Avengers Confidential – Black Widow And Punisher (DVD review).
The title ‘Avengers Confidential – Black Widow And Punisher’ is a bit of a misnomer. Natasha Romanova (never Romanov even in the original comicbook versions) aka the Black Widow and Frank Castle aka the Punisher aren’t actually working for The Avengers but SHIELD! Well, the Widow’s loyalties were always there but the title would suggest more to do with The Avengers.
In his normal campaign of erasing organised crime, the Punisher gets in the way of a SHIELD undercover operation and the Black Widow, on behalf of Nick Fury and finally him as well try to coerce Frank to temporarily join forces and share their knowledge to being an organisation called Leviathan down who has SHIELD technology and weapons. It’s an uneasy alliance where both Punisher and Widow are fighting each other as much as the enemy as they attack Leviathan across the world. The Avengers do appear for a brief cameo battle but that’s about it. You’ll need a SHIELD clearance for me to tell you all the details.
The animation is totally Japanese and good quality. No repeating movement sequences which is always a good sign. It’s a bit weird seeing the Punisher’s chest skull emblem with a slight glow but if I saw him coming at me, then I think I’d be running in the opposite direction because it’s very imposing. Nick Fury is based off the Samuel L. Jackson version and the Black Widow is a near approximation of Scarlett Johansson. As much as I like long hair, I wish the films had followed the short-haired version that was used in the comicbooks for a time.
I wish that the Punisher had been made a little articulate. He doesn’t even quote from his war journal. He isn’t a thug but an intelligence driven ex-soldier and hearing his ethics would at least give his point of view to the viewer. The Widow gives as give as she gets and more than an equal to Frank.
I should also point out that because of the violent nature of the Punisher’s violence there is a 12 age limit on this DVD but I think 16 would be a little safer. Although I doubt if anyone would copy the Punisher, even in games, I’d rather be safe than sorry.
There are two extras on the DVD exploring the two lead characters. As humans in a super-human world, they are more than capable of holding their own but it must give some punishment to their bodies.
Although the film could have done with a few more down moments, there is no way this is a lovey-dovey relationship. It’s led by violence and they have to succeed. Which, have you got your clearance yet because the rest is classified?
GF Willmetts
July 2013
(Region 2 DVD: pub: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. 1 DVDs 79 minute film with extras. Price: £ 7.00 (UK). ASIN: CDR98652)
Subtitles: Hindi, French, Finnish, Swedish, Arabic, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, Danish, Spanish, English
Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired: English
check out website: www.sonymasterworks.com
