Marvel’s cinematic roster of heroes and adventures expands with the solo film of the newest kid on the block, Black Panther. After the events of 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther tells the story of T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), who inherits the throne after the untimely death of his father T’Chaka, the previous King of Wakanda and former Black Panther. T’Challa must now overcome the burdens of being both the new king and the next heir to the Black Panther mantle, all while clashing with a new enemy named Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), who desires the Wakandan throne for himself.
The highlight of the film is Chadwick Boseman’s performance as T’Challa. Carrying over his stoic but passionate persona from Civil War, Boseman’s portrayal as T’Challa encapsulates the drama and gravitas of a young prince given the heavy responsibilities of king and Black Panther alike. His performance drives the characterization of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s portrayal of Black Panther home and stands out among the pantheon of Marvel’s other more light-hearted characters.
The supporting cast works well within the framework of the film’s narrative and the lore of Wakanda within the MCU. However, their presence is not as strong as other supporting casts in other Marvel films like the Captain America trilogy and Spider-Man: Homecoming. Despite this, some standout performances include Winston Duke’s M’Baku and Danai Gurira’s Okoye.
Conversely, Michael B. Jordan’s Erik “Killmonger” Stevens works within the scope of the film, for he is well-developed throughout the narrative and his antagonistic motivations are given a solid amount of clarity. His and Boseman’s performances clash together well, though by the end it does feel as if his character was not given enough material to be considered a standout among some other MCU villains like Loki and The Vulture.
Black Panther is rich with Marvel’s comic book lore. Director Ryan Coogler blended the East African backdrop of Wakanda with futuristic sensibilities akin to other sci-fi films like Star Wars, all while maintaining the look and feel of other portrayals of Wakanda like in the comics and animated shows. This acts as a testament to both the director’s and Marvel’s efforts to capture the essence of the source material on a cinematic level, and as an individual passionate about comics, I felt this is well-executed.
However, there are some noteworthy drawbacks about Black Panther. The film’s pacing at times is disjointed, and some scenes either drag on for too long or feel too rushed. At times, the dialogue is lacking in both delivery and wording as well, though some lines do stand out due to their significance within the context of the film.
In addition, in major contrast to other MCU films, the computer-generated effects leave much to be desired. This issue is highlighted at the climactic final battle of the film. The fight choreography is also somewhat lacking, especially compared to other Marvel films like Captain America: The Winter Soldier and even Coogler’s own Creed. Lastly, while some side characters justify their roles in the film, others feel like wasted potential. Andy Serkis’ Ulysses Klaue in particular is a prime example of this, especially considering the character’s build-up from 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Overall, while Black Panther fulfills its role as the character’s first solo movie, it does not do much to stray away from the Marvel movie formula that has been a foundation in the franchise for years.
3 out of 4 Stars
