(Reviewed by our guest critic, the Movie Knight) Following the events of Captain America: Civil War – which saw the assassination of his father – T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) returns to his technology-advanced kingdom of Wakanda to assume the role of king/Black Panther, protector of the land. Uncertain if he’s ready to take on such a significant role; however, it is viewed as a time for great celebration. But it’s also short-lived when Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) returns to challenge the right to rule, along with his radical ideas that could affect the entire world.
The first trailer featured the song “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” and that is true. Instead it is taking place in cinemas across the globe as this piece is truly revolutionary in the realm of the comic book/superhero genre. 95% of the cast are all from African descent. Usual, with a cast like that, there is a specific target audience in mind, this movie however, is for everybody. It was also conceivable that a studio would want to gloss over the cultural inheritances these characters celebrate, here they are embraced. The ceremony when the king is crowned is one of the most beautiful sequences in the picture.
It doesn’t stop there, in this emerging #MeToo movement Black Panther features multiple strong female lead characters never portrayed in this type of film. Look at the Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies. In all three movies Spider-Man had to go rescue Mary Jane from whatever villain he was fighting, which means Kirstin Dunst was nothing more than a plot device. Here we have Oscar winning actress Lupita Nyong’o as one bad ass warrior and Letitia Wright who plays T’Challa’s sister and acts as his Q making his high-tech costume and gadgets. She is also a fighter in her own right and injects some great humor. Angela Bassett and Dania Gurira help round out this powerful female cast.
Right from the opening scene, fans are going to be very impressed. Watching some of the action sequences is the equivalent of witnessing a top ballet troupe in action. There is such fluidity to them that they become mesmerizing.
Ryan Coogler is the director. This is only his third feature length movie, the first being the critically acclaimed indie, Fruitvale Station. Hollywood has tried hiring independent filmmakers in the past to helm their big budget blockbusters, but many of them have failed to live up to the task. Coogler is a great exception. Not only did he help revive the Rocky franchise and lead Sylvester Stallone to his first Golden Globe win, he has now created one of the best super hero movies in the Marvel Universe.
It is way too early to be talking about Oscars for 2018-19, but if this does not nab nominations for costume and set design, a crime has been committed. No surprise the special effects are stunning and even the 3D conversion makes it worth spending the extra money to view it in that format.
For a comic book movie, it’s deep. Black Panther has many inner dilemmas as well as outer ones, something else that is rare to see in this genre. However, don’t be surprised to find yourself cheering along with the rest of the audience that sees this story. For those who want to see more of these amazing characters, you do not have to wait long. Avengers: Infinity War, ten years in the making, is less than three months away!
3.5 Tiaras