by Kahwit Tela | Aug 1, 2021 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider, Opinion
Since The Avengers first assembled on the silver screen in 2012, audiences have been clamoring for certain members of earth’s mightiest heroes to have their feature films. Fans have been especially eager for the Russian femme fatale, Natasha Romanov, aka Black Widow, to have her turn in the spotlight. After spending more than 16 years in development and numerous delays, including those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Black Widow finally was released this summer in theaters as well as premier access streaming via Disney Plus. The film’s setting is a mixture between sequel and interquel as it takes place between Captain America: Civil War (2016) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018) Following the events in Civil War, Romanov (Scarlett Johansson) is a fugitive and unexpectedly reunites with her estranged younger sister-figure/fellow assassin, Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh). The tense yet touching reunion is short-lived as a conspiracy involving the Black Widow program — a syndicate that trained female assassins including Romanov and Belova — arises. After spending countless years apart, Natasha and Yelena must put aside their differences to take down General Draykov and his army of Black Widows once and for all. The two sisters can’t do this task alone as they need to form a makeshift team with some of the toughest soldiers Russia has ever known: Their adoptive parents, super soldier Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour) and veteran Black Widow, Melina Vostokoff (Rachel Weisz). As the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)’s first venture into the espionage film genre, Black Widow does an excellent job of recognizing its influences, such as the 007 films, all the while maintaining a slick and...
by Cory Woodroof | May 29, 2014 | Opinion
Hello, Lumination readers, Cory Woodroof here. Over the summer, we here at Lumination want to keep you tuned in on everything that’s going on with campus, but also, we’ll throw some other information your way that may be beneficial to you as you enjoy a summer that may not be too close to campus. With the ‘Arts Update,’ we will periodically update you with different opinions that could be beneficial, no matter where you are, to your time off. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER Cap is back, and he’s better than ever. Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the latest Marvel Studios venture, is as successful of a follow-up to both the 2011 stand-alone film starring everyone’s favorite patriotic superhero and 2012’s monolith blockbuster hit The Avengers, which brought Cap along for the ride alongside other Avengers Initiative heroes. With Winter Soldier, Steve Rogers (Cap’s other name) begins to investigate a mysterious plot unfolding within SHIELD, the top-secret government agency that serves as the Avengers’ parent company, so to speak. What unfolds after, best left unspoiled, brings back some of Rogers’ past into the spotlight. The film works simply because it’s Marvel Studios at its most competent. Marvel has had their own minor bumps and bruises along the way of creating one of the most expansive film series to date, but with Winter Soldier, the studio has produced a surefire hit with depth, emotion, jaw-dropping action set pieces and a page-turning plotline. Evans shines with his take on Rogers – the most underrated casting choice in the Marvel universe, and Scarlett Johansson is as good as ever as Natasha Romanoff. This...
