Charlize Theron leads a team of immortal mercenaries in Netflix’ latest superhero action film, The Old Guard. Based on the critically acclaimed comic book of the same name, the movie is available on the streaming platform since July 10, 2020.

Should you skip it or watch it? Read on this review to find out.

Another Comic Book Adaptation, Hmm?

I was so hyped when I first saw the trailer for The Old Guard last May of this year. The cleanly choreographed action scenes and the premise of having immortal warriors/mercenaries roaming the Earth for centuries genuinely piqued my interest. (Also, Charlize Theron is a personal favorite, so…)

Then I found out that it was actually a comic book adaptation and that kind of worried me. And for good reason, Hollywood has not been very successful when it comes to movie adaptations of comic books with a few exceptions, of course.

Thankfully, for The Old Guard, that is not the case and that is in the most part due to the production’s decision of keeping The Old Guard comic book author Greg Rucka in charge of the screenplay. I think that it’s always a great idea to keep the original author involved any time you turn a written or illustrated material into a movie. No author would want to see their brain-child getting damaged, after all.

So as far as comic book adaptation goes, The Old Guard is definitely one of the better ones.

Great Characters, Beautiful Story-telling

Director Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love & Basketball, The Secret Life of Bees) did an amazing job. Story-telling is great and perfectly captures the soul of the movie. The film feels like a river flowing ever so gently, it takes you from one scene to another in with a lot of suave. Not taking anything away from Prince-Bythewood but I would think this is also one of the many advantages of having the original author Greg Rucka by your side throughout the filming process.

Rucka created such deep characters, investing heavily on the immortal warriors led by Andy (Charlize Theron, Monster) along with Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts, Red Sparrow), soulmates Joe (Marwan Kenzari, Aladdin 2019) and Nicky (Luca Marinelli) along with Copley (Chewitel Ejiofor, The Lion King 2019) and Nile (KiKi Layne, If Beale Street Could Talk). The cast all gave life and justice to their characters thanks to the vision of director Prince-Bythewood. Everything, from the direction to the writing to the cast down to every minute detail, just works.

Spotless Action Scenes

As I said above, this is what initially stood out for me when I saw the trailer. And, sure enough, the trailer lives up to my expectations. Action scenes are cleanly choreographed and complete with gun fights, sword fights, hand to hand combat, you name it. It’s all in here. It may not be as intense as the action scenes I saw on the action-heavy Netflix film Extraction but the execution of the stunts and action are spotless. It should have been messy with immortality in play but it’s quite the opposite.

To the stunt and visual effects teams, you have my praises.

Skip or Watch?

Let’s just catch to the case. The Old Guard is an absolute must-watch. It is one of the best film adaptations of comic books out there and is essentially a master-class on how NOT to destroy your source material.

The cast and characters are as deep as they are awesome. The action scenes are fresh and spotless. The story-telling is smooth.

I enjoyed watching this and I certainly wouldn’t mind if this becomes a franchise. In fact, let this writing stand as a petition for a sequel.

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for The Old Guard.

Let us know what you think of the movie by giving it your own rating or commenting below.

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In the vast and ever-expanding universe of comic book adaptations, Madame Web emerges as a peculiar addition, offering a dive into the enigmatic world of the Spider-Verse.

Directed by S.J. Clarkson, the movie promised a journey through dimensions, blending elements of mysticism and superhero lore. However, as the credits roll, viewers are left pondering whether this cinematic outing spins a captivating web or merely ensnares its audience in confusion.

The film centers around Cassandra Webb, portrayed with depth and charisma by Dakota Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey, Suspiria). As the eponymous Madame Web, she embodies the archetypal seeress, burdened with visions of multiversal calamity. Yet, the character’s development feels somewhat rushed, leaving audiences grasping for more substantial emotional investment. The supporting cast, comprising a mix of familiar faces and newcomers including Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria, Anyone But You), delivers commendable performances, albeit constrained by a script that struggles to balance exposition with character arcs.

Visually, Madame Web dazzles with its kaleidoscopic portrayal of alternate realities. Each frame is a testament to the film’s visual ambition. However, some sequences feel more like visual overload than narrative enrichment.

Where Madame Web truly excels is in its exploration of existential themes and the interconnectedness of fate. Underneath it all, lies a contemplative narrative that delves into the intricacies of choice and consequence. Moments of introspection punctuate the action, inviting audiences to ponder the blurred lines between heroism and destiny. Nevertheless, for all its philosophical musings, Madame Web stumbles in its execution of plot intricacies. While some may find solace in the film’s ambiguity, others may feel alienated by its refusal to provide tangible resolutions.

Skip or Watch?

In conclusion, Madame Web emerges as a mixed bag of cinematic ambitions and narrative missteps. While its thematic depth and visual spectacle offer moments of brilliance, they are undercut by uneven pacing and convoluted storytelling.

VERDICT: SKIP!

For those seeking a mind-bending journey through the Spider-Verse, Madame Web may offer fleeting moments of intrigue. However, for those craving a more cohesive and accessible narrative experience, it may be best to wait for the tangled threads of this cinematic web to unravel further before venturing into its depths.

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Madame Web.

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It’s time to put those Dali Masks back on again! Money Heist Part 4 is here!

To keep things short, watch it ASAP! Yes, it’s that good!

It’s An All-Out War

It was never just a heist for “The Professor” (Álvaro Morte) and his team of city names Tokyo (Úrsula Corberó), Lisbon (Itziar Ituño), Nairobi (Alba Flores), Denver (Jaime Lorente), Rio (Miguel Herrán), Helsinki (Darko Perić). And oh, Filipino fans will be pleased to know the addition of newcomer (spoiler alert!) Manila (Belén Cuesta), whose identity will not be revealed until halfway through the series. Watch out for her, though, as she will be playing a crucial role in the heist.

via GIPHY

Part 3 was supposed to bring about a revolution but with The Professor mourning the supposed death of the love of his life Lisbon and Nairobi struggling for her life after an assassination attempt, Money Heist Part 4 becomes an all-out war! And in every war, there are casualties or collateral damage as Palermo (Rodrigo de la Serna) puts it. Of course, all these misfortunes come are brought about by the hand of the pregnant Inspector Alicia Sierra (Najwa Nimri) and Spanish Intelligence Colonel Luis Tamayo (Fernando Cayo), both I would say, are now the top 2 and 3 most hated characters in the series. Only eclipsed by the Bank of Spain’s governor’s security Gandia (José Manuel Poga).

An Emotional Shocker

“Numb, disoriented, a blank stare, and most of all, feeling like you’re floating outside of reality.” – Tokyo

These words pretty much summarizes the emotions that the series will give its viewers.

If you thought, the major cliffhanger at the end of Money Heist Part 3 was huge, well; you are in for a colossal surprise. In Money Heist Part 4, we get to see the characters/cities we have all come to love in their most vulnerable state yet as they are forced against the ropes without any glimmer of hope at the end of each and every episode.

The twists and turns throughout the series will let you feel the anxiety that the group is feeling at that exact moment, making you mad at everyone and everything that is keeping the gang from achieving their objectives. And then it will give you two gut-wrenching episodes and leave you in a state of emotional shock. So, ready your heart meds and maybe some tissue paper.

So Much Bigger and Better

After Netflix started to produce Money Heist with Part 3, everything is just so much bigger and better as evidenced by the grander production and way better aesthetics when compared to Parts 1 and 2. Seriously, just watch Parts 1 and 2 and compare it with Parts 3 and 4, and you’ll notice so much difference. And it’s all for the better. Creator Alex Pina sure made the right decision to let the streaming giant produce the series.

Money Heist Part 4 stays true in this tradition and maybe even upped the scale a couple of notches and improved on everything.

But one thing that stood out for me though, is the story. It is significantly improved and is so much more complex than its predecessors that it kind of makes me wonder how the story has gotten to where it is currently at. It’s so precise and well-thought out it’s hard to find fault in it.

A job well done indeed!

Skip or Watch?

All that said, Money Heist Part 4 is by far the best among the bunch and is arguably one of the best (if not the best) series out there today. So, yes, just put those Dali masks back on and join the Money Heist revolution.

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for season 4 of Netflix’ Money Heist.

Let us know what you think of the series by giving it your own rating or commenting below.

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Stranger Things is back! After a three-year wait, the gang in Hawkins are finally back for the fourth season of Stranger Things.

Should you skip it or watch it? Read on this review to find out.

The Long Wait is Over

Finally! After three long years, the wait is over. Stranger Things is back for its fourth and reportedly penultimate season. The last time we saw the gang in Hawkins, Indiana, they were basically kids. We know they will eventually outgrow their Stranger Things characters but it’s still a little nerve-wracking to see how much they have grown throughout the years. Not convinced yet? Check out the gallery below.

Yep, they have aged and so did we. Man, this pandemic really messed us up so much. In all seriousness though, we’re just glad that one of the most beloved shows in recent memory along with its cherished main cast are finally back.

So Dark

The first three seasons of Stranger Things were all great thrillers in their own right. But the fourth season? Well, let’s just say, Stranger Things Season 4 is scarier than possibly all three previous seasons combined, and it is absolutely a plus.

Much like how the kids of Hawkins have grown, so did the show. The storylines are still kind of derivative but the thrills and scares? Oh, my Lord! The series has now packed itself with some of the most gruesome on-screen deaths. The Duffer Brothers went off the rails on the scare factor with this season. Parents, you may want to ask your kids to look away for the death scenes. The show has really gone so dark it could really mess some of the kids up if they are not guided while watching.

So Good

In Stranger Things Season 4, I feel like the Duffer Brothers upped its scare game and finally chose the darker way. Perhaps, the best way. The first three seasons only seemed to kind of dabble towards the dark and we always kind of felt that the show could go way darker. The creators took a deeper dive into the black abyss with Season 4. Gorier, grislier, and bloodier than ever.

But guess what, it’s all good. Since its pilot, I have always expected for the show to be darker than it already is. And at the end of each season, I would always anticipate a darker and scarier next season. It kind of disappointed me every time. And I’m just so relieved that the fourth season, my wish was finally granted.

Skip or Watch?

Stranger Things Season 4 is exactly the Stranger Things that it’s supposed to be. Darker and Scarier. If, like me, you have also been yearning for the show to go in this direction, then you will surely appreciate this season. And while the storylines are still a little derivative, the scares and thrills are on another level entirely. In my opinion, this is the exactly the direction the show should take.

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Stranger Things Season 4 Vol 1.

This season will have 9 episodes in total for Volume 1 (May 27, 2022) and Volume 2 (July 1, 2022).

Let us know what you think of the series by giving it your own rating or commenting below.

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Frozen II, the sequel to the much awaited and award-winning animated film Frozen (2013) has just released a new trailer. Watch Frozen II’s new trailer now!

Frozen II new trailer

Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel return to reprise their roles as the sisters/best friends Anna and Elsa. Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) and everybody’s favorite snowman, Olaf (Josh Gad) also are returning with the cast. Our troll friends are also returning, and several new characters will be joining the “Frozen” family as well.

As expected, more details to the plot have been revealed and it looks like we are going to delve deeper into Anna and Elsa’s past in this sequel. The trailer shows that the sister bond between Anna and Elsa seemed to have gotten stronger and so is the friendship among the sisters and the trio of Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven.

It also looks like we are going to see a more mature story seeing Elsa trying to use her powers against forces that are yet to be revealed in order to save the kingdom of Arendelle. Speaking of which, we will be seeing a lot more of the kingdom and enchanted forests will also be featured and perhaps be a key part of the story.

The visuals, as shown in the trailer, are incredibly vivid and stunningly magical! As great as the 2013 Frozen was, Frozen II, we dare say, may just be better already – at this point at least.

Dark and Magical

The movie might also finally give the fans an answer to the question as to why Elsa has powers and/or how they got them in the first place as evidenced by the YouTube caption for the trailer by the official Walt Disney Animation Studios YouTube account which reads:

“Why was Elsa born with magical powers? What truths about the past await Elsa as she ventures into the unknown to the enchanted forests and dark seas beyond Arendelle? The answers are calling her but also threatening her kingdom. Together with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven, she’ll face a dangerous but remarkable journey. In “Frozen,” Elsa feared her powers were too much for the world. In “Frozen 2,” she must hope they are enough.”

Frozen II new trailer which dropped yesterday has currently 5M+ views on YouTube as of this writing.

Frozen II will be released in theaters globally on November 22, 2019! And the good news is that it might be shown in the Philippines as early as the 20^th as Filipino cinemas change schedules during Wednesdays.

We’re excited and we know you are too!

Visit our trailers page for the latest movie/TV trailers.

As always, feel free to comment below!

Sweet Tooth, the fantasy drama based on the DC comic book of the same name has arrived on Netflix. The show follows Gus’ adventures in a post-apocalyptic world filled with human hybrids and those hunting them.

But the question is, should you skip it or watch it? Read on this review to find out.

Mad Max Meets Bambi

The world is in ruins. People are dying of an unknown disease and humans are desperate for survival. Sound familiar? Of course, it is. This has been the premise of many of books and countless have made it to either the small screen or the big screen. Mad Max, being one example.

But what happens when you put in a half boy half deer into that world? A curious naïve boy living with only his Pubba, ignorant of the outside world. the result: Sweet Tooth.

Based on the comic book of the same name, Sweet Tooth follows Gus, a half boy half deer hybrid and his journey to the post-apocalyptic world where survival is the name of the game.

Yep, it sure sounds like Mad Max and Bambi put together in one show.

As derivative of Mad Max or Bambi as it sounds, however, don’t let that discourage you. Sweet Tooth exists in its own world. One that is full of greenery that will surely delight the eyes of its viewers regardless of whatever their ages may be. Colorful sceneries and vibrant mountain tops. There are ruined cities, sure, but overall, Sweet Tooth created a beautiful world.

Chemistry, Plotlines

11-year-old actor Christian Convery plays Gus aka Sweet Tooth, the half human half deer hybrid to near perfection. His oozing charisma will surely captivate the viewers. Blend all that with Nonso Anozie’s muscular on the outside but soft on the inside portrayal of Tommy Jepperd and this show is already a hit.

Moreover, plotlines give out an exquisite appeal. Sweet Tooth tells Gus’ story and seamlessly weaves his story to all the storylines making the viewing experience as pleasant as it is satisfying. It’s always a delight for me to see a number of smaller storylines develop into one large plot. Almost as gratifying as watching an artist slowly complete his masterpiece.

Never Too Cheesy

Character development is also on point in Sweet Tooth. Although, as you might expect, it does not give out all the details in one go. Instead, it encourages you to predict the plotlines and most of the times you’ll be incorrect. Unpredictability – also another point where Sweet Tooth shines.

But perhaps the greatest strength of the series is that it is well balanced. We’ve seen most shows of this genre always ending up as either impassive or over-the-top. Sweet Tooth proves that a sweet spot between expressionless and cheesiness exist. A show can put out a lot of emotion without it becoming too cheesy or cringey. The series definitely achieves that.

Skip or Watch?

Sweet Tooth finds the right amount of warmth with touching storylines powered by its charming leads in Christian Convery’s Gus and Nonso Anozie’s Tommy Jepperd. What makes this series appealing, is it seems to have found that sweet spot between emotion and cheesiness – something a lot of shows of this genre always struggle with.

All in all, Sweet Tooth is an easily watchable series, so definitely a must-watch.

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for the first season of Sweet Tooth.

Let us know what you think of the series by giving it your own rating or commenting below.

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The Black Phone reunites director Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill, and Ethan Hawke with their take on Joe Hill’s 2004 short story.

Should you skip it or watch it? Read on this review to find out.

Back to Horror

Thanks to a fallout with Marvel Studios over Doctor Strange 2, Director Scott Derrickson goes back to his horror roots in an adaptation of Joe Hill’s short story, The Black Phone. The director finds himself re-teaming up with his “Sinister” colleagues, writer C. Robert Cargill and Oscar-nominated actor Ethan Hawke.

In The Black Phone, a young boy named Finney (Mason Thames) gets kidnapped by The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) and his only hope lies in talking to a disconnected rotary phone on the wall.

Mesmerizing Performances

The Black Phone faithfully adapts on its source material and gives its characters a richer backstory. This deeper insight into the characters gives the cast a better platform to showcase their acting chops. First with Ethan Hawke’s chilling take on The Grabber. In fact, the hype was at an all-time high when the first teaser revealed Hawke’s character. And dare I say, the film lives up and perhaps surpass all the intrigue.

Then, there’s Mason Thames’ portrayal of Finney whose stoic take on the protagonist is surprisingly on point. But the showstopper performance comes with Madeleine McGraw’s Gwen, Finney’s younger sister. McGraw’s take on the role is a perfect match of maturity and innocence. She definitely looks like a star-in-the-making if she isn’t already.

A Refreshing Take

Notice a trend on the movies lately? The violence, the bloodshed has been on an uptick in almost all the movie genres. It happens a lot even on TV too. And quite honestly, it gets to a point where it’s just too much. Recent horror movies show mostly the gore. Senseless violence that doesn’t necessarily progress the story. Meaningless jump-scares that virtually lead to nothing to further the plot. And in this sense, most of these movies simply fail.

In The Black Phone, there is still some form of brutality depicted. However, they feel vital to the story. The Black Phone proves that there is so much more to horror than just slaughter – that there are other ways to go about the murders without the actual killing.

Scott Derrickson shows us there is a more effective way to tell a scary story. And the most important one I think is to give your characters a real and believable narrative and that includes both the protagonists and the antagonists. Get the audience to empathize with the characters. All the slashing and killing just gets old and forgettable. The Black Phone does away with all that and succeeds in giving the genre a fresher perspective.

Skip or Watch?

Director Scott Derrickson goes back to his horror roots teaming up with frequent collaborator writer C. Robert Cargill and the result is a delight. Horror fans are sure to feast on The Black Phone with its refreshing take on a genre that lately has been plagued by meaningless jump-scares and needless gore. Horror movies don’t necessarily need to show the scary stuff to be scary. Sometimes, it could all just be in the mind and that makes it even more terrifying.

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for The Black Phone.

Let us know what you think of the movie by giving it your own rating or commenting below.

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Top-billed by Thor star Chris Hemsworth, Netflix has just released its latest action flick, Extraction. The movie is available on the streaming giant since Apr 24, 2020.

Should you watch it or skip it? Read on this review to find out.

A Mini-Marvel Reunion

Extraction is Director Sam Hargrave’s debut film after having previously worked as stunt coordinator for Avengers: Endgame directors Anthony and Joe Russo (aka the Russo brothers), who by the way, are also the producers of this film and stunt double for Chris Evans’ Captain America. Add in another Marvel alum to the mix in the person of Chris Hemsworth and this movie is essentially a reunion.

Yup, these guys have worked with and are very acquainted with each other and that familiarity shows greatly in this movie as evidenced by Hemsworth looking like he is absolutely comfortable and having fun – so to speak – with his role.

Gorgeous Fight Scenes

I actually expected this movie to be a really good action film knowing that a former stuntman is sitting in the director’s chair. Such was the case with Hobbs and Shaw and Deadpool 2 director David Leitch when he transitioned from stuntman to Director.

Suffice to say my prediction wasn’t wrong. The fight scenes are, for lack of a better word, gorgeous. The action is incredibly well-choreographed it almost feels like you are in a game of Call of Duty or the like. The transitions are so good only a seasoned stuntman could put together such a spectacle. There is a sequence where there is an incredibly lengthy time where it looked like it was shot in one continuous take, around a good 15 minutes or so of non-stop action. That sequence was pure rush!

Extraction is really a must-see for action lovers alike.

More than Just Action?

“Biggest drug lord in India versus biggest drug lord in Bangladesh.” This line from the trailer and the movie sure tells us that this is certainly an action movie and as mentioned, the action is undoubtedly its strongest suit. But it also tries to be something more.

Extraction did its best in trying to give this movie a “heart” with Chris Hemsworth’s character Tyler Rake bonding with his child co-star and mission Rudhraksh Jaiswal’s Ovi Mahajan Jr., the kidnapped son of the Indian drug lord in the film.

But, I felt like it doesn’t quite hit the heart that much. See, I just find it questionable for one man to be fighting to save one child while simultaneously killing everyone else. Well, that’s just me. But I do give the film credit for its attempt to be better than just an action movie. Like I said, “tried”.

Skip or Watch?

If you are a fan of the action genre, this one is definitely for you. But if you’re not, Chris Hemsworth’s charm and charisma should be enough to convince you.

Seriously though, Extraction is a gorgeously choreographed action flick that tries to be something more. And although it doesn’t quite hit the mark as to being something more, it is one hell of an action movie that will get your adrenaline juices pumping for pretty much the entire duration of the film.

So yeah, definitely watch.

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Extraction.

Let us know what you think of the movie by giving it your own rating or commenting below.

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The live-action adaptation of Mulan, originally slated for theatrical release last March of 2020, is available on Disney’s own streaming platform Disney+ now!

Should you skip it or watch it? Read on this review to find out.

From Theatrical to Streaming

The Covid-19 pandemic has messed up the film industry a lot with theaters worldwide opting to close their doors for at least until the disease gets under control. But several months have passed and the disease seems nowhere near under control. Now it’s time for the film studios need to make a decision. Postpone the theatrical releases some more or go to streaming platforms.

Understandably, Disney has chosen the latter for Mulan. The film which was scheduled to be theatrically released on March has found its way through studio’s own streaming platform, Disney+ which is sadly not accessible in the Philippines as of yet. But don’t fret because if you live in a country where theaters are allowed to open, Disney will have a traditional release in these countries.

Here’s hoping everything goes well in the Philippines and theaters will re-open soon, safely.

Mulan 1998 vs Mulan 2020

The animated version which was released 22 years ago in 1998 introduced us to Mulan with much critical acclaim. After all, the film was one of (if not the) first of its kind. It broke all Disney female character stereotypes and featured a heroine instead of a damsel in distress or a princess waiting for her knight in shining armor. Nah! It was simply just ahead of its time.

So, what’s new with the 2020 version of Mulan? Short answer: A LOT!

First and most notable of all is, THERE ARE NO SONG SEQUENCES. So, if you’re looking for an updated version of the songs like “Reflection”, you won’t find that here. That’s a little sad but you’ll hear an instrumental version of most of the songs in the background. You just have to fill it in with the lyrics yourself; you still remember them, anyway, right?

A lot of characters are missing here too. I mostly missed Eddie Murphy’s Mushu among others. But there are also some new characters added. Some are good and some are bad. You’ll see. The plot remained the same but certain stories and narratives were changed.

Unlike The Lion King 2019 live-action remake, which was basically a frame-by-frame copy of the original, Mulan made some interesting changes. Mostly good changes, the way I see it.

Skip or Watch?

So is it any good? Well, yeah!

Yifei Liu brought some justice to the titular character Mulan with her innocent yet fierce impression of the Chinese heroine. Veteran actors Jet Li as the Emperor of China, Donnie Yen as Commander Tung, and Tzi Ma as Mulan’s father Hua Zhou, as you would expect, impresses. But it was actress Gong Li’s surprise character (which I will not reveal for suspense) that set this film apart from the original.

The 1998 version was a masterpiece but Mulan 2020 is gorgeous in its own right. Despite the absence of song numbers and the comedic relief brought by Mushu, the film still holds up quite good I feel like it deserves to be seen in a bigger screen.

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Mulan 2020.

Let us know what you think of the movie by giving it your own rating or commenting below.

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Black Widow kicks off Marvel Studios’ return to the big screen after a long break due to the pandemic. Originally scheduled for a May 2020 release, catch Scarlett Johansson as she returns one final time as the titular character. Now, the question is: Should you skip it or watch it?

Read on this review to find out.

Marvel Studios Returns

After a long hiatus, Marvel Studios finally returns to the big screen. This time, with the original sole female Avenger leading the way in Black Widow. Believe it or not, but it has actually been two years since we last saw a Marvel Film with Spider-Man: Far From Home released way back in July of 2019.

Originally, Black Widow was scheduled for a May 2020 release, but we all know what happened in 2020. Marvel did give us some small screen comfort with WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and the still running Loki series through Disney+. But we still miss those larger-than-life Marvel films. And although not every theater in the world is open and will be able to show the movie in the big screen, it’s still good to know that the wait for Black Widow is finally over.

Get to Know Black Widow

Scarlett Johansson reprises her role as Black Widow whom we last saw in Avengers: Endgame. And since all of us basically saw Endgame, we all know what happened to her character and in essence it kind of spoils the ending of the movie.

Still, don’t let that fact discourage you. Black Widow still has a lot of stories to tell. There are still a lot of things we don’t know about her, after all. This film tries to fill in those gaps and then gives us a deeper understanding of what makes Natasha Romanoff the greatest spy/assassin/hero.

Humor, Action, Heart

Helmed by critically acclaimed director Cate Shortland (Somersault), Black Widow comes out great. That opening credits scene to the tune of Don McLean’s American Pie feels so light and good you know at that moment the movie is going to be great.

As one might expect, the film is not short of action sequences. It is, after all, a Marvel movie. The patented action, humor, and heart has always been a proven formula. Black Widow is no different and perhaps even excels in more ways than one than its predecessors.

The supporting cast are great as well with David Harbour (Stranger Things) and Rachel Weisz (The Mummy) leading the pack. But it is Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova who shines brighter than the rest. Her effortless charm and wit are on point. It should not come as a surprise if she takes over as the new Black Widow. The post-credits scene confirms we will see more of her in the future and I am so looking forward to it.

Skip or Watch?

Black Widow is a bittersweet addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film which also celebrates the return of Marvel Studios into the big screen gives fans of the original female Avenger the send-off she deserves.

Black Widow, though still part of a larger film universe, stands tall on its own and with that said, it is an absolute must-watch.

Catch the movie on Disney+ at an extra cost but if theaters are open in your area, you should definitely see this on the big screen (safely).

VERDICT: WATCH!

Here is salida|etc’s rating for Black Widow.

Let us know what you think of the movie by giving it your own rating or commenting below.

Got a movie or TV series that you would like for us to review? Drop us a message and we’ll get to it.