So, with how densely populated the superhero genre is, you think that it'd be easy for releases to blend together and get lost. And while that is an issue for some, safe to say that it's something that Marvel rarely struggles with. I do understand the complaints about the MCU, and their essential mass-production of superhero blockbusters. But for me, they do it with a surprising amount of personality. I'm not some rabid fanboy leaping to defend the MCU, because I have my problems too. Some of their films do exist just to serve the interconnected universe (Thor: The Dark World), and sometimes the writing can be sloppy (Avengers: Age of Ultron), but the thing is, these movies, for the most part, are hugely enjoyable blockbusters. And one thing that Marvel has been doing is giving pre-established filmmakers free reign over how they tell their stories (except for the ice cream guy. The ice cream guy didn't get to tell any stories). It's a step in the right direction, because they can bring their own voice to the table, and subvert the expectations you would have for an action blockbuster.
So, yeah, the MCU is pretty good in my books, and with Infinity War always looming on the horizon, what better time to review Marvel's latest, Black Panther? This film has been making waves and breaking boundaries. And rightfully so. Ryan Coogler takes the no nonsense approach he used with films like Fruitvale Station and Creed and applies it to the superhero film, and it absolutely works. Coogler takes the idea of the superhero story and films it through a lens of cultural identify that's rarely been seen. And that's a shame, because Black Panther's take on heroism is an absolute breath of fresh air in the MCU.
Having already gotten the general idea of the character in Civil War, as well as knocking out most of his origin story in the process, Black Panther is able to forgo the exposition in favour of an on the move, thrilling and inventive plot. This isn't an origin story, it's a continuation. We know this guy already, so instead Coogler just pulls us into his world and shows us what he's going through post Civil War. And I love that. It's not a sequel that just exists to be another part of this franchise, it's a chronicle of a part of this universe that absolutely feels like it's just another story going on in the world of Marvel. And it would have been easy to just introduce a character purely to serve the brand, which the MCU did kind of do initially. But instead Coogler takes what we know about the world and shifts it to another part of this universe. It's not tied to the other movies, but it's not entirely separate either; it runs alongside them, and that's what makes a universe. That idea that outside of this film, other things are going on. In this time of cinematic universe fatigue, the fact that we get an organic expansion to the MCU is pretty great.
And the plot itself, which centres on T'Challa becoming king after his father's death in Civil War, is very good. It always reminds us that, yeah, he's a vigilante who's also the king of a small nation who's got a shedload of gadgets, but he's also human. Before anything else, he's just a man. And that'd something that Coogler always reminds us. It would have been easy to have this unkillable hero who can't be stopped *cough* DCEU Superman *cough*, but instead he's flawed. He's imperfect. One of my favourite ideas here is T'Challa being stripped of his superhuman ability to accept the challenge of the throne. He's got a clearly defined arc that acts as the backbone of the film. That's the core: T'Challa's progression over time and his ultimate acceptance of his responsibilities. He's far from perfect, but with Chadwick Boseman's nuanced and patient performance, he's likable and real.
Micheal B. Jordan is great as the villain, Killmonger. He's menacing and evil, but Jordan plays him with a surprising amount of pathos. His backstory, plan and motivation allow the audience to pity him, but his methods still make him an effective antagonist. He's almost a tragic villain, but is unlikeable enough for us to want to see him defeated. Or rather, we can sympathise with him, but understand that he needs to be defeated. Which is a great archetype for a villain. Because like how T'Challa is a human feeling hero, Killmonger is a completely real villain. He's not the simplistic personification of evil commonly seen in superhero fare, he's just a guy who feels like he needs to bring order and equality. That's his basic motive, but is built upon incredibly well with sketchy methods and debatable morals.
The rest of the cast thrills too. Lupita Nyong'o is an awesome foil to Boseman, and an incredibly protagonist in her own right. But it's Letitia Wright who consistently steals the show. She's a great gadgetmaster, and her one liners brim with humour and wit. Andy Serkis is suitably seedy, and Martin Freeman is great as a fish out of water CIA agent. I wasn't a huge fan of his character in Civil War, but he's great here, essentially acting as the audience, experiencing Wakanda for the first time.
So, problems? Well, despite being one of the MCU's more accessible films, it does help to have seen most of the previous installments before this one. Especially some of the end credits scenes which depend on your knowledge of previous movies to really understand them. Some of the CGI is occasionally kinda ropey, and for every action scene with a clever set piece and good choreography, theres some of the scenes in the climax that don't really have the visceral and crunchy feel of some of the other fights.
But overall, this was the perfect direction for the MCU to go in. It takes the superhero genre in a fresh and richly cultural direction, while also being a solid fleshing out of a character that we didn't really know too well first time around. The villain is strong, the supporting cast nail it, the plot is simple but pretty effective and the action is fluid and fast paced for the most part. Yeah, not everything works, but it's still one of Marvel's best in ages. It's something that we don't see much of in comic book films; an identity and personality that goes beyond just acknowledging that it's based on a comic. It's not just serviceable, it's great in it's own right too. Strong solo outing.
Infinity War can't come soon enough if you ask me.
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