Whatcha Watchin'?

my limited viewing experience did not really prepare me to understand Hawkeye and Black Widow. Couldn’t stream AVengers 1 and 2, which was a major missed opportunity for Marvel.

2 Likes

…yeah, that would have really helped with that; those are the two where their relationship is explored (especially the first one).

The gist is that she used to be an assassin working for an unnamed pseudo-Soviet organization. During that time, she accumulated a lot of “red in her ledger,” as it’s euphemistically put in The Avengers. Barton was sent to kill her; instead, he showed her that her skills didn’t necessarily need to be used to kill, and they certainly didn’t need to be used to serve an evil organization (and then Winter Soldier comes and turns that on its head, too, but I digress).

So, Barton saved her life in three senses: by not killing her, by taking her out of a position where someone else working for SHIELD would eventually do so even if he didn’t, and by giving her the opportunity to stop putting red into her ledger and to start paying some of it off by helping people.

Age of Ultron doesn’t spend as much time with the two of them together, but she is shown to be the only one, even within SHIELD, who knows about the existence (let alone the location) of Barton’s family, and, in fact, the kids refer to her as “Aunt Nat” (or something like that).

So, when you look at the movie from that perspective, the two scenes they share in Endgame start to make a lot more sense.

7 Likes

I guess I need to rewatch Avengers 1 since I don’t remember that distinctly. I knew the overall wrapup that you posted, but don’t remember the details.

4 Likes

Been rewatching the first season of Adventure Time, so we can watch the last few seasons we had not watched yet. I forgot how much I love that show…

Also, saw the first episode of Pose, since it’s on Netflix! I loved all the references to Paris is Burning, and lots of other things from the 80s too (like the dance scene at the end, clearly an homage to Fame!)! Can’t wait to watch the rest!

4 Likes

We just saw “The Favourite.” Can’t say we enjoyed it very much. The acting was superb, the settings outstanding, and the costumes delightful (though the men’s were totally ridiculous), but the main characters were not sympathetic. There’s not much plot either, other than having one woman scheming to take over as favorite from another., I guess because of being taken from right out of history. Fiction allows a lot more leeway.

I did like Olivia Coleman’s acting, though, despite the character being unlikable. Apparently she gained 35 pounds for the role. (!)

I guess it was a “film” rather than a “movie.”

4 Likes

I liked it but can see it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. It did seem to be missing a little dash of something to keep it moving along. It made me think a little differently since the makeup and cinematography were so unusual for a period drama.

4 Likes

Just watched the first episode. It’s good. :slightly_smiling_face:

3 Likes

Another MCU film for me:

5 Likes

I’m watching the sequel right now.

General Trivia: Over 30 members of the cast and crew were temporarily blinded by the misuse of UV lights in the vampire autopsy scene.

6 Likes

Laser shit is real.

3 Likes

Watched Good Omens today. A fine way to spend six hours.If Aziraphale & Crowley aren’t the greatest love story of all time, I don’t know what is :innocent::smiling_imp:

7 Likes

The African Queen (prime)

“By the authority vested in me by Kaiser Wilhelm II, I pronounce you man and wife. Proceed with the execution.”

10 Likes

Is this the remake with Optimus Prime I’ve hearing about?

Michael Bay knows how to tell a story.

4 Likes

It’s the one with Bogart and Hepburn.

5 Likes

The one and only Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall were my yoga teachers in-laws. Can you imagine having those two as parents?

10 Likes

Was it Leslie or Stephen that is/was married to your yoga teacher?

1 Like

This, on TCM On-Demand online. I think it’ll be the subject of my next blog post. Which means I’ll end up watching THE WHOLE FILM again (fakes an “oh, the humanity” 'tude) and pausing it and writing. Because that’s how I do it.

Anyhow, this is a killer scene, almost lit’rally!

1 Like

Leslie. They are still married.

4 Likes

I love Good Omens.

Even that is not enough to tempt me into throwing money at Amazon.

6 Likes