Black Panther – Movie Review

Marvel’s Black Panther is a much anticipated movie, especially for our Marvel loving family. I knew of Black Panther but didn’t really know the story or origins of the character. So here is Joe’s review since he is our in-house expert on all things Marvel.

Joe’s Review

Black Panther is a surprisingly complex, character-driven story that deals with themes of societal responsibility and isolationism not often found in superhero films. Leading an impressive cast, Chadwick Boseman’s T’challa is easily the most compassionate hero in the Marvel universe, but is still challenged by his new role as Wakanda’s king. Having learned not to rush to judgment from his experiences in Captain America: Civil War, he seeks to find a balance between doing what is right and doing what is necessary, both learning from his predecessors and taking responsibility for their failures. It is truly refreshing to see a hero who reaches out even to those who oppose him. Also, his suit is really cool.

Rather than an evil-for-the-sake-of-evil villain, Michael B. Jordan’s Erik Killmonger gives us a fully-realized antagonist with complex motives, and a central conflict where everyone involved believes they are doing the right thing.

Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, and Letitia Wright bring heart, plenty of laughs, and a weight and urgency to the story. Nothing in this film is trite or unneeded, rather it is carefully constructed and extraordinarily executed. Black Panther is an important film for many reasons, but it is also an absolute blast.

My thoughts
I particularly loved that this movie is that it’s action-packed, funny, vibrant and speaks to social issues, all wrapped up into a beautifully crafted film. I often walk out of movies with thoughts about a characters motives, plot hole or commentary about social implications in reality. But I left Black Panther feeling satisfied. This film addresses hard social issues but in a way that encourages and unites. On top of all that it’s also just a great story. It’s well written, perfectly cast and beautifully directed. It’s a superhero movie that about so much more than saving the world from villains.

Synopsis
Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life.

Release Date: Friday, February 16, 2018
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 134 minutes

I received passes to the featured event in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own.