wanted to try to make it more of a personal moment for Black Widow, but we already had her heroic sacrifice in Avengers, she really didn't need yet another noble hero moment. What she needed was a really good fight scene and showdown with a villain, because that's ultimately something she'd been denied in all the other films where she wasn't the main character. For all the other feminist themes in the movie, what we really wanted to see was Black Widow kick some ass. It feels like she was cheated of that final showdown that every other character would get in their solo film. They did handle Black Widow's character well. I really do appreciate that they didn't try to retcon her past. Having her make the decision to murder Drakov's daughter was a nice way of showing some of the awful stuff in her past that she regrets. I also like the fact that she actually had a plan going into the Red Room. We actually see some trickery and some forethought here complete with disguises and strategies. This is the kind of thing missing completely from Loki.

The can bring Masters in later and say this was a poor "attempt" to replicate his ability. Make Taskmaster the villain in a Disney Plus show and give him the Winter Soldier treatment. (Back when they had the Winter Soldier as an actual threat) Now that I think about it.. They are watering down all the damned male characters.. 🤔

I was hoping the whole Budapest thing was going to be covered, not just that they spent a couple weeks in a ceiling vent.

Apparently the script was written in 11 days...that should explain a lot.

Before I watch the video, I will post my main issue with this movie. No man in that organization was brainwashed, only woman, makes no seance. Those man were jumping after them with no parachutes trying to kill them, that some serious dedication.

-Could have been better if it was a TV series from the beginning of BW's career till the beginning of infinity war -Yelena's character could have been the main widow with Natasha being a mentor figure -This movie ruined taskmaster The character which can mimic your fighting style is seen doing moves from older movies Instead of showing TM adapting to the fighting styles of the opponent they just show moves of previous marvel characters

I'm honestly sad that this movie is the last we'll see of her in the MCU

They could have done a twist where the bad guy is ALSO mind controlled and he's just a front man. Nothing stopping someone from using the drugs on him. And it would be cool if the woman who made the drugs was the one really in control. Even Black Widow states "what's this all for?". Is this guy the man behind the curtain? The bottom of the rabbit hole? And it would have been cool if Red Guardian actually stood a chance against Task Master cause of his erratic, spastic fighting style that she couldn't predict cause he literally didn't know what he was doing.

The taskmaster in the ENTIRE MOVIE is physically male stunt man while the mask in on THEN reveal the actor it’s a little lady!!! Yes Disney is actively calling the fans STUPID. Actor playing red guardian 6’3”. The actress playing taskmaster (without the mask) 5’9”. BlackWidow 5’3”.

Tokenmaster

The perfect time for a Black Widow movie would’ve been anywhere after IM2, but before Captain Marvel. Not when her character’s dead & there are no real stakes- it’s not like Darth Vader & the prequels where we got to know more about a character we didn’t know that much about- her arc was pretty much complete by Endgame.

We should have gotten this 5 years ago. It should have been around AoU where Nat goes back to Russia to face her past in an effort to try and find a way to free Bucky's mind for Steve. She faces her past. We learn about her and Bucky's past and how it was scrubbed from both their memories. Moreover, if they really wanted a Taskmaster twist. They should have left him as Tony Masters and made him originally Clint's partner from Budapest. That Natasha believed she killed before defecting. She then has to unite her family to get the info to save Bucky, free the new girls, stop Drakov and capture Taskmaster without killing him or letting him kill her or anyone she cares about.

The "Sever the nerve" part, made me wanna do the same thing to my desk.

One of the things that made the MCU work well in regards to diversity is how they made men and women equals in relation to their counterparts. Capt. America - Peggy Carter Ironman - Pepper Potts Hawkeye - Black Widow Vision - Scarlet Witch Nobody even THOUGHT of misogyny until Brie Larson began opening her mouth during the marketing of Capt. Marvel, and fortunately there was nothing to bitch about in regards to Infinity or Endgame. Phase 4 will likely be the Star Wars trilogy we endured at the beginning of last decade, and hopefully it will wake up Feige or Disney to stop listening to the Tyrannical minority and instead sell to entertain the moviewatcher majority.

Marvel is also making their "Heroes" morally corrupt ! In WandaVision the head of SWORD is arrested (why) for trying to stop Wanda, but Wanda gets to go free ? Carol Danvers barely blinks at finding out she has been murdering refugees for 20 years. Valkyrie sold people into slavery and death in the arena for possibility hundreds of years, but its never brought up (because she is black) and is made Queen of Asgard and considered a Hero ?? And Natasha of her own free will murders a child to get to the bad guy, but its ok because she feels bad about it ?? Notice a pattern ? Morally corrupt writers making Marvel women morality corrupt ! Because if you criticize the female characters you are sexist, but something weird is going on at Marvel ! The future of the M-she-U isn't looking good or heroic !

I saw the film yesterday and overall liked it, but all crticisms in this video are valid.

I lost interest in this movie when I saw how they treated Red Guardian. Tired of women crapping over male characters.

I haven’t seen the movie and I don’t think I’ll be planning on seeing anytime soon, just after 11 years in the making it feels this should have been one of the first MCU movies years ago.

I honestly cant even be arsed to pirate this movie...goddamn I used to love Feige and Marvel Studios back in the day. Never thought he would be a fake grifter to just pull the rug from under us after 10years of Entertaining Escapism :(

Remember way in the way back when Peggy Carter had her own series? And that first season was so stupid good? In it, they introduced the perfect foil to her, Dottie. She seemed to be raised in a version of The Red Room which made it so interesting!! I was excited to explore that and then, later, see how Peggy's clashes with Dottie and The Red Room would later affect Natasha and the version of the Red Room she grew up in. But they seemed to abandon all of the cool potential they had when season 2 started. I was so disappointed

Yeah it's 5 years too late..and the writers threw their politics in it....So I treated it like birds of prey...didn't watch it.

Oh man Taskmaster's fans weren't too happy on what they do him. Also, Red Guardian...jeez he's all over the place.

Black Widow should've gotten a solo movie after Winter Soldier and had the Russos write/ direct imo

Correct me if im wrong comment section, but isnt the comic book task master a male mutant with a healing factor and a photographic memory? Not a scrawny girl. Or did the Marvel comics retcon that aswell?

I honestly think that if Scarlett Johansonn wasn't so popular, people would really be crapping on this movie. This is what happens when you stick to a formula, but it doesn't really work. Also, Idk, I thought the obviously 6-foot plus stunt man in the Taskmaster costume did pretty well. Oh wait... I definitely agree that had this movie come out when fans were asking for it, it likely would have been much better.

Yeah I'm done.

Damn Thorias, FANTASTIC REVIEW of Black Widow, spitting truth about the Hollywood agenda while objectively reviewing the film, couldn't agree more brother, great job.

You can tell this is Disney MCU and not Marvel MCU for sure.

I like the screen behind you a lot. I enjoy your reviews and this screen behind you upped your game 👍🏼

@Thorias GREAT review!!!you took the words right out of my mouth!!

I've been wanting a Black Widow movie since I saw Iron Man 2. But yeah, Task Master as the villain got me excited for this. But I haven't been this disappointed with the twist since Iron Man 3 showing the truth about the Mandarin.

Great review as always!

Great work with the review! I was waiting to see you review this movie. I totally agree with the taskmaster part. They changed the character to the point of no recognition. I mean the character works as far as the movie is concerned but they could have done so much more with him that they just completely left out. I hope they do the character justice someday like they’re doing with the mandarin in Shang chi.

8:55 Won't spoil it Thorias Really? 3/4 of MCU Fans knows from watching movie and 1/4 learned via youtube so you could keep this one open

Was waiting for this …

Good to see Taskmaster ended up being a fembot. Taskmaster got done dirty

Love your reviews and breakdowns. I see movies differently now. Thank you.

I enjoyed the movie overall, but I was a bit disappointed that I didn't get to see Red Guardian be anything more than comic relief. Even when he was fighting Taskmaster, the only parts of the fight we saw were the parts where he was losing. This guy is supposed to be the Russian Captain America and he gets thrown around like a rag doll? Okay, sure...

Knowing what they did to Taskmaster was what made me skip this one. I didn't want to be right about them genderswaping him. I was right.

After seeing the film myself here are the good bits and bad bits. I'll keep it short this time. The Good -The chemistry between Nat and Yelena was the bright spot of the film. -All of Act 1 was the better part of the whole film. Because it was the set up and the sense of dread, fear, panick, need to escape the Feds and Taskmaster's first fight against Nat. -The end credit scene when Yelena visits her sister's grave was sad and very nice. -The difference between psychological brainwashing(Nat's Black Widow generation) and chemical brainwashing(Yelena's Black Widow generation) The Bad -Red Guardian being treated like a joke(Like Fat Thor) despite him being the Russian equivalent to the first Captain America, which would have given him enhanced human condition and abilities. -Darkov was the big bad and the leader of the Red Room and he is in all but 4 scenes and he is so weak that he couldn't even do a punch -Taskmaster's twist was the most idiotic thing I have seen. They should've made TM the leader of the Red Room not Darkov and we know the difference between a male body and a female one. YOU ARE NOT FOOLING ANYONE DISNEY! -Lastly the film was really 5 years to late and the real swan song for Nat was in Endgame and Endgame casted a large shadow in it's place and that took away the sense of Nat being in any real danger. My grade I give Black Widow is a C grade. It is a good popcorn film to see. But you will see the flaws in it and it will take away from the film. But overall it was serviceable.

This movie is the definition of : "Too little, too late."

TASKMASTER WAS BASICALLY DEADPOOL IN X-MEN ORIGINS!!! FUCK THAT!

I'm almost done watching the movie, I made it to the taskmaster twist. I don't like it, but it kinda made sense that he is a woman. The red room trains women into spies and it would make sense that it would turn out to be a woman. They should have invented a new villain like a cyborg widow instead. That would have been better. Hearing Alexi doesn't get to be serious like in the beginning is disappointing to hear.

I didn't see Thorias in the thumbnail at first lol

I loved your new film review of Black Widow. it was really well balanced.

The movie started off strong, and then slowly started to go down the drain. It was an okay movie at the end of the day.

I'm no Marvel comics expert but can Task Master's shield have its own flight plan/change directions going down the escalator tube, not hitting any surface and finally connect to the column on the lower level or was that some bull$hit? The fight scene between the two in Budapest apartment made no sense. Just because the red dust will release all these women from the control doesn't guarantee these women will do any good going forward. Most of them can still use their skills to commit crimes. Maybe there should be a follow up to this??!!

Everyone and their dog predicted they would turn Taskmaster into a girl. We have a scrawny Taskmaster that looks to weigh at most 130 pounds… gee, do I have to wonder if that came true? I don’t bother with Disney much anymore since the Carano fiasco. I’m not going to bother sending them any of my money.

Agree with a lot. This was just not the film to end Black Widows character on. Should have been released 5 years ago. Looking forward to seeing more of Florence Pugh. If anything the post credit scene was the most important scene to me moving forward with Phase 4.

Yes, she’s in fights and some she knows that she will lose. BUT. The fights she runs away from are all with other females. She never runs from a fight with a male or several males. And Task Master is supposed to be a fucking MAN! Nope not this movie. OH BOY! OH BOY! BIG SURPRISE! He’s a chick. A flow blown female. 😔

Natasha survived more falls in this movie than in Endgame.

I forgot, wasn't there an interview awhile back about some female screenwriter coming out and exposing the upcoming movie that it's not for entertainment, but for political bullshit? I mean, she did claimed being a feminist activist so of course that's going to happen... 😒

Ever notice that when a black guy is in a Disney / Marvel movie that has a hot girl he will either be effeminate or in the friendzone thats why I disagree with you on that arms dealer .He was a SIMP for Natasha . this was the only times she used her powers of seduction was to pump free stuff out of this guy . Witch put him in danger . As a black guy i'm tired of this non threatening black man trope

OK, this sounds life a fair review, thanks :)

3:10 it’s not a Fast 9 huh. Were we watching the same movie? 😂 *Nat:* gets violently slammed into like 6 metal beams and falls onto a pond 1inch deep “t’is but a SCRATCH” *Nat and Yelena:* swerve the car twice, roll a dozen times then tumble into a subway shaft, caving in the roof, the bottom, and dent all sides of the car “WHEW! THAT was close!” Hope someone gets that last reference :P

I really think this should of come out after civil war and been about the Budapest mission she’s been talking about since the first Avengers it would also add to least favourite Avengers Black Widow and Hawkeye

The worst about Taskmaster is that robs Natasha of her big regret. All that "red in my ledger".

The MCU answer to BoP. Every man is evil with no redeeming qualities or spectacularly incompetent or both. The kicker being the end credits scene is foreshadowing them making Clint the bad guy to Yelena's hero status. And every woman is revealed to be a hero or victim. Interesting though Natasha gets to keep her heroic status even though she freely admits she didn't care about killing Dreykov's daughter and it makes it bizarre that she'd just "forgive" Natasha even though most of her life being like it is was directly due to Natasha trying to kill her father and her along with him ... again without remorse for the most part.

Always a fair review.

Not worth the wait, Taskmaster got ruined beyond recognition and was an overall mess.

Taskmaster is an oof. All I'm gonna see when I look at the character is what could've been. edit: I think it was somewhere during the third act where I finally realized that the fights have no stakes. Really took me out of it seeing Endgame first.

If this is the start of phase 4 Holy hell the eternals is going to blow lol

A ligated bowel movement with a ride to the hospital afterwards is more enjoyable than Captain Marvel.

What deserves to be skewered by Taskmaster-the real Taskmaster, Tony Masters- is the RU-vid algorithm -🃏

About 6 years too late...so after all the earlier moves, now Black widow has a sister..🤔🤔

"Sorry david harbor, looks like you drew the short straw" irronic cause hes the only main character with a straw

Great Job!!!!

The problem with this kind of movie is: We know the main character can`t be killed. So we know the outcome. The audience will not care for a first-time side Character if that survives or not. And...this movie is really really boring. Too much talking and sisterhood

I feel like ScarJo's comments on the film were a dark omen. *Welcome to the final phase of the MCU.*

i know the whole woke thing has being going on for years now and i getting really sick of it - plus the hole gender swapping thing but the fact they made taskmaster female , really pissed me off - i dont expect a fully copy of the comics - marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Anthony_Masters_(Earth-616) but they could have try just little at least -

What movie should it have been? How exactly does that work?

This movie also explains why Black Widow was blonde in “Avengers: Infinity War”.

What I don't understand is if red guardian is a super soldier shouldn't he have an accelerated metabolism and not be able to get fat? Also love your videos Thorias, hope to see you on the Batwoman season 2 panel like last year.

This is the review I waited for. Why is everyone afraid to say this stuff?!?

I liked it...there are massive problems. Heel vs. Babyface touched on most of them when he covered spoilers. What it came down to for me was I never stopped liking the main characters despite what I think is a mediocre or worse script. This led to me forgiving a lot more than I normally would. To me the leads save this movie, but still it really should have been so much better.

Marvel should have switched production slots between "Black Widdow" and "Captain Marvel"

Is Thorias' 3rd eye being seen by us?

Not sure I agree with everything you say ... but I really do see where you're coming from. This could have been a great movie. Now it's ... not bad.

The Red room should have been connected to HYDRA in some way

kind of wish we got steve rogers at the end instead of that guy whos friends with natasha. would of been good to get a scene with those two again to lead into their 2 year long mission before infinity war.

I loved it until Red Guardian showed up again , everything after that was sooooo bad I ended up hating the movie. Which is too bad because it had a very strong opening.

I dont understand how can you say that they left Natasha's character intact. They made her retroactively ditch her entire "fake" family because she "thought" they must be doing fine and she never even tried to check up on them and when she was called out on it she just grunted about it and said nothing. During prison break scene she didnt even bat an eye when they were practically killing dozens if not hundreds of bystanders while her "sister" was cracking jokes about it. Not to mention they never even thought to free the widows that were going after them was strange. I didnt like Natasha in this movie at all and it all felt like a setup to make me like her sister more since she will be staring in upcoming movies.

i personally enjoyed the movie it's a cool popcorn movie the stunt females in the movie where great the biggest issues i had with it was the bad guys i wont ever get into the smell so you can't hurt the top guy but what truely pissed me off was task master he's a great character with a good back story and they changed his genger and got rid of his back story why is marvel still doing the girl power bull shit ?

I'm calling it now "The Marvels" aka Captian Marvel 2 is going to be modeled off of this movie. It's going to become a family movie in order to give more "light" to fan favorite Monica rambeau, reintroduce Ms.Marvel, and rework Captian Marvel to make more audiences care about her but Monica is going to be the main star.

I cant get into fast cut, total stunt-person reliant action. It doesnt suspend disbelief and allow enjoyment

This is a movie we should have gotten two years after iron Man 2. And apparently Hollywood thinks even smart people are To stupid to figure out the taskmaster plot

There might be a little bit of good in the movie that makes it better than Captain Marvel,but whay they did with Red Guardian and Taskmaster was unforgivable and this movie should have come before Endgame because it was too little too late.

I'm kind of done with politics in movies, videogames, tv shows. I don't care if its not 'too bad' because of it. It could be a 9/10, i don't give a shit anymore, i'm going to just avoid it entirely. I'm fucking tired. From the box office so far, it looks like it will make its money make, but only barely.

That's kind of creepy, Alexi was her husband in the comics.

Does Scarlett go nekid in this one?

Black Widow might have done better if it came out at the time it's set, between Civil War and Infinity war.