Black Panther
Genre: Action, Cinematic Universe, Superhero
The Good
The Bad
After a slow start and a fake-out villain, the story takes off to surprising and compelling places. One of Marvel’s best and most original efforts.
Much has been made of Marvel’s “bold” cinematic choices in the last few years, but Black Panther is the first film in its wave that actually feels like a departure and a risk. It’s a risk that pays off, for the most part. The fantasy African nation of Wakanda is a dazzling and magical place, and its inhabitants are by and large some of the most compelling and human characters in the MCU. The movie is unfortunately bogged down by some of the typical CG superhero baggage, a first act fake-out villain, and a requisite closing battle, there is about 90 minutes in the center of the film that feel like one of the best and most powerful stories Marvel has ever told.
Thematically speaking Black Panther seems again to represent a bold innovation, though the movie’s “message” feels a bit muddled on reflection. At first, the wondrous but hidden Wakanda feels like a statement about the West’s perception of Africa versus its reality. But once we are introduced to the people and politics of Wakanda it faces what feels more like an American conundrum: whether to isolate, “peacekeep”, or share its resources in good faith with the rest of the world. These issues are largely and wisely relegated to subtext, except for a post-credits scene at the UN that feels a bit preachy.
This movie is really good. See it.
