I’m the biggest Marvel nerd out there. I’ve watched each film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe at least five times and dedicated hours to watching potential theories and spoilers on YouTube, writes Cape {town} Etc’s Lynn Cupido.
Each film, at least in my opinion, is a brilliantly crafted puzzle piece that fits into the epic and beautiful big picture. So, when the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the release of one such puzzle piece after being hyped up for the last few months, I was gutted.
After nearly 18 months of impatiently waiting, Marvel’s latest addition made it into cinemas: Black Widow.
This film throws you headfirst into a storyline that’s packed with action and gives you very little time to catch your breath between scenes. I gorged myself on action sequences and left the cinema ready to take up kickboxing lessons because …wow.
The film follows Scarlett Johansson’s character Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, a former Soviet spy turned superhero. The story takes a trip down memory lane, giving fans a glimpse into the enigmatic spy’s childhood, transporting us back into the present as she attempts to take down the very institution that created her.
Inclusion has been the keyword over the last few years, and fans have been craving a female-centred story that’s both badass and well-written (sorry, Captain Marvel). Black Widow manages to check both of these boxes and doesn’t attempt to force-feed you a female-empowered narrative that many films have been pushing these days.
It’s a beautiful blend of comedy, action and dysfunctional family dynamics, providing us with one of the most intriguing backstories of the MCU, only made better by the introduction of Yelena (Florence Pugh). Pugh’s character did a terrific job of humanising Natasha in a way that many of the other MCU films haven’t done, providing us with a Black Widow that’s vulnerable and protective. She also gave us a little costume easter egg that had me internally screaming.
Needless to say, I left the cinema feeling satisfied and well-fed. The film is a breath of fresh air and well worth the wait. It’s the perfect stand-alone film and offers a refreshing new angle to a well-known character, allowing Natasha to flourish as the baddie we know and love. I’m quite excited to see where they take this storyline.
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Picture: Instagram @Black Widow