Black Panther Review

Black Panther (2018)
Written by: Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole; Characters created by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Directed by: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jorden, Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong'o, Daniel Kaluuya, etc.

I remember when "Wonder Woman" came out last year and the the huge success it garnered critically and especially commercially at the Box Office. It wasn't the first female superhero lead film, there was the abysmal "Supergirl" in 1984 as well as much more successful and strong female lead character films like Sarah Conner in “T2: Judgement Day" and Riley in the first two "Alien" films.  Even on the small screen there were strong female characters going as far back in the 70s with Linda Carter as Wonder Woman to the 90s with female action heroes like Xena and Buffy. But when it came to African American superheroes/lead heroic films, there were so few or nearly none at all. I remember LOVING "Blade" as a kid, Wesley Snipes was a badass. But for every "Blade" or "Blade 2" we got, we got terribly messy "Spawn" and the hilarious embarrassing "Steel". Not to mention, "Blade" was always more of an action horror flick than an actual clear representation of how a black superhero could, not to mention should be represented.  The original "Blade" came out nearly 20 years ago to the date before we got a film that not only greatly represents what a black superhero should be but how black culture should be portrayed more in modern cinema. "Black Panther", no pun intended, is a marvelous film for so many reasons.

I know Ava DuVernay was originally meant to direct this film, but I'm not sure if she would have been able to capture the multiple layers of this film. Then again, this is the same woman who directed the politically controversial, beautifully realized "Selma", so maybe I'm wrong. But there was this quiet intimacy even in the grand scope of "Black Panther".  This is a very thought-provoking political piece disguised as a pre-summer blockbuster, a feminist critique on the importance of not only women, but strong black women and brutally truthful message of when black culture is able to thrive beyond the stereotypical confines we are use to seeing.  It's no wonder that this movie has become the first film with a predominately black cast to reach over 1 billion dollers at the Box Office!!!  Which is so unprecedented and unheard of in Hollywood. An entertainment industry mostly run and starring white males can now be more diverse and successful with movies depicting a strong female and minority leads???? What started with "Wonder Woman" has only be greater confirmed by "Black Panther".  People want change and better representation of other experiences, cultures and sexes than the heroic white male saving the day.  It's no wonder films like "Man of Steel" are becoming things of the past. We've seen these stories done before numerous times and it's become tedious as well as tiresome.  "Black Panther" in, in of itself, is a movement for various other depictions of the typical superhero film.  It's almost a blessing that decades ago, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby had to balls to create a character not only so dominated in African culture but a world that portayed African culture in such a positive light.  Black Panther, in the era it was created, could have easily been just another street thug, a poor under priviledge slave rising to greatness do to extraordinary powers, etc. But here you have not only a lead superhero with such noble and classy character traits, but even when he's not saving the world, he's a king of a nation that far more advanced than a nation led by white men??? HA!!! No wonder this movie is pissing off so many triggered white Americans who are still stuck in a very naive and hateful way of thinking. But let be stop with the political talk and get right into the movie.

"Black Panther" literally takes place merely days after the events of "Captain America: Civil War", T'Challa, the latest in the line of Black Panthers, is returning home to the futuristic nation of Wakanda to be crowned King after his father's death at the hands of Baron Zemo.  I gotta say, I continue to LOVE Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa. After seeing his vengeful, hatred ridden side so much in "Civil War", it's good to see his actual personality more in his own film. T'Challa is a slightly stoic but very compassionate man who has obviously learned from his time hating and chasing after Bucky in "Civil War". I love the relationships he has with the female characters in the film; each kinda representing his own character traits. General O'Koye, represents his duties as King, always thinking about what's best for his people and Wakanda itself. She has to be one of the definitive standouts of the film for me. Strong, aggressive, agile but loyal, emotional and self sacrificing.  I loved her inner conflict of being loyal to T'Challa vs her loyalty to the throne. Her journey was fascinating to watch and I loved when she came to her senses in the end to defend the rightful leader and what Wakanda stands for. His mother, Queen Ramonda, beautifully played by one of my favorite actresses, Angela Bassett, represents his love and compassion for the duties he is about to take on.  Then there's Shuri, played with lively joy by Letitia Wright, who represents T'Challa more light hearted and playful side as you see in their particular interaction in the hilarious moments in her lab when she points out his old looking sandals with that classic "WHAT ARE THOOOOSSEE!!!" line as well as when she tricks him into trying out the new Panther suit she built for him. Lastly, there is Nakia, played with a brilliant sense of quite strength in Lupita Nyong'o. She, of course, represents his heart and love for his country. Not to mention, she's a kickass spy and his ex, so there you go! :) It's no wonder the 4 female supporting characters are getting so much buzz as well because there are near flawless representations of the old saying "behind every great man is a great woman".  Honestly, T'Challa would not only be the "Black Panther" without these stunning and strong black women, but an even better man going onto a more successful path than his father was as King.

Not to take away from the two other supporting characters like Daniel Kaluuya's W'Kabi, T'Challa's trusted friend but ultimately man out for blood when he turns his back on him in favor for his own agenda than what's best for Wakanda and especially T'Challa.  His betrayal could be seen a mile away but it didn't make it more hurtful and intense. Daniel Kaluuya is an excellent actor with two huge films under his name now with this and last year's satirical horror classic "Get Out". I just hope he keeps making the great choices with each project because he is really good.  I have to say, Winston Duke's M'Baku was a scene stealer for me!!!  The leader of his tribe in the mountains, his scenes were either intense or beyond hilarious, especially during that scene where he starts to woof at Agent Ross and his men join him. I loved his journey from wanting to challenge T'Challa for the throne to saving his life in return for saving his to ultimately helping him in the final battle to save Wakanda. Then of course, there's Agent Ross, who turns to be an ally in this film who is sort of our eyes and ears at the immense beauty and wonder of Wakanda. Martin Freeman is good here, even if he is a bit overshadowed by such a great cast already. I really loved his interactions with Shuri in particular as they work together to save the day in the end but not before she gets a hilarious moment of calling him a "colonizer" lol. I guess with all that being said for the good or sort of good guys, we can talk about villains and man, thank you Marvel for giving us not one but TWO great villains this time. We all know when it comes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there have been very few great villains outside Loki (I'm not gonna count Kingpin and Killgrave from "Daredevil" and "Jessica Jones", the TV show depictions of the MCU) But man, did that change with THIS film.  Andy Serkis is hilariously, gleefully, obnoxiously evil as Klaw. Everytime he's onscreen, it's disturbingly humorous how much he enjoys being evil and heartless. From shooting that guard in the museum for fun to blasting T'Challa in that wonderful action sequence in the Korean casino, his performance was just fun to watch and it was sad to see him get killed off.....but it was all for the evolution of a much more serious, exciting main villain.

Eric Killmonger....what a brilliant performance from Michael B. Jordan and such an amazing return to greatness to Marvel Studies after "Fan-4-SUCK"!!! -_-  It's not just Michael's depth in his delivery but the seriously thought-provoking message to his anti-villainy.  Where T'Challa and Wakanda is the wondrous world of where black culture is able to thrive on it's own, Eric is a terrifyingly surreal and truthful representation of when black culture is repressed, stuck and forced to be isolated in a world dominated by white supremacy.  I swear every line that came out of Killmonger's mouth was written with a poetic irony and heart-wrenching truth to the point where I was almost siding more with him than T'Challa at times. Both their intellectual arguments and political justifications for their actions made sense. People always say that Professor X and Magneto were the Martin Luthor King, Jr. and Malcolm X of the comic book world but I have to say T'Challa and Killmonger are those two men of the MCU! T"Challa, is all about what's best for Wakanda and maintaining its isolation from the rest of the world due to peaceful means while Killmonger is about forcefully sharing that power and advancement with other black nations, communities and neighborhoods.  And as a black person living in this current underprivileged and continuous backward racist society, I don't get how you can NOT agree with this man???!!! O_O What an accurate portrayal of current events juxtaposed to the possibility of when black excellence reaches it's full potential.  Power and success should always be shared, not conquered and stolen. All this incredible motivation and I haven't even gotten to Erik's heartbreaking backstory.  His father, played by This is Us's Sterling K. Brown, was brutally murdered by his uncle, T'Chaka, to save his trusted adviser, Zuri, played by Forest Whitaker, who I forgot to mention earlier. Only because his role was so minor compared to everyone else's but his death at the hands of Erik served as a shocking and game changing moment.

I completely adore the action scenes in the film, especially that ferocious Korean casino scene where General O'Koye shows why she is the General of the Dora Milaje, T'Challa's female bodyguards/soldiers. That woman can fight!!! O_O  There was also the car chase sequence which was both action packed and hilarious visually. "Guns....SOOOOO primitive!!!" I agree! :)  Even the smaller scale action scenes like the fights between T'Challa and Killmonger as well as T'Challa and M'Baku were nice. I'd say the only action sequence that was decent was the final battle.  It's an uneven mix of intense drama vs. mediocre special effects. I mean some moments were awesome like General O'Koye coming to her senses and leading the Dora Milaje against W'Kabi but then you had moments with those rhinos that were clearly CGI. Also the opening fight with T'Challa interrupting Nakia's mission was WAAAAYYYY too dark and you could barely see the action. But for every moment of missed opportunity with the effects were stunning visuals like the waterfall ceremony with the people of Wakanda singing T'Challa's name as he arrived. I mean my goodness, I can't believe this is the same universe with a talking raccoon and tree!!! lol The score for the film, like Wonder Woman's theme, was also beautifully composed; giving us a good sense of the scope and beauty of Wakanda. I especially loved T'Challa's and Killmonger's themes respectively.  The former representing the hope and wonder of the African spirit while the latter clearly shows the darkness and danger of a vulnerable man out for social justice and blood. From that opening shot of  the vibranium jet entering the borders of Wakanda to the accurate comic book portrayals of said vibranium, heart shaped herbs, etc.  "Black Panther" is an extravagant ride of superhero political intrigue with larger than life characters motivated by realistic issues.  The MCU has come a long way from the fatherly issues Tony had in  the very first "Iron Man". What more can I say??? I guess I'll say this and conclude.

"As the 18th film in the 10 year running Marvel Cinematic Universe, "Black Panther" is a sensational entry with breathtaking visuals, a superb cast, terrific performances, excellent writing, stunning costume designs and wonderful political agenda.  Unlike the usual overabundance of slapstick comedy in the franchise, the humor is so natural here and the characters are so beautifully realized; making viewers so excited for the upcoming, epic looking 3rd Avengers film, "Infinity War". :)

Final Film Score: A