So finally after just about 10 years of the MCU, we get Marvel's first black-led superhero film. It's not Falcon or War Machine but T' Challa the Black Panther. We were introduced to him & the presence of Wakanda in the sub-par Captain America: Civil War. Now we get to actually see the beauty of Wakanda along w/ some of its traditions & customs. The wife and I went to a Friday afternoon showing of it. We're gonna talk about if it lives up to all of the great hype its been getting.
What I Liked:
- The story (traditions vs changing w/ the times)
- The performances of the cast
- The villains: Killmonger & Klaw did a great job - together & separately
- Wakanda as a whole: the look, the tribes, the tech, the traditions, its history, everything about it.
What I Didn't Care For:
- Bad CGI towards the end
- Some of the music choices(not from the soundtrack) that were Marvel formula of insert sad violin here, majestic triumphs w/ orchestra here, etc.
This is different from other MCU films as this isn't a hero trying to stop a mustache-twirling bad guy. But a new king trying to define his legacy & decide what path his country should play w/ the rest of the world.
T'Challa is the next in line to rule Wakanda despite the numerous oppositions in the film, he is the best person for the job. He is kind yet tough but has a great moral compass. Erik Killmonger was cold, calculating, deadly, and offered an emotional depth to both fear him & feel for him. Nakia is the spy who loved the boy who is now a king and provides one side of guidance. Oyoke is the general of the all-female security team: the Dora Milaje. She is fierce and provides the other side of guidance to the new king. Shuri is brains behind the technological marvels in Wakanda is a shining star. Being the little sister, the princess, and now the smartest person on earth in the MCU. Klaue is a lot more animated personality since we last saw him in Avengers: Age Of Ultron and does a good job being a secondary villain.
Michael B. Jordan's Killmonger shines amongst the line of disposable MCU villains.
Ryan Coogler did an amazing job capturing multiple layers. From the youth being smarter than the elders, a great brother & sister relationship, the hard choices a king must make for his country, and the long-term effects of creating walls instead of bridges. A few things could've been better like the scene in the jungle was super dark, it seemed like all of the characters got some insight except M'Baku, and the end CGI w/ the 2 Black Panthers fighting could've been a bit more polished. But other than that, it was well-crafted overall.
As a black man, I understand that this film will hit more beats for me & my experiences rather than the average moviegoer outside of the black experience. I can see some people feeling not as connected, I can see hardcore Marvel fans not getting enough connection to the MCU, I can even see more people connecting more so to Killmonger over T'Challa depending on your perspective.
Black Panther represents Afrofuturism, Black Excellence, strong Black women in a Shakesperian African tale - that's also a Marvel film.
So there you have it, the first Black blockbuster superhero film in a long time is really good and lives up to the hype. We got a black director, all black writers, and mostly black cast. I'm sure many will find something wrong w/ it but for me, it was a great film. From the story to the world-building, to the costume design, Wakandan culture, and character depth.
I am definitely gonna try to see it again before it hits digital & Blu-Ray. If you've seen it, let us know what you thought about it.
