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Black Panther
(Marvel Studios)
By Lucas Allen
In “Captain America: Civil War,” we were introduced to Black Panther and his stance on the controversial Sokovia Accords. Now the king of Wakanda stars in a stand-alone film as part of the ongoing and expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe. In “Black Panther,” director Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station and Creed) brings a fresh new perspective on this comic book world with his own singular voice guiding the production. Between this and DC’s “Wonder Woman,” it looks like the superhero genre is evolving into something more than simply event films.
After the death of his father, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) takes his rightful place on the throne as king of the technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda. For generations, his royal bloodline had protected both their secret homeland and their source of power, vibranium, from outsiders. However, his peaceful kingdom is threatened when arms dealer Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) has been stealing ancient Wakanda weapons and selling them. T’Challa brings along his bodyguard Okoye (Danai Gurira), his personal spy Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), and his tech-savvy sister Shuri (Letitia Wright) along on the mission.
With the unexpected help of CIA agent Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman), the gang was able to capture Klaue in South Korea. But then the plot thickens when American soldier Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) frees Klaue as part of his plan of revenge. He plans to overthrow T’Challa and take his place as king because of a dark secret long held by both T’Challa’s father and the priest Zuri (Forest Whitaker). Soon, the fate of Wakanda rests on the battle between its king and an outsider.
This is a very special kind of Marvel film that you wouldn’t expect unless you had read the original comics. While it does have some action, comedy, and drama that would fill up any good comic book movie, this movie goes the extra mile offering subtle commentary on the political and social climate we’re still struggling with today. It also shows another part of the universe we’ve haven’t seen before on screen that’s just as fascinating and engaging than what we’ve seen previously. Whoever did the sets and costumes for this film will hopefully get awards recognition come next year.
There’s also a great story that combines elements of a Shakespearean play with the usual bells and whistles of the genre. A classic tale of good vs. evil that’s also an amalgamation of culture and politics in conflict. It speaks for not just the superhero fans but also speaks for generations who has seen similar conflict over the years. Again, like “Wonder Woman,” its message will stand as the testament to its longevity.
But what really brings this film together is the outstanding cast coming together to make history. Boseman continues to grow as an actor and his performance here brings a certain level of energy that’s unforgettable. Jordan redeems his comic book movie credibility after the disastrous 2015 “Fantastic Four,” by playing a villain deeply rooted in hatred and revenge and pulls it off tremendously. Nyong’o, Gurira, Wright, and Angela Bassett as T’Challa’s mother offer strong portrayals of heroism above and beyond the norm. Serkis is delightfully over-the-top in his second Marvel appearance, while Freeman is good playing the same role as the audience. It’s very mind blowing to see those two actors from “The Hobbit” reunite in another cinematic universe.
Marvel’s Black Panther adds more ground and then breaks it with an engaging story, great action scenes, and amazing performances and direction. It’s the finest superhero film in 10 years since both “The Dark Knight” and the movie that started the MCU, “Iron Man.” Next stop in the Marvel Universe will be “Avengers: Infinity War.”
THE MOVIE’S RATING: PG-13 (for prolonged sequences of action/violence and a brief rude gesture)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 4 Stars (Out of Four)
