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Black Widow Movie Review: The Reboot Redefined

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The number one question I’ve had about Black Widow since its announcement as a belated Phase 4 MCU project is *why* finally getting to a Scarlett Johansson solo movie made since for this new era. After all, the narrative is set between 2016’s Captain America: Civil War and 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War. So why wasn’t this movie planned for *that* time period, apart from Marvel Studios (specifically Ike Perlmutter’s) absolute terror of delivering a feature film with a woman lead?

Ultimately, regardless of the success of the film as Marvel’s mixture of The Americans, cold war spies, and classic Black Widow superhero intrigue, I’m going to fixate on the purpose (glorious or no) of Black Widow as a Phase 4 film. Delivering a massively belated ScarJo spy movie just because it’s better late than never simply rings hollow.

So does Black Widow deliver as a turning point for this post Avengers: Endgame MCU landscape? [Read more…] about Black Widow Movie Review: The Reboot Redefined

Loki on Disney Plus: Episode One Review & Theories!

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Following up on the hype-machine success of WandaVision, and the muddled reactions to SamCap and the Winter Soldier, Marvel’s Disney+ TV continues with 2021’s Loki, starring Tom Hiddleston. Loki picks up directly after 2012-Loki uses the cosmic cube in Avengers: Endgame, and escapes during the Avengers Time-Heist.

There’s a fair amount riding on Loki, as the MCU tries to cement their place as the essential big and small screen pop culture experience. We dig into the first episode of the six episode series, and talk all things gods of mischief, Time Variance Authority, and what the role of Loki might be in the MCU from here! [Read more…] about Loki on Disney Plus: Episode One Review & Theories!

Falcon and the Winter Soldier Review!

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In the build to Falcon and the Winter Soldier, I talked a lot about the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s uncanny ability to merge influences. How – with the primary exception of Captain America: Winter Soldier – films are rarely a direct adaptation of one thing, and instead a merger of ideas, ultimately synthesizing to something new.

The end result is that I’ve rarely watched the MCU thinking too heavily about how “the comics did it better,” or falling back on the cliched evergreen truth: the book’s better than the movie. Mostly this is a testament to very strong storytelling, a remarkable blend of focus and quality control, and again, just enough remixing comic book influences to feel fresh on screen.

Falcon and The Winter Soldier is the most heavily I’ve felt the distractions of the source material. There are three distinct Marvel stories the TV series very openly pillages, and the one largely unique storyline – the post “blip” rise of the Flagsmashers – is so egregiously porous, that everything suffers. [Read more…] about Falcon and the Winter Soldier Review!

WandaVision Episodes 1 & 2 Debut Review!

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Dave: Hello and welcome to Comic Book Herald’s WandaVision review! Kenneth Laster and I will tackle the first two episodes of Disney+’s WandaVision, the debut Phase 4 release for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s the first new entry in the MCU since Spider-Man: Far From Home in July 2019, kicking off a Phase that promises the likes of Loki, Falcon and Winter Soldier, Black Widow, and most relevant to WandaVision down the road, Doctor Strange 2 and the Multiverse of Madness.

Please note, some spoilers for the first two episodes may follow! [Read more…] about WandaVision Episodes 1 & 2 Debut Review!

The Official Scene by Scene MCU Chronological Watching Order!

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe obviously needs no introduction. For the last twelve years, it’s become something of a cultural miracle, captivating the world’s imagination by assembling some of the most dynamic characters and talented storytellers into an interconnected sprawling epic in which flying robots, Norse Gods, mystic wizards and talking raccoons all belong under one roof.

But what if you could watch it all chronologically? And not just by movie. By scene. [Read more…] about The Official Scene by Scene MCU Chronological Watching Order!