BLACK PANTHER Review

Black Panther (2018)  

A Review By Ben Hunter

3½ Out Of 5 Stars 

GET TO THE POINT BEN!

It does the job to entertain. But is exalted as another God to behold and blown way out of proportion due to the sensitive, political nature that surrounds it. 

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In the age of identity, prevalent now more than ever, where feeling the polarized nature so much that one could tangibly coddle or collude with it even as its so present, we experience the release of a minority superhero film. Fresh off of the collusion with DC's Wonder Woman (2017), we witness Marvel Studios release its next installment, Black Panther, an African king and protector of the fictional African nation of Wakanda. 

From previous Marvel films, in particular Ultron, we learn about “vibrainium”, a precious, resourceful metal that powers and enriches Wakanda due to the astroid completely made of it, that struck the nation and enriched it to the fertility that it is today, setting it far above other nations as it has become well advanced and futuristic due to their utilizing of the almost magically endowed mineral. The Black Panther derived from the ebracing of the vibranium as a specific plant, now affected with the special bedrock, which gives its consumer enhanced abilities. Dawning the role of protector to the chosen one designated with the honor. T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman, 42, Marshall, Get On Up) as newly crowned king and current Black Panther, is now tasked with protecting the secret utopia as the debate continues under his reign on whether to take in refugees or outsiders in general, or expand to the outside world in general with trade and resources. 

Chadwick Boseman is T'Challa, The Black Panther, king and protector of Wakanda!

As most superheroes go through (Iron Man & Iron Monger, Captain America & Bucky, Hulk & Abomination …), T’Challa (Black Panther) battles a version of himself in his early on screen career, Killmonger/Golden Jaguar (Michael B. Jordan) threatens to expose Wakanda’s secrets due to his pain that caused his anger. Forcing T’Challa and every tribe of Wakanda to truly grasp what they fight for and why they believe what they believe, “Wakanda Forever!” 

Finishing up Creed (2015), director Ryan Coogler was approached to direct the film. As anyone but a black man would be preposterous to direct the first mega budget black superhero film (sarcasm as an argument can be made for M.I.B., or Hancock even, but realistically because it shouldn’t matter, good storytelling is good storytelling). And I don’t want to hate the film or get drowned in the politics surrounding it as with Wonder Woman. Because unlike Wonder Woman, I actually liked this one, despite all the political conservations that surround it. Despite all the same emotions that lashed out in protection of the film if anyone dare said anything remotely negative (starting when most people hadn’t even seen the film, and to the point thus after where Rotten Tomatoes (RT) censored and tried to keep all the negative reviews/comments of the film away from the film’s page on the site *facepalm*). I was dreading having to relive all of this all over again, not even a year after WW. But it’s the polarized, heavily sensitive, political climate we live in today, it is what it is. So despite having to sift through all of that and just wanting a well told, entertaining, comic book superhero action flick as a movie geek and comic nerd (secretly, deep down in my heart of hearts wanting Oscar quality/Dark Knight level worthy material), I had a good time at the movies. No where near my heart of hearts, not even close, not even a little, but a great time nonetheless. Of course, because of that, and because it’s the first mega budget, major superhero project that revolves around a minority, or basically because it didn’t suck, it’s being blown out of proportion, just like WW. Darn near perfect score on RT, hashtag campaigns of what Black Panther means to them, the few critics who saw it early and didn’t worship it getting attacked and practically cyber bullied that went trending, heavily political caucasian people feeling they don’t want to see the film on opening weekend as they don’t want to “take away” the spotlight from black people and their moment (no joke), people acting like this is the first time a black superhero has EVER been in a movie when this same character was on screen just a year and a half before, with most of this taking place all before anyone has even seen the film. Cringeworthy behavior and more cringeworthy behavior, when we all can agree we just want to see a good movie. But there’s something bigger in our culture and society that we’ve become that makes movies like WW and BP become overly sensitive political movements and not just good movies to learn from and know not to let them over shadow and engulf our society and cause more division. 

Hero & heroine go undercover on a secret mission to save Wakanda. 

So it’s sad to relive this all over again, but I’m glad I was entertained nonetheless. But it’s also sad to say the hype wore off pretty quickly with this one. By the end of the day after I first saw it I realized my excitement to initially experience this was why I rated it a little higher than it deserved. And that the film is no where near the darn near perfection critics are giving it (and you thought people were disappointed that WW didn’t receive any major awards recognition?), but rather perfectly snug in the “entertaining” and “fun” category that your average comic book superhero film typically falls within. 

This is primarily because the villain, nicely portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, whom this is his 3rd film with director Ryan Coogler, is a lot of failed potential. Nothing to do with Jordan’s performance, though my only critique would’ve been to slow down and annunciate more clearly so we can feel that anger and vengeful-ness willing to seep out. But the character itself, as written in the story, I wanted so much more of his back story and development to be woven in more intricately and felt it was just enough to engage me and pass the test, but not enough to pull me out of my seat and into the world of Wakanda to lash out in anger as Killmonger lashes out. Which can be said for this entire story. Killmonger was the key, his character is the most interesting and intriguing, you want to know more about him and why he feels the way he does, and an argument can be made as to why he’s actually the protagonist or anti-hero (as Tom Hardy’s Venom later this year will most likely be). Causing Black Panther himself to almost take a back seat to the real star of the movie who steals the show. Which is why it was so disappointing to witness what Marvel chose to do with him. Another opportunity missed, and more failed potential relevant. Which made me wonder more about the best way to utilize the other villain Andy Serkis. It all worked, but as I said, it didn’t take me from my seat and throw me into the story because I had no choice. I was well seated and subconsciously didn’t want to move, abstracted from true and thorough engagement.  

Villain & Hero

Nevertheless, I did enjoy the overall experience. Chadwick Boseman is a decent actor, doesn’t knock it out of the ballpark as I said with 42 and believe it still holds true today. But he nailed that African accent! You’d think that was his natural voice and direct heritage. Lupita Nyong’o was pleasant to look at and it felt nice to see a black woman as “the girl”, well acted from a great actor, though ultimately unnecessary. Cliché at times, Bilbo Baggins from the world of The Lord of the Rings (Martin Freeman) was truly unnecessary and all these little tick marks kept adding up to how I kept wondering how all the potential of this story could’ve truly been utilized. 

But it does the job as an entertaining, fun, action flick. However, passable but not extraordinary on the "fun" aspect. Which is the reason why movies are created in the first place, to entertain first and foremost. Everything else comes second. So brace yourselves for more praise and worship a lot more than expected or deserved as this role model to black youth that’s perfect in every way continues to break the barriers of our culture and lead us into the promised land. As Wonder Woman did for the young girls last year. And anyone who can separate the film from the political hoopla that surrounds it and dares to just critique the film solely as a film will be deemed as racist. And we’ll all continue to wonder why no one is truly communicating with each other and why the polarization and divide continues to grow. 

Black Panther (2018) 

Action/Adventure, 134 Minutes, PG-13 

Based on the Marvel Comics by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Screenplay by: Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole

Directed by: Ryan Coogler 

Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Sterling K. Brown, with Angela Bassett, with Forest Whitaker, & Andy Serkis