If at this point in time, you haven't decided that Black Panther is your favorite Marvel film, then you are undeniably in the wrong. This film is an absolute must-see in not just the superhero genre, but for any fan of masterful filmmaking. With a beautiful, amazing cast and powerful themes throughout, Ryan Coogler has truly created one of, if not the best, Marvel film of this generation.
There are countless aspects of this film worthy of praise, including its remarkable performances, perfectly-developed characters, and spectacular directing. The characters were casted perfectly, and the entire cast performed well beyond their abilities. Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, and Letitia Wright excelled in their roles. This fantastic diversity was obviously a first for a superhero film, and it worked well, especially given Coogler's personal experiences that have been represented in his films. The characters throughout the entire film were very well-developed, especially Jordan's Killmonger and the women in the story. Killmonger was one of the best-written villains I have ever seen, and was as gorgeous as he was evil. This character was as memorable as T'Challa, and his story was as well-written too. I believe that every hero is defined by his villains, and their stories were developed side-by-side excellently. Killmonger was outstanding because his background was very familiar to many people. Lots of people can relate with his more Americanized story as well as T'Challa's African origins. These two stories going hand-in-hand provided a great dynamic and contrast between the different black experiences, which worked beautifully for this film. It also made the audience, especially people of color, question which side they could relate to the most. The females in this film were the other force that absolutely drove it home. All of the women were just as powerful as the men and put them in their place when they needed to, rightfully so. Breakout star Letitia Wright's Shuri was my personal favorite character, and I loved the fact that she was confirmed to be the smartest person in the Marvel universe. I desperately crave a scene in Infinity War with her, Tony Stark and Bruce Banner where she destroys their egos with her sheer intelligence. Shuri was definitely the scene-stealer in this film, and I can not wait to see more of her development in future films. Also, the way Shuri's technology added to the general aesthetic of the film was stunning. The blend of traditional African customs with afrofuturistic technology made for a wildly pleasing aesthetic tone throughout.
Other parts of Black Panther that I adored were its political tones and action sequences. While this film was obviously expected to be the most political of any superhero film, I don't believe that it was as politically charged as most say it was. While there are obvious intentions in this filmmaking and a few lines in the film that paved way for discussion, the main focus the entire time was definitely not on racial issues. This film did a great job with blending representation and an engaging story together without putting too much emphasis on either. The one obvious line that stood out to me the most was Killmonger's final line. You could hear the entire theater gasp as he uttered his last remark, and it was so brilliantly powerful. Martin Freeman's character Everett Ross was the supporting white character, and while he tried to help out in any way he could, his character was handled very well. None of the focus was put on him while he simultaneously aided the story well. Also, the inclusion of M'Baku's vegetarian tribe was a pleasant surprise. The other part that was done very well were the action sequences. The choreography during the royal challenges was awesome, as well as the train fight scene and the car chase after the auction. My only problem was that it got a bit too CGI-y in a lot of areas. In Civil War, Black Panther's suit seemed more realistic and grounded than the one in this film. Even though it was more technologically-advanced, it seemed a bit over-the-top in certain scenes.
Ryan Coogler, a talented, young director has smashed it out of the park with this film, as it may well be my new favorite (Disney) Marvel film. The entire cast and crew excelled in every aspect of beautiful filmmaking with this film, and I am excited to see where else they go with this gorgeous franchise. While this film was not as political as I believed it to be, its tone still worked well within the overall universe while still being a powerhouse blockbuster of its own. I would wholly recommend this film, as your mind will truly be blown by every aspect of its impressiveness.
My Rating: ★★★★½
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