Written By: Joseph Heinrich
Black Panther is the 18th film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is directed by Ryan
Coogler and stars Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther/ T’Challa. This movie came out in 2018
during the high point of MCU popularity, and it was the film that came out right before
Avengers: Infinity War.
I first saw it in the cinemas with my Mom when I was in 8th grade, and everyone I knew
who saw the movie loved it, and I loved it when I first saw it. On my latest rewatch of this film,
it is not one of my favorite MCU films, but I enjoy a lot about it.
Compared to other MCU films, this film seems to have commentary on Western and
non-Western worlds. Wakanda is a what-if white Europeans didn’t colonize an African nation,
and what if that African nation was able to develop technology on its own without European
intervention, and develop technology more advanced than white Western nations.
Most MCU films are fun popcorn blockbusters and don’t really have commentary that
makes the audience think. Not that it’s a bad thing, but Black Panther, compared to most other
MCU films, has commentary that makes the audience think.
One of the best parts about Black Panther is the main villain. Killmonger, played by
Michael B Jordan, because he has motives and goals that makes since, making him a sympathetic
villain. He wanted Wakanda to give its technology to the rest of the world, but Killmonger wants
to take over the world as the King of Wakanda. Still, Killmonger was in the wrong, but he had a
point about Wakanda not giving some of its resources to other countries, and it made sense for
Killmonger to want revenge after T’Challa’s father killed his father.
Even the movie’s main hero, T’Challa, understood where Killmonger came from. It was
disappointing, however, that Killmonger was killed off in this movie, and we never really saw
him again, which is disappointing. I wish Killmonger were involved with the MCU more
because he was a complex villain like Magneto and Loki, and he had potential as a character.
I think the film’s characters really worked well in this film, and the story works really
well. I really like that T’Challa had an arc of learning from Kilomonger’s point of view, and
learning that T’Challa won’t be the same type of king as his father, he will be a lot different.
In terms of humor, it is not over-the-top ridiculous like Thor: Love and Thunder, and the
film took itself seriously when it needed to. The humor comes down to character interactions and
subtle humor. Like, for example, the bit where a Rhino licks Okoye’s face like a dog. It’s basic
humor, but it worked.
My biggest problem with the film was that it felt too digitally processed. I get that this
movie is a comic book movie, but there were plenty of shots that yelled to me, “Green Screen
Not Real.” At times, this film is beautiful, and I love the film’s soundtrack; it’s amazing, but there
are shots and scenes where the CGI needed work. I felt like most of Marvel’s budget went to
Avengers: Infinity War.
Black Panther is a good MCU film, but not one of my all-time favorites. The best parts
about the movie, to me, is the villain, the world-building, and the soundtrack. If you are not a
Marvel fan, then I recommend watching it once. A lot of people praise this movie as one of the
best MCU films, and I can definitely see why, but there are more MCU films that I prefer.
Black Panther, Directed By Ryan Coogler, Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Pictures
Avengers: Infinity War, Directed By Joe Russo and Anthony Russo, Marvel Studios, Walt Disney
Pictures
Thor Love and Thunder, Directed By Taika Waititi, Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Pictures