Genre: Fantasy and Sci-Fi
My Rating: 8.2/10
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Now I think we can all agree that if Stan Lee is the Godfather of Marvel, Kevin Feige is Tom Hagen. Together the two have created a marvel empire which has defined cinema of this generation. That being said, not all the Marvel-related entertainment was a success. If you look at Kevin Feige’s Filmography on Wikipedia you’ll find the first 14 marvel movies were mediocre to say the most.
(except for the Xmen movies, because I really did love them)
(No reason in particular…)
Astonishingly enough, the shit era of Marvel all happened when Kevin Feige was not the sole producer, but assistant producer/ co-producer/ exec-producer. Now I don’t want to say there’s a pattern… but there is a pattern.
I went to watch Black Panther yesterday, with the mental decision that nothing could have been better than Thor: Ragnarok, a surprisingly hilarious film which is made me laugh perhaps more than Guardians of the Galaxy. But I was mistaken, Black Panther is a force to be reckoned with.
It’s amazing cast all hold the movie up in their own particular way, and the relevance of the female cast in this movie actually had me wondering if Chadick Boseman is the real star, or if it’s the combined effort of Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira and Letitia Wright, who juggle the movie between them providing the brains, wit, brawn and independence not yet seen in many of the Marvel women. With the main cast itself being predominantly women of colour, it gave the movie a sense of female prowess and unity that is hard to do when there are only one or two female side characters in the entire film.
I even think there is one scene where the movie passes the Bechdel test, but I’ll have to re-watch to fully decide.
Saying this, Boseman was spectacular in this film, he embraced the role with grace and a certain regalness which went the way into making Black Panther such a hit. Additionally, the stark differences between him and Michael B. Jordan really gave Boseman’s T’challa a foil to work off.
The entire feel of the movie itself, with the backdrop of Africa, the costumes, the colours, the culture, was empowering to watch, It does what so many movies have failed to so, by painting Africa in a better light than is put across by other Hollywood films. The movie score itself, a mix of African Tribal music and Kendrick Lamar has earned its place as the best Marvel Movie score, over Guardians of the Galaxy.
I’m not even surprised that the movie has broken box office records set by Star Wars: The Last Jedi. It’s pedigree as a Marvel movie which doesn’t shy away from female leads and the relevant issue of racism makes it a recipe for cinema success, which appeals to not just one demographic, but three and perhaps many many more.
If you came here for just a review before you go and watch it, stop here. The rest of this page includes some nice juicy spoilers…
Black Panther takes place a week after the death of T’Chaka, T’Challa’s father/ King of Wakanda. As his son and heir, T’Challa is expected to take up the Wakandan throne, a thriving empire built on vast Vibranium mines which they hide from the rest of the world, fearing the evil outside Wakanda will use it for malicious means. The Wakandan empire is also made up of four Tribes. The Border Tribe, The River Tribe, The Mining Tribe and the Golden Tribe. There is also a fifith tribe, The Jabari, however, they live separate to Wakanda in the surrounding mountains.
I mean it… stop reading… you’ll spoil it for yourself…
T’Challa begins his rituals of becoming King by undergoing a tournament where he is challenged by potential leaders. He is stripped of his Black Panther power before competing and is challenged by the leader of The Jabari tribe. He wins the tournament, then goes on to consume the heart-shaped herb, a restorative plant which re-endows him with the powers of the Black Panther.
Problems arise when Ulysses Klaue (a Vibranium dealer we meet in Age of Ultron), steals a Vibranium artefact from The British Museum with the help of Erik Stevens, a mysterious figure with knowledge of Wakanda. T’Chala, Nakia (His ex and the daughter of the River Tribes Chief) and Okoye (General to his personal guards), catch wind of a deal happening between Klaue and a buyer. They decide to investigate and stop Klaue once and for all, a request made by T’Challa’s friend W’Kabi, whose parents were killed by the arms dealer.
There is still time… turn back…
The Deal takes place in South Korea, where the trio also cross paths with CIA agent, Everett Ross. Ross has set up a sting operation to stop Klaue, and is the intended ‘buyer’. Klaue turns up for the deal knowing full well Wakandans will be there to stop him. A fight ensues where Klaue manages to escape with the Vibranium. Nakia and Okoye are the first to pursue him, but Klaue’s fake arm happens to double as a Vibranium canon and damages their car. T’Challa manages to catch up to Klaue with the help if his tech genius sister, Shuri. T’Challa almost kills Klaue, but is stopped by Nakia and Okoye in the last second, instead choosing to have Ross apprehend Klaue.
Fine. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Whilst interrogating Klaue, Nakia realises a van circling the compound, however, she’s too late to warn the others and Klaue manages to escape with the help of Erik Stevens. Before T’Challa has a chance to fight back, he’s shot with a Vibranium cannon by Erik, but not before he sees a necklace around Erik’s neck which holds a ring identical to the one his own father gave him. Ross is also shot in the spine while saving Nakia, so it is decided he will return to Wakanda to be cured.
When the trio arrive home W’Kabi is disappointed to hear his friend failed to kill Klaue, he tells T’Challa that he has already failed as a King. T’Challa also goes to visit Zuki, his fathers friend, and the only person alive who knows the identity of Erik Stevens.
A flashback shows T’Challa had a brother N’Jobu who has been working with Klaue to help sell Vibranium on the black market. N’Jobu, seeing the pain of his people all around the world thinks Wakanda should help, but T’Chaka, fearing the malicious intent of the world refuses. Zuki, who was working for T’Chaka by posing as N’Jobu’s friend, confirms T’Chaka’s suspicions about his brother so an angry N’Jobu pulls a gun out on Zuki. However, before he manages to shoot, T’Chaka kills his brother and leaves N’Jobu’s dead body and his brothers son behind. This son turns out to be Erik Stevens.
Erik Stevens kills Klaue as a way of getting an audience with T’Challa, it works and also buys him W’Kabi’s loyalty. Erik challenges T’Challa to a tournament which he has a right to do, being of royal blood. Erik manages to defeat T’Challa and throws his body off the side of the waterfall leading his people to believe him dead. Erik takes up the throne as the new King of Wakanda, and begins plans to mine Vibranium and begin selling it to the world. He orders the destruction of all the heart-shaped herbs so there can never be another Black Panther but Nakia manages to steal one before they’re burned.
Nakia, Shuri, her mother, and a cured Ross travel to the Jabari lands to seek the help of the leader M’Baku, who shows them that T’Challa is alive but in a coma. T’Challa’s mother gives him the herb where he regains his powers and decides to go back for his throne.
A fight ensues between the two opposing sides, with The Border tribe siding with Erik, However, W’Kabi soon realises his mistake and surrenders once faced with his lover Okoye.
Meanwhile, T’Challa and Erik have what can only be called a Black Panther-off which takes place in the Vibranium mines. However, a disruption with the technology of the suit gives T’Challa the opportunity to fatally stab Erik. T’Challa, aware Erik is his cousin offers to heal him, but Erik refuses, saying a life in a prison is not life at all, eventually dying before the Wakandan sunset his father had once promised to show him.
T’Challa takes back his throne and reunites with Nakia. He also begins an outreach program in America at the same spot his uncle died and finally chooses to begin trading Vibranium with the world.
**I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT THERE IS A POST-CREDIT SCENE*
Black Panther is definitely a movie you’ll love if you’re a Marvel fan, but it’s also just a great movie in general. This movie definitely kicks ass.
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Happy Goldbricking!
The Gold-Bricker 