Black Panther has been one of the most hotly anticipated Marvel movies since it was announced, but does it live up to all the hype and excitement? Read on to find out…
In the most recent addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Prince (and latterly King) T’challa returns to his homeland of Wakanda, having last been seen fighting Captain America and Co. in Captain America: Civil War. Finding himself with a fight of his own brewing at home, can a good man become a good king?
Starting in the way we’d hope from an MCU film these days, Black Panther literally drops us into the bush of Nigeria where our titular character, played by Chadwick Boseman, metes out Marvel-style justice on some militants and shows off his own impressive abilities alongside Wakandan tech and the power of his super suit.
The film sees T’Challa learn what he must do to unify his people, be a king and figure out what he wishes Wakanda’s role in the wider world to be after so many years in isolation. Black Panther has perhaps been one of the most hotly anticipated releases in the franchise’s history thus far. This is hardly a surprise when Black Panther is one of the few people of colour to be found in superhero suit, coupled with the fact that a huge portion of cinema goers are ready to relate to a hero that isn’t say, a super powered white patriot wearing a rehashed American flag.
It comes as a groundbreaking move here, not just for the MCU but for Hollywood overall, in that the film stars a predominately black cast, with black writers – director Ryan Coogler of Fruitvale Station fame and Joe Robert Cole, and only two white actors in supporting roles. This has afforded the film a very different feeling on many, if not all, levels. The mood of the film settles comfortably in themes of pride (both national and of oneself), family and oppression, as opposed to simply ‘getting the bad guys’. It feels deeper than most of the MCU’s offering and yet still manages to get a good few laughs out of the audience as well. It’s not the same hilarious action-caper that Thor: Ragnarok was, but it was never meant to be.
Chadwick Boseman (left) stars as Black Panther/T’Challa, with Michael B. Jordan (left) as villain Eric Killmonger/N’Jadaka.
In terms of casting, there isn’t a man (or woman) out of place. Chadwick Boseman manages to play a troubled king, whom we see grow as a monarch and as a person following the death of his father and previous king, T’chaka from Civil War. The proud Wakandan monarch is perfectly counterpointed by Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger character, a raw and furious ex-soldier driven by hate and revenge for Wakanda as he grew up in the slums of California whilst the isolationist African nation flourished. As a side note, it’s worth noting that Jordan, much like Captain America star Chris Evans, actually played The Human Torch is one of those Fantastic 4 films… so, it’s nice to see the non-Sony side of the franchise is happy to rescue a good actor.
Andy Serkis reprises his role as villain Ulysses Klaue.
Filling out the villain roster comes Andy Serkis whom we last saw in Avengers: Age Of Ultron as deranged South African vibranium smuggler Ulysses Klaue. As happily mad as he was in his last outing and as perfectly voiced as one would expect from Serkis, he makes for an excellent source of excitement.
The cast back in Wakanda is well-rounded out to show the powerful women of the mysterious nation. The King’s tech genius sister, general of his army and his independent and headstrong ex are portrayed by Laetitia Wright, Danai Gurira and Lupita Nyong’o, respectively. Each of the characters feels individual in their own right and not simply an addition to the male lead (I’m looking at you, Jane Foster).
Black Panther features a cast of strong female characters/actors including Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), left, and Shuri (Letitia Wright).
The soundtrack is a masterpiece as well, and is thankfully available separately. Kendrick Lamar was tasked with creating original music, while composer Ludwig Göransson (who worked on Coogler’s Fruitvale Station) and Senegalese musician Baaba Maal, and the collaboration perfectly sets the tone for the movie, be it the streets of California or the mountains of Wakanda. Filled with anything from bass to challenge a back-of-car subwoofer on the roads or rhythmic tribal drums, nothing has been spared to ensure the film is always grounded well by its music.
Politics aside, the film is still a superhero film, and an excellent one at that. Virtually everything about the film distinguishes it from its 17 predecessors in the MCU and this is a great thing. Black Panther has given us a movie of substance and nuance. It deserves every rave review and box-office breaking record it has earned – go see this film.
Author: Steve, Southgate store
