Skip to main content

Movie Review: "Black Panther" Goes Beyond Just Being A Great Marvel Movie


BLACK PANTHER 
Starring Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita N'yong'o
Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kalluyam Letitia Wright.
Winston Duke, Angela Basset, Forrest Whitaker and Andy Serkis
Black Panther Created by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby
Screebplay by Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole
    Directed by Ryan Coogler

    Reviewed by Paul & Patrick Gibbs

     Out of Four

    Ryan Coogler shook up critics and audiences with Fruitvale Station a small independent film about the last day in the life of  Oscar Grant, a black man in who was wrongfully shot by an Oakland police officer.  Coogler followed that with Creed, a movie that managed to make the Rocky franchise feel resh and relevant to today, and quite frankly made us cry our eyes out.  The only worries we had about him directing a Marvel film were 1. Is a big budget action film really the best use of this talented director of character driven stories? and 2. Would Marvel allow him the leeway to make a Ryan Coogler film, not just a safe new entry in their movie of the week club?

    The answer to both questions is a triumphant yes, and Black Panther is not only the best superhero film since Wonder Woman, it's a film with a searing social conscience that completely transcends the genre. It's also an epic fantasy that would be making you think of Lord of The Rings (in a good way) even if Bilbo Baggins and Gollum were not in it.

    Centuries ago, as five African tribes war over a meteorite made up of the alien metal vibranium, a warrior ingests a "heart-shaped herb" affected by the metal and gains superhuman abilities. Becoming the first "Black Panther", he unites the five tribes and forms the nation of Wakanda. As time passes, the Wakandans use the vibranium to develop highly-advanced technology while simultaneously isolating themselves from the rest of the world and posing as a Third World country.



    Sister and Brother reunited.
    (Images Courtesy Marvel Studios)
    In the present day, following King T'Chaka's death at the hands of Helmut Zemo in Captain America: Civil War, his son T'Challa returns to Wakanda to assume the throne. After working with Okoye (Danai Gurira), the leader of the elite warrior force theDora Milaje, to extract his ex-lover Nakia from an undercover assignment, he reunites with his mother Ramonda and younger sister Shuri (Leticia Wright) for his coronation.

    But a new challenge emerges when Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis), a black market arms dealer who infiltrated Wakanda years to steal a cache of vibranium in a violent attack, resurfaces and prepares to sell a stolen Wakandan artifact to a buyer in Busan, South Korea.

    Giving away anything more would serve no purpose only cause spoilers, and let's face it, you are going to see this movie. Coogler and his cast, led by Chadwick Boseman, ignite the screen with an intensity and sense of deep introspection that stands up with anything Marvel has given us before, and surpasses most of it. It's not as funny as a Thor: Ragnarok, Guardians of The Galaxy or even Iron Man, but it's not trying to be (though it does have light moments.). This is a much more visceral and brooding film, and it delves into a lot of issues about race relations, poverty and privilege that you would never expect in a comic book film, let alone done so thoughtfully.

    Fighting for power.
    (Image Courtesy of Marvel Studios)

    Michael B. Jordan's Erik Killmonger is bar none the best villain in MCU history,  and one of the best screen villains since Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator. Boseman already stole Civil War and the first trailer for Infinity War, and does a terrific job as the lead in this film, but the cast of strong and capable women steal it from him, especially Leticia Wright and Danai Gurira, though the great Lupita Nyong'o and Angela Bassett are in fine form as well. Martin Freeman, as always, adds immensely to the film, as does the legendary Andy Serkis. But the performance that will haunt you is Jordan, who manages to surprise us again and again.

    Black Panther is so good it creates the risk of creating a Wonder Woman/Justice League effect with Infinity War, at least with critics if not with the box office. It's one of the very best blockbusters you will see this year, and is a welcome antidote to a dismal January.

    The Bearded Trio - The Site For Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, John Williams and a whole lot more.

    THE BEARDED TRIO ON FACEBOOK
    THE BEARDED TRIO ON TWITTER
    THE BEARDED TRIO ON GOOGLE+
    THE BEARDED TRIO ON PINTEREST

    CLICK HERE FOR FACTS ON STEVEN SPIELBERG
    CLICK HERE FOR FACTS ON GEORGE LUCAS
    CLICK HERE FOR FACTS ON JOHN WILLIAMS

    Popular posts from this blog

    Did Paul Freeman Accidentally Eat A Fly In Raiders of the Lost Ark?

    The Famous Indiana Jones Fly In Belloq's Mouth Scene.  Did It Really Happen? I've always wondered if Paul Freeman unintentionally consumed a fly in this scene in  Raiders of the Lost Ark ?  It's the scene where Indiana Jones shouts down to Bellosh...I mean Belloq and threatens to blow up the ark.  Did a fly go in his mouth? I remember watching this scene back in the early eighties and my ten year old mind thought he definitely had a snack while filming.  I recall talking about 'flygate' in my school playground at the time and the general consensus with my friends was that Freeman definitely had a sneaky snack. Paul Freeman talks about the famous 'fly' scene in an interview with TheIndyExperience.com  and settled 'flygate:' This is a bit of a dicey question so don’t get too upset. (Laughs) A movie’s always got bloopers in it, some have a lot, and some only have three or four. And the most remarkable blooper was right before the opening of th

    Star Wars VII Movie Poster - Every End Is A New Beginning

    Star Wars VII Movie Poster Just saw this Star Wars VII movie poster on Kyle Newman's Facebook fee d.  The poster is by  Lyndon Berresford and Paul Bateman.  I am loving this.  Who do you think the two characters are?  Lando and Leia?  Han and Leia's children? Have you seen other Star Wars VII movie posters?  Let me know. Rob Wainfur @welshslider

    Explaining That "Weird" Cut In Poltergeist. Read The Missing Scene

    Why Is There A Strange Cut In The 1982 Horror Classic, Poltergeist? If you're a fan of the 1982 Horror classic, Poltergeist then you will be very familiar with that "weird" cut in the movie.  It's 32 minutes and 47 seconds in to the movie and the scene is where Diane is explaining the strange phenomenon that is happening in the kitchen.  First, she shows to Steve a chair scraping across the floor all on its own then she does the same with Carol Anne.  Steve leans up against the kitchen wall and is completely shocked at what just happened.  It's at this point Diane starts to explain the sensation of being pulled and then...A very abrupt cut.  One moment we are listening to Diane and suddenly it cuts to Diane and Steve at their next door neighbours door.  Why the sudden cut?  It's on the VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray and even the streaming versions.  Why does this awful and weird cut exist in the movie, Poltergeist?  Watch the clip below to see the cut: Well, the ans