Black Panther Is The First Great Comic Book Film Of 2018

The 2017 superhero movie season has come and gone with nearly every comic book movie matching or exceeding expectations (Sorry Justice League). Logan not only managed to be a satisfying ending to Hugh Jackman's 17-year legacy of playing Wolverine, but it proved to be a triumph for the comic book movie genre with its historical Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar nomination. Wonder Woman exceeded all expectations by becoming the most successful movie of last summer while earning the strongest reviews of any film in the DC universe and becoming a cultural phenomenon for women that directly mirrors the release of Richard Donner's Superman and Tim Burton's Batman. Spiderman Homecoming not only managed to successfully reboot its main character in a way The Amazing Spiderman film's never did, but also successfully introduced the character into the Marvel universe. Thor Ragnarock turned out to be the best installment in the mediocre Thor trilogy up until that point while surprising everyone by performing better than Zack Snyder and Josh Whedon's Justice League. With 2018's comic book movie season looking promising with Avengers Infinity War, The Incredible 2, Ant Man 2, and Aquaman on the way, it was important that Marvel's Black Panther not only meets the expectations placed upon it, but gets audiences excited to watch Infinity War. Now that Black Panther has come out and broke all kinds of box office records (Its the third highest grossing movie of all time domestically behind Avatar and Force Awakens), the movie not only managed to meet the expectations audiences placed upon it, but it also managed to become something special and meaningful for them through its main character and deep themes within its storylines.

      Black Panther is not just the first great comic book movie of 2018, but it's the first great movie of 2018 period. Black Panther is essentially a benchmark for the Marvel universe with the movie being extraordinary in brilliantly executing it's storyline, that's carried by a talented cast of predominantly African American actors. It's true that there has been black superheroes that have been doing before in mainstream cinema such as Meteor Man and Blade, but Black Panther is on a different level than those films combined, and one that will have a huge impact on the comic book genre going forward. Rarely has there been a comic book movie, that not only manages to be a highly entertaining popcorn blockbuster, but also manages to carry with it a serious tone with the themes its story carries such as responsibility, leadership, betrayal, doing the right thing, and defending ones own country. Black Panthers plot centers around T'Challa, the king of Wakanda played by Chadwick Boseman and his rise to the throne in an isolated technologically advanced African nations called Wakanda. T'Challas claim to the throne becomes challenged by a vengeful outsider Killmonger played by Michael B. Jordan, who became a childhood victim due to T'Challa's fathers mistake. Black Panthers storyline despite being creative might come across as being a little similar to the storyline for Disney's The Lion King with both movies bearing key similarities regarding themes of loyalty, betrayal, and taking one's rightful place on the throne, but what Black Panther does so well for its story is presenting the world of Wakanda in a way in which its both visually stunning and emotionally powerful with its arc of a young man assuming the role of becoming a king and having that position challenged. Directed by newcomer Ryan Coogler, who left an impression with audiences previously with Fruitvale Station and Creed, Coogler does a fantastic job of handling the scope of the story while giving it an emotional resonance, that allows audiences to connect with its story and characters.

      As far as acting goes Chadwick Boseman does a great job playing the film's lead hero T'Challa, showing his struggle of becoming the leader he's destined to become. Lupita Nyong 'o shines as Nakia as well as Get Out's Daniel Kaluuya as W'Kabi, Martin Freeman does good as usual with Andy Serkis as one of the film's main antagonists Ulysses Klaue. Angela Basset and Forest Whittaker leave strong impressions with the roles they play, but the one true standout in the film that delivers the biggest impact with audiences is Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger. Jordan does a terrific job playing the part of the film's antagonist while creating a villain, that is complexed to the point where the audience questions whether he really is a bad guy or someone whose misunderstood regarding his actions. The latter becomes more evident through flashbacks showing his characters perspective both as a young child and the fatal mistake T'Challas father made that put Killmonger on the path that led him to challenge T'Challa for the throne. Jordan's character becomes more sympathetic near the end when delivering what's hands down the most powerful line in the whole near the end of the film, a quote that's both chilling and powerful with the perfect ounce of emotion Jordan demonstrates when delivering the iconic line. As far as technical aspects go, Black Panther is a stunning film to watch largely thanks to its brilliant Cinematography, that's gorgeous and instantly draws the audience into the world of Wakanda. The film's Art-Set Decoration, Costume Design, and music all work together perfectly making Black Panther not just a well-told story in the Marvel universe, but also a beautiful piece of art with the movies visual qualities matching its emotional core. Whereas audiences may not find full satisfactory with the story, they will find satisfaction with the film's visual look.

       Black Panther has become the breakthrough Hollywood story of 2018 as the film not only matched every expectation placed upon it, but also manages to speak to it's audience with its storylines and themes largely thanks to the stellar direction of Ryan Coogler and it's strong script written by both Joe Robert Cole and Coogler himself. Coogler also manages to make Black Panther feel different from other films in the MCU much like what Patty Jenkins did with Wonder Woman. Both filmmakers acknowledge from the start their films connection to their respective universes, but go off and tell their origin stories in a grand and epic fashion, that shows both filmmakers have a full understanding of their characters while making audiences connect with them. Whereas Jenkins incorporated real life themes into Wonder Woman such as women's inequality in a male dominated environment, Coogler touches upon themes that young men (Predominantly people of color) feel such as hardship, oppression, and the feeling of where ones place is in the world and wanting ones life to be meaningful. The message that Black Panther delivers in the end, is that the world is changing and that it's best to be on the positive side of that change. One of the film's after credit scenes where T'Challa speaks to the United Nations about the importance of working together to make the world better feels as if it's a message that's directed towards the audience specifically. 

 

      Black Panther is easily the first great superhero movie of 2018 as well as being one of the strongest films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Whereas just being another average popcorn blockbuster, Panther takes the comic book genre and brings it to newer heights while adding more depth with its characters and story that are both so absorbing. Black Panther is a film that's destined to change the comic book genre forever as well as make the audience think about some of the movies themes and while doing so, find empowerment with its main character. One wouldn't be surprised if the film receives a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar nomination much Iike what Logan received at this year's Academy Awards as well as technical noms for Cinematography, Art-Set Decoration, Best Song, and Costume Design. Black Panther is more than just an awesome comic book movie, its a grand achievement for the genre as well as being an empowering experience for large portions of its audience. It's a movie that anyone can sit down and enjoy while appreciating the pure craftsmanship as well as the heart that went into telling the story. Black Panther is a must see.

                                                                                                         Final Verdict: SEE IT