In 2018 Marvel’s Black Panther became the center of attention as the world prepared for the first superhero film led almost entirely by a black cast and crew. This film quickly became one of the most anticipated of the superhero genre of all time and drew a crowd significant enough to earn the film more than one billion dollars. However, when a film receives this much hype, it seems nearly impossible for it to deliver on all of its promises.
Shortly after his father’s murder, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) returns to his home in Wakanda to be given the title of king. As he journeys through life and struggles with his role as the Black Panther, T’Challa will face challenges that he never expected. When a displaced member of the Wakandan community, Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), returns to his homeland, he challenges the new king for power and the throne. But while he fights his own battles, the state of the nation hangs in the balance. Does the new monarch have what it takes to save himself and his people?
Not long after T’Challa premiered in Captain America: Civil War in 2015, he returned in his own feature film, Black Panther. This film combines all that viewers have come to love about the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) with unique elements that were meant to resonate with new viewers as well. Black Panther stays true to the wonderful storytelling, beautiful character development, and top-notch action that has made the MCU what it is. What makes this film different from others is the attention that writer-director Ryan Coogler and co-writer Joe Robert Cole put on the film’s antagonist, Killmonger. Differing somewhat from the comic book version of the character, Killmonger manages to be the most compelling bad guy to date. While Zemo (Daniel Brühl), Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), and Ego (Kurt Russell) were all wonderful in their respective films, Jordan finds a way to be better than everyone that came before him. Not only are there moments where he is truly evil and fits the persona of an antagonist, much of his character is relatable, and many viewers find themselves, at times, rooting for him. As bits and pieces of his past are revealed to the audience, they slowly begin to understand more and more why he’s here and what his purpose is. Better than ever before Marvel presents the world with a villain that is relatable and, in some ways, heartwarming.
Back when T’Challa first made an appearance in the MCU viewers were shown a character that appeared to have no weakness, and that, above all else, understood what it took to be the most dominant force in every situation. Where Black Panther sees the antagonist resonate with viewers, it also presents the world with a hero that faces greater struggles than ever before seen in the MCU. This film attempts to present T’Challa in an entirely different light, literally making him more human than before and opening the world’s eyes to the plights of the titular Black Panther (T’Challa). The world loves a hero–a person that is willing to put everyone and everything else before themselves, but this iteration of the lead protagonist has its issues. There are moments when T’Challa appears weak and unappealing, ultimately being overshadowed from time to time by numerous others on screen. As he changes and viewers, on occasion, struggle to appreciate the character, other characters begin to outshine him, taking even more away from Black Panther. Shuri (Letitia Wright) and M’Baku (Winston Duke)–along with Killmonger–steal the show and far outdo the film’s lead and that’s a true downer.
In addition to the issues with the protagonist, Black Panther becomes entirely too politically and racially driven. One of the beauties of the MCU is that viewers are able to see glimpses of the real world–and make connections between themselves and the film–while still being able to escape their harsh realities. When Black Panther becomes too driven by real-world discussions it turns off a great deal of viewers to what the film has to say. Coogler and Cole beat race and politics to death and turn viewers off to the story on occasion. While it’s obvious the point the cast and crew are attempting to express, there comes a point where enough is enough, and that line has long since been passed.
Black Panther had such promise leading up to its release and, in many ways, it delivers. It introduces the world to new characters that are sure to play an integral role in the future of the MCU, presents the world with the most compelling antagonist to date, and includes picture perfect CGI–along with a number of other incredible things. The inability of the main character, however, to connect with viewers like he had in the past, and the unrelenting aspect of race and politics, drive viewers from the film and cause it to fall short of the expectations that the world had for it. Black Panther, while beautiful in many regards, doesn’t take the massive step forward that everyone had hoped it would.
P.S. Thanks to music director Ludwig Göransson, Black Panther’s soundtrack is truly spectacular.
Directed by Ryan Coogler.
Written by Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole.
Starring Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Sterling K. Brown, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Andy Serkis, Florence Kasumba, John Kani, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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