Review: Black Widow Home Video Release

Marvel Studios Black Widow arrives on various disc formats today and is also available digitally and on Disney+ Premier Access.   The film takes a dive into the background of Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) exploring her family history and dynamics.  For more on the film here is Maggie’s review from its initial release in July.

Highlights of this initial home video release includes nine deleted scenes, a couple of featurettes and a gag reel.   For a full listing of the technical specs here is the press release announcing the home video offerings.

I was able to review the blu-ray & digital code offering.  My first impressions of the bonus features –

• Movie Intro (less than a minute) – A very short introduction from Cate Shortland, the director of Black Widow on what she hopes you will find with this film.  I would have liked to have seen a little more with this.
• Gag Reel (2:54) – A fairly traditional gag reel with some out takes, laughs and dancing.
• Sisters Gonna Work it Out (5:24) – This featurette explores a little of the sister’s relationship and role in the film. It is relatively short at just over five minutes so it does not go that in depth.
• Go Big If You’re Going Home (8:50) – This seemed like a catch all featurette. It included a little about shooting on location, the fight sequences and touches on how women are represented in action films.  This featurette felt too short for the topics it tried to cover and none of them were explored in depth.
• Deleted Scenes –  There are nine deleted scenes ranging from under a minute to over three minutes in length.  The scenes are presented as is with no introduction or other information.  I prefer to have some insight about the scene shared as part of the package.
• Short featurettes/teasers – You’ve Been Waiting for This (0:53) , You Got a Plan (1:03), Cooking with Gas (1:52) – This trio are typical teaser videos and mini featurettes that were released on various platforms and are available as part of the bonus offerings.

This was an average initial home video offering.  I thought there were several missed opportunities with such as the lack of introductions for the deleted scenes or the abbreviated featurettes.   Also I would have liked to have seen something more about how this fits into the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).     The primary reason to purchase this release is if you want a physical copy of the film for your library.  If you are a fan of deleted scenes then the bonus features will deliver for you, but if are looking for more on the making of the film or an in depth exploration of anything you will be disappointed most likely.     I have not seen a listing of which (if any) of the bonus features will be included on the standard Disney+ offering when the title becomes available there.

Related Posts:

• Marvel Studio’s “Black Widow” – Maggie’s Review
• Video Release – Digital 8/10, Disc 9/14
• Marvel’s “Black Widow” Press Conference
• All Black Widow posts on the Geek’s Blog

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