Re-Visiting the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Black Panther

 "Black Panther" (2018)

Watching "Black Panther" again to write this blog post was a bittersweet experience. As you are fully aware, Chadwick Boseman, the actor who played T'Challa, passed away from colon cancer in August of last year. It's a tragedy that this was his first and only chance to star in a solo film based on Marvel's most famous African American super hero. It was also a triumph. Objectively the best Marvel movie that has been released up to today. It was the first Marvel movie with a predominantly African American cast and with an African American director. It was critically acclaimed, landing on a number of year end "best of" lists for 2018. It is the only Marvel movie to be nominated for the "Best Picture" Oscar.

Principal photography began on "Black Panther" in January 2017 and wrapped in April 2017. The film starred Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa/Black Panther, Michael B. Jordan as N'Jadaka/Erik "Killmonger" Stevens, Lupita Nyong'o as Nakia, Danai Gurira as Okoye, Daniel Kaluuya as W'Kabi, Letitia Wright as Shuri, Winston Duke as M'Baku, Martin Freeman as Everett Ross, Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue, Forest Whitaker as Zuri and Angela Bassett as Queen Ramonda. The film was written by Ryan Coogler and John Robert Cole. It was directed by Ryan Coogler. "Black Panther" was released on February 16, 2018.

King Me.

You can't talk about "Black Panther" without first talking about Chadwick Boseman. Boseman anchors the film in a role that isn't really showy. It's grounded but Boseman imbues T'Challa with everything the character of Black Panther needs. There is gravitas and humbleness. Boseman is the very definition of regal and commands the screen every time he is on. He never lets others run away with his film and that is very important. Boseman is able to click between the many facets of T'Challa without any issues. One minute he is regal addressing his council of advisors. He is a smitten kitten when interacting with Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o). He is a proud brother with Shuri. A disappointed son on the ancestral plain with father, T'Chaka. I have faith in whatever Marvel decides with the sequel but it can't be understated how much Boseman will be missed in this role.

The rest of the cast definitely matches Boseman. T'Challa is surrounded by powerful women. There is Danai Gurira's bad ass leader of the Dora Milaje, General Okoye, super spy, Nakia and genius inventor and princess, Shuri. Not to mention, the woman who should have played Storm, Angela Bassett's Queen Mother Ramonda. It's not surprising to see so much female power in "Black Panther," since the king's guard is made up entirely of female warriors. 

"Black Panther" has the best villain of any Marvel film with Michael B. Jordan's, Erik "Killmonger" Stevens. Jordan is ridiculously charismatic and menacing as the film's lead villain and you empathize with him, which is the most important thing when crafting a great villain. Killmonger has lived outside of Wakanda for his entire life. He doesn't understand their policy of non-interference. Why aren't they helping their people. It makes sense that he would be filled with so much rage. Not only was his father murdered and he was abandoned, but he's watched the injustice rained down on people who looks like him while "his people" do nothing.

Bad ass.

The action in "Black Panther" is amazing. The sequence in Busan is one of my favorite action sequences in any Marvel film. It really showcases everyone very well. Okoye is a badass and throws in a bit of comedy when she throws her wig at one of Klaue's goons. Nakia is right there in the thick of it with T'Challa and the car chase with Shuri remotely driving from her lab is really thrilling. It really shows off how each of them work and fight. It's a really great showcase for Black Panther and his new suit. The purple accents look really great. 

The final battle between W'Kabi and his men and Black Panther and the Dora Milaje is pretty impressive as well, but suffers a little bit from some wonky CGI. The battle rhinos that W'Kabi uses are a great idea, but they look kind of fake. It's a similar situation when T'Challa and Killmonger go after each other. It sometimes kind of looks like two video game characters fighting against a hyper realistic background. 

Sisters doin' it for themselves.

I have some minor quibbles with "Black Panther," but they are very, very minor. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me that W'Kabi would turn his back on T'Challa and ally with Killmonger so quickly. I get that W'Kabi wants his revenger against Klaue, but like would that really be all it took to be turned against T'Challa? It feels a little like a plot device that doesn't make a lot of sense for the characters.

Then there is Everett Ross. Ross is fine. It's nice to see that he is back and he doesn't ever really take over. Shuri calling him a colonizer is one of my favorite parts of the movie. Though, having Ross be the pilot of the plane that shoots down the planes that see trying to carry the weapons out of Wakanda feels little white savior-y, but again, it's a minor issue.

I can't even begin to imagine the impact that this film had for people of color. Seeing a story for them, made by them. It's very special and I really hope that this kind of thing continues. Representation is so important and "Black Panther" is a shining example of that.

The mid-credit scene show T'Challa meeting with the UN to finally reveal the real Wakanda to the world and the post-credits scene has Shuri awakening Bucky Barnes for the coming fight with Thanos.

Next up, the Infinity Saga begins it's climax with "Avengers: Infinity War."

Who else loves "Black Panther?" Do people not? Let me know in the comments.