What if Wakanda isn’t just a fictional
country? What if it does exist in this reality and its advance technology and
alien resources kept itself hidden from the rest of the world?
Black
Panther is the eighteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and was based on the Marvel Comics character of the same
name. It was directed by Ryan Coogler, and was produced by Kevin Feige. It
stars Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa / Black Panther), Michael B. Jordan (N’Jadaka
/ Erik “Killmonger” Stevens), Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia), Danai Guirira (Okoye),
Martin Freeman (Everett K. Ross), Daniel Kaluuya (W’Kabi), Letitia Wright
(Shuri), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Angela Bassett (Ramonda), Forest Whitaker
(Zuri), and Andy Serkis (Ulysses Klaue). It was distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
(SPOILER ALERT!!!)
(You’ve been warned!)
The movie was set after the events of Captain America: Civil War, and T’Challa
was crowned the new king of Wakanda, but an old secret of the former king came
back to threaten the country and its throne.
I would like to point out first how great it
is that MCU keeps on giving us amazing stories even after ten years, and how people
will still line up to see their films. That is how it was with Black Panther. It kept me entertained
from the first scene until the post-credit scene. The plot was simple and there
weren’t many twists and surprises but it was still intriguing and had me hooked on it.
The movie took us to discover the country of
Wakanda and it was visually stunning. A technologically advanced country
that maintained the African culture and tradition and had the majestic imagery
of Asgard mix with the colorfulness that they had in Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s something we would wish exist and put
on our travel list.
Amazing action and fight scenes were
delivered in this film. The movie had the right amount of action sequence and
stunts that were executed spectacularly. Very enjoyable and had me mouthing the
expressions, “Woah!” and “Wow!”
I also couldn’t help but notice some
similarities it had with the Disney animated
film, The Lion King. Aside from the
fact that both movies were set in Africa, both of them had the same plot about
taking back the throne. And that part when T’Challa went to the ancestral plane
and had a conversation with his dead father, reminded me of the scene when
Simba was talking to the projection of Mufasa, in which case both protagonist
are seeking guidance and answers. Both films also had the females stand
alongside the hero during the climactic battle, T’Challa had the Dora Milaje
and Simba with the lioness of the Pride Rock. The one thing I wish they could
have added in the part when Killmonger was about to throw T’Challa down the
falls during the ceremonial challenge was that he could have said the iconic line that Scar said when he killed Mufasa,
“Long live the king”. That one could have been a perfect allusion and tribute
to the Lion King.
Since Captain
America: Civil War, Boseman has proven that Marvel didn’t make any mistakes in casting him as the Black Panther.
Being the lead role, he didn’t disappoint. He gave justice with his acting and
certainly took the character to a whole new level and made it even more of an
icon.
When you have a great lead, you must also
have a villain to match that. That is where Jordan comes in. The movie wouldn’t
be this amazing without him. Him being cast as Erik Killmonger was another great
choice made by Marvel Studios. An
already great actor, Jordan showed what his character was about, and what we
must see and know about Killmonger. He was able to deliver his character’s thirst
for vengeance and right for power as well as its grief and being lost. A super villain
that we just couldn’t hate. An A+ for his performance.
The rest of the cast also did an excellent
job. The chemistry was obviously there and they really got into their
characters. Nyong’o isn’t a stranger to excellent performances and she surely
did share her talent in this film. Wright as Shuri was easily one of the
audience's favorite, as she was successful in giving us a character with a smart,
tough, and comical personality. I hope we would see her in a Black Panther suit
next time. Guirira continues to be a badass in my eyes as I’m used to seeing
her as AMC’s The Walking Dead’s
katana wielding zombie slayer, Michonne. She certainly captured what the Wakandan general was
supposed to be. Freeman and Serkis, dubbed as the "Tolkien White Guys", reprised
their roles from the previous films and they were just outstanding.
Black
Panther is another MCU masterpiece that will get you even more excited
for the Avengers: Infinity War.
Everyone did an incredible job, not just the cast, but also the director and
the crew. I highly recommend this and this is a movie that I would like to see
again and again.
Rating:
9/10
Thanks Globe Telecom and Comics Club Philippines for the movies screening and Bernce Llamo for giving me a free ticket.
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