BLACK PANTHER REVIEW

NON SPOILER REVIEW....WELL ALMOST

Ever since his introduction to the MCU in Captain America: Civil War, The Black Panther’s solo outing has always been something to look forward to, but for all the hype surrounding the Wakandan Warrior King, I mostly played it cool, since I had no intention of getting over excited for another  ‘super hero’ movie especially after Justice League’s dismal performance, but boy, did Black Panther ever prove me so wrong, Director Ryan Coogler  manages to come up with something essentially different from every Marvel film before it and breathes some much needed life into a genre on the edge. I had a hunch this movie could be Marvel's most exciting entry so far but I sure didn’t count on it, so without further ado let’s talk about the MCU's Top Cat.

Black Panther picks up right after the events of Captain America: Civil War,  T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) is faced with inheriting the Wakandan throne and the responsibilities of ruling his nation, a feat which the Prince feels unprepared for, along the way he learns the fatal lessons of  duty and honour while discovering a dark secret that will threaten his Kingdom. It’s not your everyday superhero arc, but then again the Black Panther is not your everyday superhero.  The only thing Black Panther had better than its plot and amazing visuals was the strong cast chosen to execute it, and here’s what I thought about them in no particular order of preference.

All Hail The King

Back in CA: Civil War, T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) is introduced as the Black Panther after the death of his father King T’Chaka and for the rest of that movie he’s cut as a cheerless, dark, vengeful figure, so it was good to see the lighter side of the character. Boseman pretty much juggles the roles of warrior, royal, lover and Avenger with relative ease. The Black Panther suit got an upgrade from its cinematic debut and it is glorious, the new nano- kinetic suit is arguably one of the better suit designs you’ll ever see, combining functionality and aesthetics. This compactible suit is stored in a necklace allowing for a quick change into crime fighting gear. The new Kinetic feature also adds an impressive edge to T’Challa’s already formidable arsenal.

Shur Thing

Letitia Wright’s Shuri completely steals the show as far as the support cast is concerned and her scenes were some of the more memorable parts of the movie, Wright’s performance as  T’challa’s prodigy sister has now made her quite indispensable for any Black Panther future installments, Shuri’s triple threat combination of brains, charm and humour clearly added more pizzazz to a movie that was already full of spectacle and colour, but never felt over the top or unnecessary. She can also kick ass when need be.

Mbaku

Winston Duke’s Mbaku aka Man-Ape undergoes quite an alteration from the source material for understandable reasons and in service of the movie’s plot, unlike his usual modus operandi this antagonist in the comics sits on the wall for most of this one. Duke’s portrayal of Mbaku is that of a powerful warrior and capable leader with a mischievous side to him and despite his original contempt for The Black Panther, both men come to have a mutual respect for each other.

Best Marvel Villain Ever!

Move over Loki, there’s a new villain in town. Finally, a villain worth watching! Superhero movies and Marvel in particular have in recent times had a tough job of creating a villain worth his salt and our time, but they finally deliver, slightly tweaked from his comic counterpart, Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger is not only relatable but memorable, a byproduct of King T’Chaka’s darker past, consumed by anger, vengeance and purpose.  Killmonger devotes his life to settling the scores and taking from those that have taken from him.  'I've waited my whole life for this. The world's going to start over. I'm gonna burn it all!' and he meant every word. driven by not just hate of the Wakandan Monarch, Killmonger possesses a moral compass that could easily be sided with, he aims to fight the oppression he's seen in the world in his many travels and missions. This baddie owned his shit through and through! It’s quite sad we won’t be having him in any future installments or in the MCU at large, but in the immortal words of Ecstasy, Pain and Passion…Good Things Don’t Last Forever.

Okoye

I simply loved Okoye (Danai Gurira), the bald headed, tattooed, no nonsense leader of the Dora Milaje and General of T’Challa’s armies. Okoye’s loyalty to T’Challa is unquestionable only taking second place to that of her country. Did I mention that she also gives lessons in bad-assery and ass-kickery?

Nakia

Nakia played by Lupita Nyong’o is a Wakandan spy and romantic interest of T’Challa. Nakia is interested in doing more beyond the borders of her home country against the status quo of most of her reclusive countrymen and King. Strong, sultry and smart, its little wonder she has T’Challa wrapped around her finger, but with X-Men back under the Marvel canopy I wonder if she’ll be having some competition soon in the form of Ororo (Storm).

Klaw Me, Klaw Thee!

Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) is probably one of the more enjoyable Marvel villains, his dark humour and hyperactive nature are classic sociopath traits that make the character…dare I say charming, Klaw might not be a grade A villain but  since his appearance in Avengers: Age of Ultron he’s been delivered in small but potent doses.

Angela Basset is largely underutilized in her role as the Queen mother Ramonda, but plays the doting mother of T’Challa and Shuri as well as the script would allow.

Zuri (Forest Whitaker) is another character that undergoes a drastic change from his original iteration, gone is the gigantic bodyguard of King T’Chaka and in his place is a spiritual leader who serves to guide the new King on his new task. Despite his sparse appearances, Zuri’s role in the story is a crucial one. Martin Freeman reprises his role as Everett K. Ross and his fate is inevitably tied to that of Wakanda when he attempts to apprehend Klaw and crosses paths with T'Challa.

Being a black African, Black Panther definitely appeals to my heritage, but it doesn’t attempt to solely coast on the racial card, no, it celebrates a people while exploring their diversity and culture, while at the same time delivering perhaps one of Marvel studios best movies so far. Despite my love for many western superheroes, it’s great to finally have some form of representation in the genre and in such a big way. I remember reading Andy Akman’s Kaptain Afrika (The first African Superhero I ever knew) in the Vanguard dailies when I was a lot younger and wondering what a live action film would be like, Black Panther answers that question, It is the biggest tribute to Afrofuturism on the big screens thus far.

Visually, Black Panther was a marvel to behold, despite some dodgy moments with the Black Panther fight action scenes, the CGI mostly delivers as it brought Wakanda to life, some of the scenery was just amazing and Birnin Zara looked like a living breathing city.  I did find the catchphrase ‘Wakanda Forever’ super cheesy, and I gotta say that it broke the immersion every time I heard it, it totally felt out of place and way too cartoonish, I mean come on, there’s got to be hundreds of better phrases better than that. We also didn't get an explanation for the 'social security numbers' on the inside of the lower lips of Wakandans, how does it get there?

Black Panther sticks to the Marvel formula that has been more successful than not, while being moderate on the one-liners that most Marvel films are known for. Director Ryan Coogler's  influence is in the details, as the film’s distinct source material is exploited adequately enough to make it very different from any Marvel film before it. A topical movie, which touches on some serious matters, Black Panther uses its themes of Afrocentrism and Afrofuturism to deliver its real messages of colonialism, xenophobia, obligation, duty, and oppression while asking the philosophical question; if we are in a position to help others, do we have an obligation to do so? 

Black Panther might not be the messiah for superhero movies at a time when the genre might be getting fatigued, but it comes pretty damn close and does enough to hopefully secure a return to Wakanda very soon.

Reject Rating: 8/10