Genre :- Fantasy/Action/Sci-Fi
Run-time :- 2 hrs 22 mins
Cast :- Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita N'Yongo, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Sterling K Brown, Winston Duke, Letitia Wright, Andy Serkis
Director :- Ryan Coogler
Plot – As we saw in Captain America: Civil War, King T’Chaka of Wakanda, was killed in an explosion at the United Unions meeting. Black Panther picks up with King T’Chaka’s son, T’Challa, returning home to Wakanda to participate in the ritual ceremony making him the new king of Wakanda, and Black Panther.
There are a great many things that make Black Panther a Marvel film like no other, but one of the most striking things about it, is how thoroughly familiar the world of Wakanda feels. Not in the sense that you’ve seen anything like it before (trust me, you haven’t) but rather that seeing it feels like coming home, where the reality kicks in.
Direction and Cinematography:
Ryan Coogler is already a 3/3 with all his movies being a hit and there's no doubting his mettle. It's because of his direction coupled with cinematographer Rachel Morrison's craft, we get breathtaking, on-the-ground shots that give Wakanda’s streets a texture and vibrancy that blends old-world hustle and bustle with gleaming accents of the future.
Screenplay:
While Coogler is known predominantly for his directing work, his writing is equally superb (just look at Creed as another example), making Black Panther the most grounded and humane Marvel films.
And Coogler and Joe Robert Cole’s screenplay shines in their outstanding character development and ability to elicit empathy.
The testament to this claim is Erik Killmonger’s (Michael B. Jordan) villainous motivation which is immediately understandable and completely relatable. If you knew what he knew, you’d want to fight T’Challa, too. Even in the moments where Killmonger’s ambition to take the Wakandan throne boil over into overt bloodthirstiness, there’s a voice in the back of your head reminding you what brought him to that point, and why maybe he has a point.
And that speaks a lot about perfect scripting.
From the topics of colonialism to populism, Black Panther doesn’t shy away from the conversations that need to be had. It would not have been as strong a movie had it not maintained a balance between contemplating the heavier concepts while portraying the absolutely joyous and reverent sequences about Wakanda’s magnificence.
The Highs -
Black Panther tackles many politically charged topics and is one of the most socially relevant action films in recent years. But wait, before the regular offenders hit the comments section and say, “Keep politics out of entertainment. MAGA”, you can relax and take another sip of that Redbull in front of you. This film isn’t saying “death to white people”; quite the contrary, in fact, as it promotes a concept of “one tribe.” There’s a deep and resounding moral to the story, which we could all learn from. I am serious, Moral of a Superhero story. Yes!
I really enjoyed how the film made it overly apparent that a lot of time and effort went into creating Wakanda, from the language, to the clothes, to the amazing technology.
Homage was paid to the African culture with the versatility in style and color patterns used in the wardrobe, the use of music and dance during rituals, and loyalty and strength within tribes. It was very futuristic and seamless, yet you could see how it was rooted in real world culture. All of it was so surrealistic it often made me think “Whoa! What if this really was real? It'd have been so awesome man!”
The movie wasn’t as comedic as the most recent Marvel movies (read: Thor Ragnarok) but it had its moments that kept it light-hearted. The movie’s comedic moments land squarely but they’re also subtle, often bubbling up suddenly—almost as if willed into existence by the chemistry between the cast. The timing is so accurate, it takes you by surprise and make you laugh harder than you should.
The casting choices were great. Black Panther truly does not rely on any other Marvel film to make it a good story. It is a stand alone film that makes a name for itself without using the rest of the MCU as a crutch to attest to its greatness.
Talking about action, If you thought you’d seen it all in the MCU, think again. Black Panther features some of the best fight scenes you’ll ever see in a superhero film, period. The battle between Winston Duke’s M’Baku and T’Challa is a visual treat as they slug it out over a scenic waterfall, as is Black Panther’s first butt-kicking appearance in the jungle fight where he kinda sorta looks like Batman's clinging-to-the-wall entry scene in BvS. Yeah, I had to compare it. Sorry not sorry.
Also, anytime Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, and Letitia Wright do literally anything in Black Panther is the best moment in Black Panther. Man are these woman the epitome of badassery in this movie!? Gimme a Hell yeah!
The real quality lies in the quiet moments where we get to peel back the layers of T’Challa, KillMonger and the other characters. PS - Describing Okoye (Danai Gurira) as simply the general of the Dora Milaje isn’t entirely accurate; she is in almost every sense of the title, Hand to the King, second only to his mother Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett). The relationship between T’Challa & Shuri & the banther that goes on between the two is genuine, which is another thing that Coogler nailed down perfectly.
This brings me to my next point: the “villain”, Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger. First, let’s throw our fists in the air, because a Marvel antagonist has finally been done right. Jordan’s performance is the main highlight of the cast as his character blurs the line between good and bad. The fact that several people in the audience cheered (I was the loudest) when KillMonger went on his diatribes, speaks volumes of how people connected with him and didn’t see him as a stereotypical villain.
Another thing we can’t ignore is the soundtrack. While other superhero films have mostly relied on horns and strings, composer Ludwig Göransson embraced Black Panther‘s African (and African-American) roots by merging tribal music with hip hop. There’s nothing eclectic about this combination and it works well to give an extra sheen of originality. Also, Kendrick Lamar dude, how can a film's score possibly go wrong with this man's magic?
The Lows -
My only major gripe lies with the overuse of CGI, which stood out like a sore thumb at certain points in the film. If we’re going to condemn Justice League for video game-esque graphics and obvious shortcuts, we need to do the same here. "There she goes. Talking like every DC fan out there!" Really now? Grow up!
When the film was more grounded and focused on great acting, practical effects, and fight choreography, it was pitch-perfect. Once the CGI came in, well, it was hit and miss. The lesson is the same as it’s been for the past couple of years: CGI doesn’t always make a movie better, so less of it, please.
It gets a little slow in the middle with unnecessary flashbacks and all, making me look at my watch more than once.
On the same note though I feel like there could have been just a little more character development for Erik Killmonger. I wish there was a little more justification behind his anger. His motivation was implied by his story, but it could have been a little more well-rounded and believable with a little extra detail.
Performances :-
Chadwick Boseman proves that he can stand on his own & stand firm. Even with veterans like Angela Bassett, who plays T’Challa’s mother Ramonda & Forest Whitaker, who plays Zuri, at his side, Boseman shines bright with charisma & maintains the strong presence he brought to the big screen in Captain America: Civil War.
Michael Jordan nailed it as KillMonger with his uniquely casual delivery style and irresistible appeal. You know one's a great actor when they can make you see both sides of the character they're essaying.
“Throw me into the ocean where our ancestors jumped off the slave ships because they knew death was better than bondage” says Killmonger at one point and I am not kidding I got literal goosebumps.
Jordan's KillMonger made me sit through the movie going "He's right... Well he's right, too... Now, that's a good point! I had to silently give myself the "PICK A SIDE!" speech. I need to reflect and maybe see it again without the mental noise. :)
Black Panther had me fan-girling so hard over Lupita Nyong’o. That woman has some cray cray moves in the film. Stuff which even dearest Boseman doesn't get to set his claws on. Beyond perfect for the character, I have no more words to describe her performance.
Letitia Wright as Shuri, is a sister we all wish we had. This 16 yr old actor is one of the highlights of the movie. She is the Tony Stark of Wakanda, but with cooler tech. Ahem! The way she yelled, "Whaaat areee thoooseeeee!" with the enthusiasm for tech spoke a lot about the genius of the character.
Bassett & Whitaker’s characters were mainly in the background but still contribute lightly to the progression of the plot. Listen up, I need a recording of Angela Bassett screaming "SHOW THEM WHO YOU ARE" to get out of bed every morning.
Daniel Kaluuya, who played T’Challa’s best friend W’kabi, did a solid job but suffered from a non-visible connection to T’Challa, which was necessary for the growth of his character in the third act.
We’ve already seen what Gurira is capable of in The Walking Dead, but she takes it to a whole new level here as the unstoppable Okoye. Someone needs to put her, Valkyrie, and Black Widow in a team-up movie now and you know who I'll be rooting for!
Martin Freeman‘s Everette Ross has definitely stepped in as the new Agent Coulson, which works perfectly. I hope we see more from Freeman outside of the Black Panther films.
Andy Serkis‘ Ulysses Klaue withheld his comedic tone that he brought to the table in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Winston Duke‘s M’Baku was more interesting than than both Klaue and T'Challa at some places, especially since fans of the Black Panther comics know that he is a thorn in Black Panther’s side. I am looking forward to seeing more from Duke in Avengers: Infinity War and hope they show more of him butting heads with Black Panther in future films.
Watch o Not ?
Definitely. Arre please do. With all the talk of superhero fatigue, Black Panther is a breath of fresh air for the genre. This isn’t your stereotypical Marvel film; it has a maturity and depth to it that separates it from the pack. When we talk about the likes of The Dark Knight and Logan changing the game, we might soon be adding Black Panther to this illustrious list.
Verdict :
Black Panther is a daring and beautiful spectacle in all things black - the culture, history, resilience, and the aesthetics. Its refreshing depiction of Africa as a strong and powerful continent and engagingly addressing issues is awe-inspiring. WakandaForever!!
It’s the kind of Marvel movie that definitely benefits from more than a single viewing, and it’s one that’ll draw you in—and blow your mind every single time.
Also, If I shake your hand and hit you with the X and I don’t get it back... You cut off from my life fam! 😝
PS - It’s 2018, you should know better than to leave the theater during the credits of Black Panther. Amateur!
Ratings - 4.5/5
