Marvel's Black Panther Review

We have come a long way from the golden and turbulent years of comic book/superhero films ever since their inception close to a century ago as well as the first truly dramatic film adaptation back in 1978 with Superman.  Now with decades having passed with the ups and downs of the sub film genre, with the dark ages of the 90’s and the renaissance at the tail end of the 90’s into the 2000’s, we have had only a handful of black driven superhero films with the innocently fun but dated Meteor Man by Robert Townsend, the juvenile guilty pleasure comedy Blankman, and the most prominent and famous film series to actually solidify the so called “Marvel Film” formula Blade with Wesley Snipes helping to evolve the genre into the new century.  From the after effects of X-Men and Batman films, we were given the Marvel Studio films that would evolve the formula of cinematic episodes for a new generation and make reliably fun and entertaining film entries of many of the superheroes that would become staples of this series.  Which leads us to the latest breakout superhero that is now getting his own film, on the cusp of the penultimate conclusion to this decade long film series with a continuous major storyline coming to a head.  That character is T’Challa, the king of Wakanda, a technological wonder and tribal culture with deeply ingrained history and beliefs within Africa and Black people of all walks of life.  He is also known as Black Panther, the agile warrior of Wakanda that defends and rules over his kingdom with a sense of purpose, honor, and justice.  Let’s get right into it with the story of his latest adventure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Taking place after Civil War, with Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) on the run with numerous heroes as fugitives of the Skovia Accords and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) still making sure to keep the peace with the government and those willing to register as a government employed hero while being a mentor to Peter Parker (Tom Holland) on the side.  T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) has returned to Wakanda to assume the throne left vacant from his father T’Chaka’s (John Kani) death from Helmut Zemo’s (Daniel Brühl) bombing attack on the UN Security Conference.  However, not everyone is happy to see him become king of Wakanda as the country is torn between its traditions of tribal order and hierarchy to the clandestine nature of the country’s technological advances that surpass every country in the world.  This has forced T’Challa to bring order and peace to the kingdom through diplomacy and action to protect the kingdom from outsiders but maintain stability among his people.

However, for the villains such as Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) and for an outcast, renegade Wakandian terrorist Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), they want to disrupt it, with Klaue’s desire for Vibranium (indestructible metal that created Captain America’s Shield and the Panther suit) to profit while Killmonger wants to subvert the traditions of Wakanda and use the kingdom as a weapon to establish supremacy over the entire world.  With T’Challa compatriots and former lover, they must work together to bring order to their troubled kingdom and for T’Challa to earn his right to be not only king, but to be the Black Panther and inherit the warrior’s spirit from his ancestors before him.

First and foremost, it is a Marvel film, meaning it is reliably fun and engaging in all the right spots as well as treading well executed if familiar plot beats, but it is the world and cultural components of the film that sets it apart from the other entries.  This is primarily set within the African Kingdom called Wakanda, a technologically superior world with advancements out pacing other nations despite the struggles and sufferings of those, not a part of their world.  The story is at its strongest and most compelling when it explores and develops the characters to the Wakanda culture and traditions.  This is where the lead does develop as a character despite not going through as compelling of a character arc as in Civil War.  It does provide a fun side story that plays out like a James Bond film as well as a remixed version of Thor/Iron Man with a bit of The Lion King/Hamlet thrown in for good measure.

The racial identity and societal beliefs of pure/mixed ethnicity is at the heart of the film’s surprisingly intriguing themes explored here and makes up one of the major conflicts.  This is where the film rises above the average origin superhero film, especially in voicing and creating a story that does relate to these characters and their arcs throughout the film despite only just scratching the surface of those themes.  This is very much a character driven film with the focus on T’Challa and Killmonger’s growth as characters, pulling off the familiar story arcs we have seen in these films a dozen times now.  It is those themes that really elevate the familiar, trodden path from feeling too stale or repetitive especially with not shying away from isolationism and Xenophobia particularly with many of the supporting cast as well as the lead at first before his change of heart in the climax.

If there are flaws, it is inherent to the story structure/character arcs of these films as there are no big surprises other than developing the characters to their logical if a bit too similar paths like in other comic book films.  This can be contributed to the questionable contrivances of plot and character moments that make no sense or contradict what has come before in the MCU.  It also has a very messy and convoluted finale with some questionable editing that really affects the dramatic flow of the climax.  It is worth noting that it does feel like two major storylines smashed into one as it transitions between Spy Adventure to traditional Superhero, coming of age adventure, making for a drastic shift in the middle act with pacing and tone.  It might have some aspirations and examination of the themes mentioned above, but it only goes into them on a surface level, dropping the interesting themes for your standard superhero story disappointingly.  While the performances of the villains are fantastic, they feel a bit underutilized or wasted particularly Klaue as well as Killmonger mainly near the end.  Its inconsistency of plot structure and thematic storytelling is where the film does falter back into the formula we have come to expect to be done well by Marvel Studios despite coming close to being more than the average comic book story structured in film.

The cast is a plethora of Black actors and actresses from all generations starring in this film, starting with the lead himself Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa.  He is another perfect casting on Marvel Studios part in capturing the look and characteristics of the comic book character.  The character himself is calm, cool, and stoic as well as introspective in his actions, making him a refreshingly different protagonist for these kinds of films.  However, the writing for his development and arc feels a bit thin as he has been established and gone through his own change already from his previous appearance.  Boseman still gives a strong, stoic performance and his character’s great qualities do shine when he interacts with others and is unfortunately bland and overpowered on his own.

The real standout of the cast regarding writing and performance is Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger, a villain with a clear motivation and is perhaps the most empathetic storyline of the film that outshines even T’Challa’s struggles to be a king and hero.  His introduction in the story as well as his arc is the closest this film gets to dramatically elevating this above the typical Marvel film.  However, he does end up being reduced to a standard, megalomaniac villain for the hero to punch in one of the most CGI-heavy climaxes that is dull to watch.  A great villain character that is letdown by an anticlimactic finale despite having one of the most poignant lines that is reflective of the character and will certainly ring truthful with many people.

Let’s get into the supporting cast ranging from memorable to underused, starting with Shuri (Letitia Wright) who serves as not only comic relief that provides levity to the story at the right moments, but is the “Q” of this character’s world.  She provides some much-needed humanity to T’Challa as well, allowing for that character to express some genuinely humorous character moments that enriches both characters even more.  We also have the love interest Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), who aids T’Challa as well as dealing with her own character arc regarding loyalty and honor for Wakanda as an infiltration spy.  Nyong'o works well with Boseman and fits as a love interest along with holding her own as a supporting character throughout the film.  Another notable supporting cast member is CIA agent Ross played by Martin Freeman, made likable and heroic as well as less weaselly than his first appearance in Civil War.  He does provide potential development for future storylines regarding liaison work between the world and Wakanda as well as being as straight laced and reliably great in the role despite the limited use of his character.

Let’s get to a few more supporting characters, such as M’Baku (Winston Duke), known in the comics as Man-Ape, a tribal warlord that leads his group away from technology and comforts.  He is a great rivalry character that serves to provide one of the better fight scenes and climatic moments in the film as well as an endearingly humorous moment well timed and played.  There is also Andy Serkis as Klaue, gun for hire and sporting a new Wakanda based arm cannon to offer his services to the highest bidder.  He does play more of the cackling villain type which clashes with the dramatic tone at times, but he provides some fun moments during the big chase scene at the very least.   There is also the warrior general Okoye (Danai Gurira), the clean shaven female warrior loyal to the throne and Wakanda.  She provides much of the female empowerment characterization but nothing else besides a few cool action moments, making her visually cool but a bit lacking in characterization. Those should cover the characters that were either great or good enough to standout throughout the film.

Here are the characters that were either underutilized or just completely wasted in this film. The first one is Daniel Kaluuya as W’Kabi, a trusted friend of T’Challa that heads up the Border Tribe that protects the kingdom from outsiders.  While he does have a few character moments that resonate with the T’Challa and Okoye, he kind of feels like a plot device to allow for the second half to happen and nothing else which is a shame for a charismatic and promising actor. Forest Whitaker as Zuri kind of feels like a perfunctory role and performance for the mentor type character while Angela Bassett as Ramonda, T’Challa and Shuri’s mother is decent but feels like a filler character with nothing to add to the story other than heritage for the lead and that’s it. Most of the performances are fantastic to pretty good with many of the crucial roles working in tandem with the story, but the cast does feel overstuffed with talented actors/actresses that have little to do other than serve a narrative function or just fill out an unmemorable role for the sake of story conventions.

Let’s get into the technical aspects of the film where it truly shines artistic and creatively despite a few elements feeling undercooked than usual, starting with the art direction and costume/make up designs.  It is very much Black-centric artistry here with the use of bright, vibrant colors as well as instilling the culture’s history via tribal markings and regal/prehistoric garments.  There is also a use of tribal war clothes and masks to instill the generational component of Wakanda in a very eye-popping way with the use of the busy city life clashing with the natural yet vast landscapes for the location.  They all pop out proudly and with such conviction in the stylistic look for this world that makes it the most inspired looking Marvel film to date and this continued interest in making their films visually distinctive during Phase 3 is great.  The suit has gone through changes as well, relying on purple as a visual interpretation of kinetic energy to counter act the main black color palate of the suit as well as yellow for the opposite suit.  There are some obvious green screen uses that limit the scale of the settings at times particularly around Wakanda, making one desire to see more of the world hopefully in the next entry in the MCU.  The artistic direction with the costume design is truly awe-inspiring and reflects the culture in a fantastical way that fits the characters and story succinctly.

While the artistic direction in production, costume, and makeup is truly beautiful in their craftsmanship and visual flair, the same cannot be said for the action set pieces as well as the choreography of them.  The action beats that do work are the Casino battle, parts of the car chase, and the tribal combats with M’Kabu along with Killmonger as they have enough physical stunt work and energy behind them to really standout.  It goes awry with the big battle near the end, filled with a heavy use of CGI and green screen along with armored rhinos fully CG to make the climax feel ridiculous at times and the ropey, weightless final showdown between T’Challa and Killmonger with the routine punch heavy fight on a train track lacks any sense of tension and impact to it, especially with the characters making appearance in the next installment so soon.  The film is at its best with character development and interactions but lacks the inventive and creatively inspired action/power heavy set pieces that would have provided more excitement for the film.

The cinematography is at least professionally handled and showcases Wakanda in a remarkable way despite the questionable use of it during its action sequences.  It was shot by Rachel Morrison (DP for Mudbound) and they keep to the uniformed look of this series except for the world of Wakanda.  It is a great mix of traditional and sci-fi futurism at its finest and it looks vibrant and colorful with the way the scenes are covered to convey the setting.  However, it does lose its unique visual flair with the action set pieces throughout the film.  The casino section is gorgeous looking and very inspired from James Bond but it relies too much on shaky shots and rapid editing to cover the actors’ choreography in the action beats.  This also leads into the effects having a hard time gelling with the green screen usage for larger than life areas of the setting with the cinematography and VFX together. 

However, where the film does drop the ball tremendously is the handling of the visual effects from the suit movement and action within the big battle that occurs in the climax of the film. It seems like there were a ton of VFX studios that were outsourced for this one as it seems that there is no consistency with physics and impact especially when it is solely CGI for an action set pieces such as the Car Chase and battle between T’Challa and Killmonger in the Panther suits.  The CGI is fine in establishing the world and in the beginning action set pieces, but it seems to degrade in quality as the film goes along.  Thankfully, it does not diminish the character moments and development that holds the film together, but it certainly ensures that the action in general feels flat and generic in regards to their intensity and energy for the story.

Lastly, let’s go into the sound design from compositional score to the soundtrack as it is a unique creation of its own to befit the story and world of Black Panther.  The score was done by Ludwig Göransson this time out and he infuses a blend of African/Tribal music with some EDM/Hip-Hop beats throughout the film that are utilized to great effect with this film.  The beats of action sound effect work are still top notch as expected from a MCU film. The soundtrack was shaped and created by Kendrick Lamar and he has injected some truly varied and lively songs throughout the film as well as closing out strong with “All The Stars” with him and SZA.  The sound design is in top form here and is absolutely in sync with the visuals as expected.

What else can be written that hasn’t been mentioned already? Marvel’s Black Panther is a solid, rollicking fun adventure that aspires for relatable drama and humanity for Black culture.  It does come close to really achieving new heights for comic book films in general regarding the themes it explores from Xenophobia to the clashes of ideologies and lives of an African and African American man at cross paths.  However, it does falter comfortably into the standard clichés, themes, and troupes we have come to expect from these Superhero films from the Sins of the Father plot twist to opposite conflict between two leads yet again, combining numerous stories from the series like Iron Man, Thor, Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War.  What keeps it from being regarded as a competently made yet average Superhero film though, is the passionate, well developed characterization for the cast of characters and their development surrounding the world and culture they inhabit in this film.  It may not be the groundbreaking entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe everyone is waiting for to change things up, but it certainly establishes another world, characters, and story that could be remarkable in a future installment.

Score: **** out of *****  

Black Panther is a seminal, timely action/adventure film that is reliably good for what it accomplishes in establishing a new Black Superhero that is both a warrior and king to Wakanda, one of the most technologically advanced societies of the MCU.  While the story is rather routine and only scratches the compelling, relatable societal/racial drama that is a part of this character and of our world today, it delivers on the fun and engaging adventure that these films can reliably be in their sleep.  The performances are top notch with standouts such as Michael B. Jordan (both as the character and the writing for him) and Letitia Wright with most of the main cast being respectively good in their roles while the supporting cast tends to be hit and miss sadly.  The action is unfortunately sub-par despite a few inspired ones with the Casino showdown and the proceeding Car Chase through South Korea (for most of it) as well as the tribal duels (mainly for physicality and stunt work at play).  They devolve into CGI messes though, especially the finale but that seems to be a given at this point along with the shaky movement of the shots and confusingly rapidfire editing at work.  The characters and their development shines in this film despite the technical deficiencies and creative missteps with a rather classic if stretched thin story and repeated themes from other MCU films.  This is still a good time in the cinema and one that we can only hope will influence studios in a beneficial way instead of taking the wrong message and direction from this film.