Review of 'Black Panther' (2018)

*No major spoilers ahead.

You've probably seen or heard about the meme by now. The premiere of Marvel's Black Panther has been heralded as such a monumental moment for black culture that people even made a big deal out of what ensemble they'd be wearing to go see the latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

And while the thought of strolling into a local movie theater decked out in Kente cloth or large golden neckpieces and fur capes like the prince of the African nation of Zamunda is amusing, it's also a fun little testament to the pride that the film has inspired. I went to see Black Panther on Friday night at a Studio Movie Grill in Dallas with family, including a sister of mine who doesn’t usually go to see Marvel films. Sure enough, when we got to the theater lobby, we actually saw some people there rockin’ dashikis, Kente cloth dresses, and African head wraps. We had a laugh about it and one of the young teens with us commented, "This movie isn't that serious, y'all." Meaning people were being "extra." And while that may be true, I really couldn't fault any of them for their enthusiasm.

Black Panther truly is a big deal. It represents a huge cultural milestone. The first big-budget blockbuster superhero movie with a majority black cast. For the longest time, it's seemed as though Hollywood believed that—unless you're Will Smith or Denzel Washington—black people just aren't marketable as big leads. Black Panther has a chance to and is succeeding in proving that belief wrong. And that could mean a lot when it comes to getting Hollywood to take chances on films with minority-led casts in the future. More diversity and inclusion should be an exciting prospect for everyone. It means a greater wealth of stories being told. As someone who was a young black kid that grew up watching Static Shock, I can tell you that the power of representation in media should not be underestimated. It shows you what you can aspire to be. Static inspired me to come up with my own stories, starting me on the path of a writer. I can only imagine how seeing Black Panther will inspired the black youth of today.

But what about the movie itself?

As of the time of this review, Black Panther currently holds a 97% “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. There’s been a lot of positive hype for this movie, and yes, I believe Black Panther totally lives up to it. It's one of the highest-quality comic book films I've seen from Marvel Studios yet. Why? Because it goes beyond what we've typically come to expect from a Marvel superhero movie. The prime example is in its antagonists.

Ulysses Klaw, as played by Andy Serkis, is to me the classic MCU villain. Entertaining to watch thanks to the way Serkis goes all out in the role, but without much depth. He’s a bad guy because he steals vibranium, and he steals vibranium because he’s a bad guy. But again, Serkis brings such a twisted, oddball charm to the character that he still manages to be play engrossing. The man is positively mad bonkers and Andy goes all out in the role. Very entertaining to watch. I almost dare say I wish we had gotten more of him in the movie.

And then there’s Michael B. Jordan's Erik “Killmonger” Stevens. In Killmonger, Black Panther goes beyond the standard Marvel villain fare. He’s an antagonist with motivations that become clearly-defined and understandable, but a man whose goals are complicated to classify as purely evil. Make no mistake. Killmonger is a maniacal bastard who more than lives up to his nickname. But he doesn’t seem to be someone who wants to destroy or take over the world for himself. He’s instead someone who has seen injustice from a young age and is on a vengeful path to bring change by any means he deems necessary.

I love the vast majority of what Marvel Studios has put out. I think Marvel films have proven themselves to be a reliably good time. But one critique I do have is the noticeable lack of effort they tend to put into fleshing out their villains. Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige was himself willing to admit to that in an interview with i09 on the set of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2:

"It always starts with what serves the story the most and what serves the hero the most. A big criticism of ours is that we focus on the heroes more than the villains, I think that’s probably true."

While Feige's point that villains primarily exist to provide the conflict in a story is true, when you create a villain with depth—who the viewer can empathize with—you create a story that is all the more engaging. You’re given all the more reason to care about what is happening on the screen. That's what Black Panther has done with Killmonger.

As for the titular character, Chadwick Boseman plays a T’Challa/Black Panther who is just as regal and dignified as when we saw him last in Captain America: Civil War. But here we are given more time to explore what makes him tick as a character. He's a man who has been thrust into the responsibility of leading an entire nation after the unexpected death of his father. T’Challa must now figure out how HE wants to rule, while dealing with his father’s unfinished business and balancing the varying interests of five united tribes. Boseman conveys the weight of that responsibility while also carrying the confidence of the king. He also has a wonderful supporting cast to play off of.

You can fill the connection between the characters. The chemistry was strong and it truly felt like one big tribe. It gave all the more weight to the climax of the film, when the fate of Wakanda and its people is in the balance. These are characters you care about, and these are characters you feel care about each other.

My personal favorite had to be the relationship between T’Challa and Shuri. In fact, the 16-year-old Wakandan tech expert/princess just about steals the movie for me. Letitia Wright plays her with amusing wit and attitude. I have sisters myself, and T’Challa and Shuri feel like a real brother and sister. They may rag on each other, but you can tell there's love there. Danai Gurira is also a standout as the total badass Okoye, General of the Dora Milaje, T’Challa’s all-female personal guard. I suppose I should expect nothing less from Michonne.

I’d like to close by speaking on Wakanda, the fictional African country that was so beautifully depicted in this film. I loved the amazing amalgamation of futuristic technology with traditional African architecture and lush, colorful African landscapes. It made Wakanda feel like a character of its own. It also reflects a theme in the film’s story. Wakanda is a place of technological advancement thanks to its vibranium and ingenuity, but it's also a place of long-standing tradition. Those two facets of the country come into conflict in Black Panther and it makes for a compelling story with personal stakes. And I personally can't wait to visit again.