Another member of the Marvel cinematic universe has made it to the big screen. “Black Panther” marks a notable shift away from the formulaic plots of recent superhero movies, while providing a much-needed dose of diversity.
The film features Chadwick Boseman as Prince T’challa, otherwise known as the Black Panther, and picks up where “Captain America: Civil War” ended. After the death of his father, T’challa must take the throne in the fictional country of Wakanda. The country is technologically advanced and rich due to a precious metal known as Vibranium, however, they hide their opulence from the world.
The film raises questions regarding economic disparities, the role of a country in the world, and moral obligation, while still delivering the compelling humor and action to be expected in a Marvel film. Overall, it is a more significant and deep plot than many of the recent humorous Marvel movies such as “Ant-Man” or “Thor: Ragnarok.”
Along with Boseman, the cast features stars like Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, and Danai Gurira, with each of their characters having time to shine. Jordan breathed an element of humanity and pain in the antagonistic character Killmonger, making him more multi-dimensional and harder to write-off. Gurira’s female army showcased breathtaking fight scenes, while Nyong’o represented a strong woman hell-bent on helping others around the world.
The world of Wakanda spoke to the production quality and design. The costume design is representative of East Africa, and the colors are vibrant. Rather than being completely built out of CGI like many of the settings in “Thor: Ragnarok,” Wakanda is part reality and part science fiction blended effortlessly together.
“Black Panther” currently has a 97 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.9 rating on IMDB. The ratings are certain to climb, as the film is now the 20th highest-grossing film in U.S. history.
The narrative of “Black Panther” is not predictable, the humor is fresh, the post-production is awe-inspiring, and it is a breath of refreshing air in terms of representation and diversity. It is one of the biggest blockbusters of this year, and it is absolutely worth buying your tickets as soon as possible.
