Black Panther is so hot right meow
The latest film to join the ranks of the ever growing Marvel Cinematic Universe acts not only as a world building element but does a wonderful job in leading to the much anticipated Infinity War story arc. The critics and fans alike have already voiced their opinion and I won't disagree; I enjoyed the movie for its relatable characters and incredible showcase of Africa’s cultural depth.
Tall Order
It seems Marvel can do no wrong recently, releasing consistently refreshing experiences such as Spider-Man: Homecoming and Thor: Ragnarok. These two have in common a previous lineup of movies ranging from passable to mediocre, making their latest iterations success unpredictable.
This is where Black Panther differs; aside from a cameo in Captain America: Civil War and a mention of Wakanda’s ties to Vibranium in Avengers: Age of Ultron, we didn’t get enough to form a concrete opinion until now. As the MCU is evolving it will be critical to keep adding interesting characters in the lineup as they did with Doctor Strange to maintain a flow of originality. I feel they hit it just right this time, unlike Ant-Man who is basically just a plug-in (sorry, but I still love you Paul Rudd).
I say mission accomplish on that front.
Cultural Challenges
One of the main subject matter tackled by Black Panther is Africa’s cultural diversity and its impact on different fronts of modern society. It’s not the first time a superhero movie exposes a political agenda but it certainly is novel to feel it fit the narrative, not be shoehorned in. It currently is highly praised for that very reason as an extension of hot topics like #blacklivesmatter, afro-american stereotypes as well as the imbalance between third and first world countries.
I for one appreciated seeing a non-whitewashed movie that isn’t focused on slavery, servitude or disparity of social classes. They have an important place in our modern culture, as proven by many successful and poignant titles like 12 Years a Slave and The Help. I’d just prefer a balance in that market segment.
Weak Action
I may be on the wrong side of the spectrum about this but I’d say the most enjoyment Black Panther can offer stems from its amazing characters, its colorful representation of Africa’s culture, the intelligence subplots and one of the best villain development in the MCU to date. It differentiates it as a superhero film since the action scenes are its weakest appeal. You are served the usual car chase and small to large scale combat with very little sense of danger, especially when you know certain characters are slated for the timeline sequel. CGI of this now standard caliber cannot carry a movie anymore.
You won’t see me write or say this often but; Black Panther succeeds mostly in setting up a dramatic storyline, and I loved it for that very reason.
The Verdict
Go see it. It’s a good movie. Not the best MCU one (I still think it’s a tie between Iron Man and Captain America: Winter Soldier) but just like Thor: Ragnarok it was an successfully entertaining adventure.
I'd be silly not to mention how badass women are represented in this movie. Imagine Wonder Woman multiplied. They also pass the Bechdel test. Way to go!
What you shouldn’t do is go see it purely based on its racial and political implications. This isn’t the first black superhero movie, folks. If you think so, please take a moment to watch Blade. Thank me later.
Wakanda handshake! Shuri remains my favorite version of "Q"
Famous Last Words
Please excuse the mini-review format. I really wanted to write something more exhaustive since I’ve seen the movie on its first weekend and it deserves more, but life got in the way. I’ll attempt to find more time to write regularly in the near future.
