BLACK PANTHER (2018) *** ½

Twenty years ago, Blade was released.  Its success was largely due to Wesley Snipes’ iconic performance as the badass bloodsucker.  Back in 1998, there were no notions of shared Cinematic Universes.  It was just a strong black actor starring in a comic book movie and elevating it into the ranks of a modern classic.  Oddly enough, it took twenty years for another black Marvel character to topline his own franchise.  Although I think Blade is more significant because it was the first film under the modern-day Marvel brand, there is no denying that Black Panther has taken the world by storm. 

The closest comparison to Black Panther I can make is Shaft.  It is not a perfect movie, but it's cultural significance overshadows its flaws.  Like Shaft, it's a black director working with a mostly black cast on a tent pole action film with a soundtrack by a renowned black artist.  Since it was director Ryan Coogler’s follow-up to Creed, I couldn’t wait to see it.  While it falls short of the heights of Creed (and Blade), it’s still a top-rate comic book flick.

After the events of Captain America:  Civil War, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) returns home to Africa to take up the mantel of Black Panther, king of Wakanda.  His reign is challenged by the determined Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) who claims he has a legitimate right to the throne.   When Killmonger defeats T’Challa, the kingdom is forced to go along with his militant regime.  It’s then up to T’Challa to regain his strength and defeat Killmonger once and for all. 

I think the weaker parts of Black Panther are the superhero-y moments, mostly because we have seen that stuff a dozen times before.  What we haven't seen is a black nation portrayed as royalty with tech that would make Luke Skywalker and James Bond envious.  As great as Boseman and Jordan are, Wakanda is the real star.  The world-building aspects take elements from other movies, but still manage to feel fresh and unique.  I loved the hierarchy of the various tribes and the combination of primitive and futuristic tech reminded me a bit of John Carter.

As a fan of Creed, I was hoping Coogler would deliver on the action sequences.  Unfortunately, some of the fights are too dark and/or feature quick-cut editing that detract from the action.  The big costumed brawl during the finale looks a bit too cartoony, but the challenge fights for the throne are heated, brutal, and gorgeously filmed.  These fights are also structured like a Rocky movie.  Specifically, Rocky 3 as Black Panther loses his title and has to have a rematch in order to reclaim it.

There are a lot of characters to juggle, but Coogler does a good job at giving the supporting characters moments to shine.  The cast contains a wealth of strong women, all of whom leave their mark.  Lupita Nyong’o has considerable chemistry with Boseman as his love interest, and Danai Gurira kicks a lot of ass as the leader of his royal guard.  It’s Letita Wright who steals the show as Black Panther’s smart mouth sister who constantly busts his balls and acts like a teenage version of Q.

The movie really belongs to Jordan as the seething Killmonger.  When he’s front and center, you kind of forget about Black Panther.  That’s not a knock on Boseman, who is charismatic, and a born leading man.  Like The Joker in Tim Burton’s Batman, he blows the hero off the screen with his commanding screen presence.  He’s truly one of the best Marvel villains of all time.

Sure, the movie has its flaws.  In fact, I think if the running time had been a good twenty or thirty minutes longer, it would’ve let the plot breathe a little and some of the pacing issues would’ve ironed themselves out.  However, the big take away is that Marvel has a character that resonates with a whole new audience.  I for one can’t wait to see Black Panther kick some ass in the upcoming Infinity War.

Marvel Cinematic Universe Scorecard:

Avengers:  Age of Ultron:  ****

The Incredible Hulk:  ****
Iron Man:  ****
Thor:  Ragnarok:  ****
Spider-Man:  Homecoming:  ****
Iron Man 3:  ****
Captain America:  Civil War:  *** ½
Ant-Man:  *** ½
Guardians of the Galaxy:  *** ½
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2:  *** ½ 
Black Panther:  *** ½ 
The Avengers:  ***
Captain America:  The First Avenger:  ***
Captain America:  The Winter Soldier:  ***
Thor:  ***
Thor:  The Dark World:  ***
Iron Man 2:  ***
Doctor Strange:  ** ½