There's a new Black Widow trailer. It includes some new footage, including a very young person with blue hair (New Rockstars says this could be a young Natasha). If you're not familiar with Task Master, that character (in the comics) is able to copy the moves of someone he (or she) studies. One of the locations in the movie is Budapest, which if you remember Black Widow and Clint Barton reference a time there so maybe this covers it. The end of the trailer announces that the movie's release date is July 9th in theaters and on Disney+ premier access, "at an additional cost." I recently reported that to watch this on Disney+, you're going to have to pay $30 for it, which I still think is a bit expensive (as movie tickets in my area are $8 each and new Blu-Rays might cost that much or less).

If you want to get some more details, check out this video posted by New Rockstars: https://youtu.be/7kjrjVhTs_Q

Are you looking forward to this? How or when do you think you'll see it?

Travis   Admin wrote on 04/04/2021 at 03:58am

Yeah the theory about that price tag is movie tickets are usually 10-15 or so and if you are a family of four or something you're saving a ton on it, but if you are watching it alone it's definitely a drag.

But it's mostly the newness of it. Blu Rays are $20ish but that's long after release and they only get a fraction of their cash from people owning it. You can definitely benefit if you don't want to watch it launch day.

I'm kinda hoping things are getting normal-ish by July. Or at least August. I'm more interested in seeing The Suicide Squad in theaters than this but I'll see both if I can do so safely. Yay vaccines!

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 04/04/2021 at 04:45am

Yeah, I'm wondering how it works out w/ that $30 price, is it a digital movie you get to keep and watch whenever you want? Although, I think it seems more likely that would be true, so long as you're paying for Disney+.

I might go to the theater as I did with Godzilla vs. Kong, but that was pretty much a 17th birthday present for Vinny, since it was supposed to come out on his birthday. If he's around (he goes to his mom's during the summers), I might take him to see it. If I'm alone, I'm not sure if I'll go to the theater. I'm also looking forward to The Suicide Squad and that's another movie I may go see in the theater, if Vinny's around.

I get my first (of two) vaccination in a few days. Jon said he was getting his soon, too.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 04/04/2021 at 05:43am

I am planning on paying the $30 right on July 9th to see this. I used to see the "big" movies (Star Wars, Marvel, etc) with friends, and I'm wondering if I could get together with some friends in one of our backyards, set up a TV and fling the movie to it so we could all watch it together. Or perhaps by July we'll be comfortable with hanging out in each other's houses, as I bet we'll all be vaccinated by then. I have a good TV and sound system; the only thing I'll miss is surround sound from a theater šŸ™‚

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 04/04/2021 at 06:19am

Sounds awesome, Adam!

Will_Ball   Game Mod   Super Member wrote on 04/04/2021 at 09:02pm

I am probably going to pay the $30 to see this one. I should be fully vaccinated by then, but not sure I am ready to go to a movie theater until covid cases are on the decline. Maybe by then they will be.

Travis   Admin wrote on 04/05/2021 at 12:50am

Iā€™m with you on the criteria Will. I should be as immune as Iā€™m going to be, but itā€™s not a panacea.

jdodson   Admin wrote on 04/08/2021 at 01:45am

My though is if friends have the vaccine then weā€™re all safe to hang out. Maybe others can with masks on that donā€™t have the vaccine yet?

Hope we can see this one in theaters. It would a fun way to go back to do that.

Will_Ball   Game Mod   Super Member wrote on 04/08/2021 at 05:19pm

Yeah, vaccinated friends I am cool with. It is the other people and the theaters that I worry about.

Travis   Admin wrote on 04/10/2021 at 07:37pm

Yep, that's exactly my criteria too.

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 07/07/2021 at 10:14pm

Two more days!!! Friday!!!!

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 07/10/2021 at 12:34am

I think once again, Marvel doesn't disappoint. I do, however, have one tidbit. It's not quite a spoiler, but I'm hesitant to share at the moment, I may have to sit on that one and think about it. However! Be sure to stick around for the post-credits scene!

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 07/10/2021 at 03:34pm

I had such low expectations for Black Widow, but it blew me away! This is one of the most dramatic MCU movies and is up among the best MCU movies, instantly.

jdodson   Admin wrote on 07/10/2021 at 05:53pm

Iā€™ve heard mixed reviews about it, glad to hear you loved it.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 07/10/2021 at 06:14pm

I've only seen people mad about Taskmaster, because he's "cooler" in the comics. But if you're not familiar with him, it doesn't make a difference (to me at least)

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 07/10/2021 at 08:24pm

My problem with it is mostly how it's another movie where the villain reveals his master plan only to be foiled by the good guy. I saw something about this some time ago and forget what/where it was, but Bond films were referenced as doing this and Natasha did watch a Bond film.

I think the actors did a great job with Russian accents, even though they're not Russian. I saw a behind the scenes video and Florence Pugh has a British accent. I kind of wondered why they didn't hire Russian actors, but obviously they didn't need to. Obviously, it is not necessary to hire native language speakers if actors can pull off the accent. This reminds me of how shocked I was to see James Marsters go from playing the British sounding Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer to another American sounding character in something else.

Oh and O-T Fagbenle who played Natasha's friend Mason was in Doctor Who, FYI.

Otherwise, yeah I liked it, it's Marvel and they know how to do awesome!

As for Adam's description of Taskmaster, I was fine with "him." "He" was cool to me. Since we see from "his" perspective in the beginning, I thought "he" was a robot. LOL

Travis   Admin wrote on 07/13/2021 at 05:32pm

Yeah taskmaster was a weird add here. It felt like that character just wasnā€™t necessary to anything and could have been an amazing villain in another film.

But I really enjoyed it. I had no expectations at all but I was into it. It continues the recent tradition of Marvel movies feeling like their own kind of thing rather than the samey feel they had for a while. The Bond comparison is spot on, it was a spy movie, not a superhero movie.

And Florence Pughā€¦ wow. I wish things had played out differently in one scene of Endgame (which I wonā€™t mention just in case thereā€™s someone reading this who somehow hasnā€™t seen it) but if they donā€™t somehow undo that scene I want Yelena to join the Avengers.

I didnā€™t realize OT Fabenagle (what a name) was in Doctor Who but heā€™s great in Handmaidā€™s Tale. Very odd to hear his native accent since Iā€™m used to an American accent.

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 07/13/2021 at 05:55pm

I watched a video by New Rockstars that highlighted a good point about the Bond comparison. She was watching Moonraker and both movies are very similar. I'm sure I've seen Moonraker along with all the other Bond movies, but it's been a long time.

Post-credits potential spoiler!
Because of the post-credits scene, I don't think Yelena is going to join the Avengers as we know them. I think she's going to join the Dark Avengers or Thunderbolts along with U.S. Agent (John Walker). I also think Abomination is going to be part of that group, too.

Travis   Admin wrote on 07/14/2021 at 07:44pm

Well, I think youā€™re probably right. But also I think sheā€™s setting that whole crew up to think theyā€™re doing good things but sheā€™s Hydra. I donā€™t think Yelena will stay with them when she finds out sheā€™s fighting for evil

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 07/14/2021 at 10:10pm

Yeah. From what I've heard about the comics is that Val was a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. She infiltrated Hydra once, but she wasn't bad, in fact she had a romantic relationship with Nick Fury. However, she doesn't seem good. She's acting like another character from Hydra who was Victoria Hand. You may remember Victoria Hand from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. She had long hair and a red streak in her hair, although Val's blue streak is much better IMO. So, maybe the MCU is combining the two. Also, Yelena and Black Widow were often fighting each other. I think the opposite as you, Travis. I think she'll buy the lie that Hawkeye was responsible for the death of Black Widow and not be open to the truth of what really happened. But, we'll see.

Travis   Admin wrote on 07/15/2021 at 09:30pm

Youā€™re kinda right about Val. She was a shield agent but was a Russian plant who eventually takes over as Madame Hydra, from what I understand.

But comics also have a way of saying ā€œoops just kiddingā€ a lot and rewriting things

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 07/15/2021 at 11:36pm

Yeah and the MCU isn't using the comics as a word-for-word reference. They've changed gender and racial identities for characters, which I don't mind. They also changed the name and image of the Mandarin, because the original character is viewed as a bad Asian stereotype. So, pretty much all good changes. It's great to fix what was wrong and also to add diversity.

Travis   Admin wrote on 07/16/2021 at 02:37pm

Yep! Iā€™ve enjoyed seeing all the changes.

Will_Ball   Game Mod   Super Member wrote on 07/19/2021 at 02:22am

I really enjoyed this movie. Fun times.

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 07/19/2021 at 04:47am

I hated the nose bash part. Hemophobia here!

Will_Ball   Game Mod   Super Member wrote on 07/19/2021 at 06:43pm

GregoPeck, it made my nose hurt.

Will_Ball   Game Mod   Super Member wrote on 07/19/2021 at 06:46pm

Interesting point from slashfilm on Val. In Black Widow she uses an ipad. Apple does not let villains in movies use apple products.

Travis   Admin wrote on 07/20/2021 at 06:32pm

Ok that IS interesting. So why does she want Hawkeye taken down if sheā€™s not a villain?

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 07/20/2021 at 08:04pm

I think I heard on New Rockstars one theory isn't that she wants him killed, but instead wants him recruited to the team she's creating. Although, thinking on it, it doesn't seem to make sense since she's saying he's responsible for what happened to Black Widow.

Travis   Admin wrote on 07/20/2021 at 09:29pm

Itā€™s possible that rule from Apple isnā€™t uniformly applied as well. I remember the Underwoods using iPads in House of Cards and they were definitely bad guys.

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 07/20/2021 at 09:45pm

Maybe the group Val is getting together isn't necessarily "good" or "evil," but some kind of combination. John Walker tried to be a "good" Captain America, but we saw what happened. I don't think he thinks of himself as a "bad" guy, but that he thought he did what had to be done, and I think this is why Val recruited him and others like him. I think she and whoever she's working for (Ross, maybe) is looking for a team that is willing to do what needs to be done. I'm thinking of it like the different categories in Dungeons & Dragons where there's "lawful," "neutral," and "chaotic" "good" and "evil." I think she's trying to form the Thunderbolts or Dark Avengers. They may be more villainous than the Avengers, but they may have some similar goals, just a different understanding of how to accomplish them.

Will_Ball   Game Mod   Super Member wrote on 07/21/2021 at 06:09pm

The Misunderstood Avengers.

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 07/22/2021 at 11:07pm

So, I started playing the Marvel's Avengers video game and Taskmaster is a male, just like he is in the comic books. I've also been told he appears (as a male) in another game (I think it was a Spider-Man game). I think the beauty of the multi-verse is that you can use it to explain anything, because anything is possible. So, I'm thinking that's the best and easiest way to explain this gender swap. I think this is pretty much the go-to explanation for pretty much every confusion, plot hole, or character recast (like Brody and Banner). I'm not disappointed with the gender swap, but it contradicts every other version of the character.

Travis   Admin wrote on 07/23/2021 at 06:26pm

Yeah Iā€™m not upset about the gender swap at all. I just wish taskmaster had been a major villain of whatever gender rather than a secondary one. Thereā€™s a lot of potential there.

Who knows though, she may be back!

Will_Ball   Game Mod   Super Member wrote on 07/23/2021 at 07:27pm

I could see Taskmaster coming back in a series, like Zemo.

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 07/23/2021 at 08:40pm

I'm not upset about the gender swap, either, but it is confusing having different genders in different media.

Yeah, I wonder if she'll be back. I wonder if she'd switch from being a "villain" now that Black Widow freed her from the mind control. I wonder if she'd harbor resentment towards her dad for what he did or if she'll be angry because he was killed.

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