At this point, it's usually safe to assume that when a new Marvel Studios film comes out, it's going to be good. It's just a matter of HOW good it will be. I try not to put much stock in what critics say, good or bad, so as to not affect my expectations. Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther already had an impressive debut two years ago in "Captain America: Civil War" and now he takes center stage for his own much anticipated film, showcasing the character's rich mythos. At the time of this writing, Black Panther is already critically acclaimed with a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the highest of all the Marvel Cinematic Universe films. I went in thinking this film would be good, but would it be THAT good? Well, just when I think Marvel can't surprise me anymore, they do.
Despite what I felt was a slow start, it didn't take long to find myself immersed in the film. I felt like I was on the edge of my seat for a good chunk of the film, and not just for the action scenes. Story wise, I saw it as a mix of a soap opera and political drama, and I believe I picked up on some subtle commentary on our own political landscape at the moment. I'd have to say that Black Panther has the deepest story of all the MCU films.
The filmmakers did a great job at creating Wakanda, from the landscape, architecture, and their own advanced technology that would make Tony Stark envious. But what I really love is that despite all the technology they have, they hold on to their rich culture and traditions; it's a good balance.
The action was amazing as well. Alongside Captain America, Panther is one of the most agile and fiercest hand-to-hand fighters in the MCU to date. In a way, you can see him as a mix between Cap and Iron Man. He's well adept to fighting, but he does get help in some scenes from his vibranium powered suit. While I've always thought it would be awesome to have an Iron Man armor, I walked out of this thinking it would be cooler to have a vibranium suit like T'Challa. Some will probably think the suit makes him too over powered, but as I said, he proves he doesn't need it to get the job done. Besides his fighting prowess, the film also had probably the best car chase in movie history and a thrilling climax that helps it stand out from the rest of the MCU.
Chadwick Boseman is fantastic as T'Challa, especially in the scenes detailing his internal conflicts. Not only is T'Challa trying to figure out how to rule as Wakanda's young new king, but he's also dealing with discovered secrets from the past his father kept. Wakanda can be seen just short of a utopia, and to find out your homeland or your father wasn't as perfect as you believe can have a real effect on someone such as T'Challa, and it shapes the character for the future.
They say behind every great man is a woman, and in T'Challa's case, he has three: Nakia, his love interest, Okoye, his bodyguard, and Shuri, his 16 year old technology innovative sister. All three women create a great inner circle for T'Challa, each having their own different personalities and relationship to the king, and they all know how to kick ass too. Of the three, Shuri was my favorite because the brother-sister dynamic was the most entertaining to me.
And then of course we have our main villain, Erik Killmonger, played by Michael B. Jordan of "Creed" fame and "Fant4stic" infamy. Much like his fellow former Human Torch, Chris Evans, Jordan finds comic book movie redemption as one of the best MCU villains to date. Jordan said he took inspiration from Heath Ledger's Joker when it came to the role, and unlike a lot of actors who say that, I genuinely believe he did based on his performance. While Killmonger has a tragic past and his motivations are understandable, I really did see a lot of Ledger's Joker in his actions; he has his own life philosophy and kills anyone who gets in his way, and at times really does come off someone who just wants to watch the world burn.
To me, Black Panther is a near perfect film. Guardians 2 is still my favorite of the MCU, but Black Panther is a close second. I may sound a bit nit-picky, but I did have to take off points for a trope used before in previous superhero films that has kind of been played out (without spoiling much, see "Dark Knight Rises"). Nevertheless, Black Panther was amazing, phenomenal, and is definitely a must-see for fans of Marvel, comic books, and superheroes.
My Personal Marvel Cinematic Universe Film Rankings:
1. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
2. Black Panther
3. Captain America: Civil War
4. Thor: Ragnarok
5. Avengers: Age of Ultron
6. Captain America: The Winter Solider
7. The Avengers
8. Guardians of the Galaxy
9. Doctor Strange
10. Spider-Man: Homecoming
11. Ant-Man
12. Iron Man 3
13. Thor
14. Captain America: The First Avenger
15. Iron Man
16. The Incredible Hulk
17. Iron Man 2
18. Thor: The Dark World
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