MOVIE REVIEW: Black Panther

(Death Of Vesper - Michael Giacchino)

May of 2016 saw the release of Captain America: Civil War.  The movie itself was heralded very nearly a universal success, and why not?  All of the major players in the MCU were involved with the movie.  Why shouldn't it have crushed it at the box office?

Yet, in the midst of seeing old friends, Marvel snuck a new face into the mix:  T'Challa, son of T'Chaka, Prince of Wakanda.  New faces aren't anything that we haven't dealt with in Marvel movies before, but something about the reveal of the Black Panther absolutely set the world on fire, and we haven't stopped burning since then.

Finally, nearly two years later, the Big Cat gets his own film.  Was it worth the wait?  Could it possibly have survived being hit by the Hype Train?


THE SHORT VERSION:

Oh my, yes.  So very, VERY worth the wait.  Arguably one of the best Marvel movies to date.



THE LONG VERSION:

I need to stop going to see movies without my nephew, Sam.  I've come to the conclusion that his world-weariness has also yielded him a wisdom that's far beyond his years.  It's given him an ability to see to the core of complex issues, and believe me when I tell you that Black Panther is full of them.  I only had one gripe about this movie, and after exploring it with Sam for about 2 minutes, he abruptly changed my perspective on the entire film.

It is a triumph.  Every single thing about this movie is incredible.

• A/V: Marvel has really stepped their game up with their audio and visual effects, and it shows here.  This movie is probably the pinnacle of what we've seen so far.  In particular, the music in this movie is absolutely superb, weaving modern day sounds with the gorgeous vocals and instrument sounds that most of us have come to associate with Africa's rich cultures.  It's unique and beautiful, and serves as a massive draw for the film.


• CHARACTERS:  Oh boy!  Chadwick Boseman is amazing as The King, but for the first time, Marvel has surrounded their leading actor with supporting cast members that are every bit as bright as he is.  There's never, ever a moment in this movie when you think, 'Alright, I'm bored now, put T'Challa back on the screen.  I just want to watch him do more cool shit and look epic in his wardrobe.'  This might be off-putting for a movie, except for the fact that the entire cast works together like a well-oiled machine, all of them in service to the greater goal that is the movie's story.


• STORY:  I'm going to do something that I try very hard never to do in my reviews, and that's get a little sociopolitical.  The story in Black Panther won't surprise you.  It's Shakespear told with new set-dressings, and perhaps that's why it resonates so well.  That said, there are a few modern changes.  The voice of the story speaks loudly to the world we live in as a whole.  It's a cautionary tale, a warning about the endless cycle that some have found themselves within.  It's a message that applies directly to today's world, and I can only hope that everyone is wise enough to hear it for what it is.

Black Panther does so many things right in a world where doing the right thing frequently results in trying too hard.  It celebrates strong women, strong men, amazing cultures, family, loyalty, devotion without blindness, and the willingness to do the right thing, even when it's not easy.  It does all of these things without you feeling like you're being beaten over the head with any of it.  You're just left inspired, thoughtful, and really, really impressed.

Hail to the King.