Today’s quick review: Black Panther. Following the death of his father, Prince T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) assumes leadership of Wakanda, an African nation whose access to the rare metal vibranium has made it a technological powerhouse. As the Black Panther, Wakanda’s superpowered protector, T’Challa hunts after Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis), a murderous vibranium thief, and his new ally Erik (Michael B. Jordan), a soldier with his own plan for Wakanda.
Black Panther is a superhero movie based on the Marvel comics. Black Panther features lavish production values, a strong cast, a solid plot, and plenty of action. Great care is taken to flesh out the nation of Wakanda, a mosaic of traditional African culture and technological utopianism. Gorgeous landscapes, top-notch CGI, and attention to details like customs, costumes, and colors give the movie a rock-solid setting to work with.
Black Panther has an ensemble cast that it does a good job of juggling. The story revolves around T’Challa, but many of the key challenges are team efforts, and every character has well-developed motivations. T’Challa has loyal allies in Okoye (Danai Gurira), his bodyguard and general; Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), his altruistic ex; and Shuri (Letitia Wright), his tech-savvy younger sister. The three fill complementary roles in the story and in combat.
On the villain side, Andy Serkis turns in a spirited performance as the psychopathic Klaue, while Michael B. Jordan fits smoothly into the role of Erik, T’Challa’s criminal counterpart. The structure of the plot keeps the villains out of the limelight for most of the film, but their actions have a heavy impact on T’Challa and his country. The cast is rounded out by Forest Whitaker as T’Challa’s advisor Zuri and Martin Freeman as CIA agent Everett Ross.
Black Panther indulges in more science fiction than most superhero movies. Vibranium serves as the basis for advanced hovercrafts, powerful weapons, and T’Challa’s nigh-indestructible suit. The technological edge makes the combat even more fanciful than usual, a cornucopia of big hits and high-tech solutions, but it comes at the cost of some grounding. Black Panther doesn’t abuse its sci-fi, but the rules are harder to pin down than other films.
Thematically, Black Panther is about isolationism, identity, and the burdens of leadership. These issues are explored in about the depth one would expect for a well-written action film. The questions of what is right for Wakanda and what is right for the world are deftly worked into the story without delving into explicit real-world politics. As such, the movie has a moral dimension that helps tie it together without distracting from the action.
Black Panther does have one trait that affects its enjoyability: it hews close to the Marvel formula. Its rich setting and ensemble cast set it apart from other superhero offerings, and its story stands on its own. But for those acquainted with the genre, the beats of the plot and the nature of the conflict will seem familiar. Black Panther innovates in the subtle areas of character and world-building; its plot and action are closer to standard.
Give Black Panther a shot when you’re in the mood for a highly polished entry into the superhero genre. Its impressive action, detailed setting, and care with its characters make it a rewarding watch with broad appeal. Those who dislike the superhero formula should approach with caution. All the quality is there, but the film can’t entirely disguise its template.
7.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for good characters, an interesting setting, and plenty of action.