I'm really not getting used to being consistently pleased with Marvel's output. Outside of the unexpected crushing disappointment of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2. and somewhat overrated Captain America: Civil War, the previously erratic superhero giant has been on a pretty lengthy tear of excellence since they bottomed out with the overstuffed, incoherent mess Avengers: Age of Ultron back in May 2015. Ryan Coogler's Black Panther manages to extend this unexpected hot streak by delivering a phenomenal epic saga that lives up to the elite pedigree of its creative team as well as its borderline unfathomable amount of pre-release buzz.
Pointing out all the ways that Black Panther distinguishes itself from the slew of other Marvel properties is a long exercise. It features a dense plot that's part spy movie, part Shakespearian-esque political saga, is very light on humor and of course, has the proud distinction of being the first major superhero film to feature a predominantly black cast. The springboard that makes all of these unique elements possible is the film's majestic setting of Wakanda. The secretive, technologically-advanced nation that T'Challa/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) rules over is a god damn wonder to behold. Its variety of landscapes are fucking stunning, all of their futuristic technology is cool as shit and the contained setting helps ramp up the intensity and stakes of the primary conflict that kicks in around the halfway mark.
This beautiful African kingdom also happens to be home to some of the most interesting, well-developed characters in the history of the MCU. Every major character has their own clear set of easily justified motivations for their actions and can't really be classified as purely good or completely evil. Seeing a film of this scope juggle so many densely-sketched, morally-flawed characters without losing its narrative momentum or limiting the amount of crowd-pleasing fight scenes is a tremendous accomplishment that will hopefully be utilized by more superhero films in the future.
While its rich writing and vibrant setting are the catalysts for Black Panther's unique feel, its triumphs on the traditional superhero front shouldn't be overlooked. The handful of huge action sequences are pretty terrific, Erik Killmonger (played by the always excellent Michael B. Jordan) is an imposing, memorable villain that is about as emphatic as an antagonist can be and the post-credits scene is top-notch fan service. It also helps that Black Panther's energy-absorbing suit makes Iron Man's huge metal shell look super lame. Considering the cultural impact its already made, Black Panther is unlikely to be remembered for what it brought to the table as a pure superhero movie, but Coogler and his co-writer Joe Robert Cole deserve just as much as credit for delivering on the familiar elements that define this genre as they do for the meatier ones that transcended it.
Black Panther is a rare example of a universally gushed-about film that I can agree with all the fawning over. While I'm not willing to co-sign the popular "best Marvel movie ever" take quite yet, I can say without hesitation that this unique, well-rounded piece of entertainment is in the top handful of films they've released over the past 15 years. If Coogler, Cole and this terrific cast (aside from the aforementioned Boseman and Jordan, Lupita Ny'ongo, Letita Wright and Winston Duke all turn in excellent performances) stick around for the sequels, there's no reason that the Black Panther franchise can't be one of the genre's all-time greats.
Pointing out all the ways that Black Panther distinguishes itself from the slew of other Marvel properties is a long exercise. It features a dense plot that's part spy movie, part Shakespearian-esque political saga, is very light on humor and of course, has the proud distinction of being the first major superhero film to feature a predominantly black cast. The springboard that makes all of these unique elements possible is the film's majestic setting of Wakanda. The secretive, technologically-advanced nation that T'Challa/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) rules over is a god damn wonder to behold. Its variety of landscapes are fucking stunning, all of their futuristic technology is cool as shit and the contained setting helps ramp up the intensity and stakes of the primary conflict that kicks in around the halfway mark.
This beautiful African kingdom also happens to be home to some of the most interesting, well-developed characters in the history of the MCU. Every major character has their own clear set of easily justified motivations for their actions and can't really be classified as purely good or completely evil. Seeing a film of this scope juggle so many densely-sketched, morally-flawed characters without losing its narrative momentum or limiting the amount of crowd-pleasing fight scenes is a tremendous accomplishment that will hopefully be utilized by more superhero films in the future.
While its rich writing and vibrant setting are the catalysts for Black Panther's unique feel, its triumphs on the traditional superhero front shouldn't be overlooked. The handful of huge action sequences are pretty terrific, Erik Killmonger (played by the always excellent Michael B. Jordan) is an imposing, memorable villain that is about as emphatic as an antagonist can be and the post-credits scene is top-notch fan service. It also helps that Black Panther's energy-absorbing suit makes Iron Man's huge metal shell look super lame. Considering the cultural impact its already made, Black Panther is unlikely to be remembered for what it brought to the table as a pure superhero movie, but Coogler and his co-writer Joe Robert Cole deserve just as much as credit for delivering on the familiar elements that define this genre as they do for the meatier ones that transcended it.
Black Panther is a rare example of a universally gushed-about film that I can agree with all the fawning over. While I'm not willing to co-sign the popular "best Marvel movie ever" take quite yet, I can say without hesitation that this unique, well-rounded piece of entertainment is in the top handful of films they've released over the past 15 years. If Coogler, Cole and this terrific cast (aside from the aforementioned Boseman and Jordan, Lupita Ny'ongo, Letita Wright and Winston Duke all turn in excellent performances) stick around for the sequels, there's no reason that the Black Panther franchise can't be one of the genre's all-time greats.
Grade: A
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