Review: BLACK PANTHER Is Full Of Beauty and Brutality and Is One Of Marvel's Best Yet
Marvel is giving us one more chapter in the already incredible marvel cinematic universe before it (likely) gets turned on its head in Avengers: Inifinity War. Wakanda's dark hero, King T'Challa himself is finally getting his own outing in Marvel's Black Panther and it's really damn good.
Unlike most Marvel characters in the MCU, Black Panther was introduced as a supporting character in Captain America: Civil War before getting his own film. That decision by Marvel turned out to be an incredibly great idea because it gave audiences the chance to get to know the new character before giving him his own feature. And let me be the first to tell you that what you know about Black Panther from his first appearance is about to change for the better... BIG TIME.
First, I think it's only appropriate to praise the work of Black Panther writer/director Ryan Coogler. Not only does he deliver one hell of a quality Marvel movie, he has crafted a film loaded with relevance, and strong moral themes. And even though it's ultimately a movie about a king running around in bullet-proof black tights, it feels like a very personal film. Despite only having two feature films under his belt, neither even close to this magnitude, Coogler proves to have great vision and execution.
It definitely doesn't hurt that Coogler was able to work with arguably one of the most talented casts assembled in any MCU film. Chadwick Boseman in the lead role as King T'Challa/Black Panther is not only regal, he serves convincingly as the leader and protector of his fellow countrymen in Wakanda. Boseman is in peak form and none of his action sequences disappoint.
Black Panther also introduces more incredible characters that live in perhaps the most affluent culture we've experienced in the cinematic universe so far. Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Daniel Kaluuya, and Sterling K. Brown all give noteworthy performances. But there are two I consider to be the real "show-stealers." First Letitia Wright, who plays T'Challa's younger sister and Wakanda's tech expert, Shuri. This young lady surprised me completely. Her character is so playful, bubbly, and on top of that really damn intelligent, pretty much on par with Tony Stark and Bruce Banner. She is essentially the brains of Wakanda and is responsible for all of Black Panther's gadgets and gizmos. She is just so darn likable, the best way to describe her character is that she is the little sister that we all wish we had.
Second is Michael B. Jordan, who has worked on all of Coogler's previous feature films (Creed and Fruitvale Station), who brings a level of humanity to the movie's villain unlike we have ever seen before in the Marvel Universe. As Erik Killmonger, Jordan plays a troubled character who is seeking revenge and justice. Of all the great characters in this movie, Jordan is hands down the standout and my hat is off to Marvel for finally delivering a villain with substance and whose actions and motivations are not only clear to the audience, they garner sympathy. You, Marvel, have made Erik Killmonger my favorite MCU Villain.
The story kicks off days or weeks after the events of Captain America: Civil War. You might remember Black Panther got involved with the Avengers after his father was killed in a terrorist bombing at the UN. Without giving away any spoilers, we travel with T'Challa back to his homeland of Wakanda to take his rightful place as king only to find an unexpected outsider threatening it all. One thing I really liked about this movie is that someone who is not familiar with the MCU can watch this movie and aside from a few moments walk away without feeling lost or confused.
Overall, Black Panther is a fine addition to Marvel's cinematic universe and it brings a more diverse and interesting slew of characters to the table that will surely play important roles in the future of these movies. The political message is positive and in no way heavy-handed, and there is more than enough action to keep every marvel fan grinning from ear to ear.
