LogFAQs > #950698212

Jesse Custer
If theres such a thing as a perfect MCU film, this is it. Wakanda was brought to life with a stunning sense of believability, depicted as a technological utopia, but also as a warning against isolationist nationalism. And the film doesnt back down from addressing difficult issues that most blockbuster movies shy away from, such as the moral expectations of privileged nations to help those less fortunate. In fact, those issues are seamlessly integrated with the story arcs for the hero and villain of the film (I put villain in quotes because Killmonger is presented as such a complex and understandable character that it hardly does him justice to simply label him the villain).

Beyond the excellent concept and scripting for the film, Black Panther excels in the acting performances of Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger (whos simultaneously detestable and likable) and, of course, the great Chadwick Boseman (who will be forever missed). Actually the entire cast is great, and even a secondary character, M'Baku, is one of my favorite characters in the MCU thanks to his depiction in this film.

While this is a rare comic book film with a sense of artistry rarely seen in the genre, the action and combat sequences are also fantastic. Its tough to even blink during each of the two ritual combat scenes, and even more traditional action scenes like the car chase seem fresh and exciting. Quite simply, Black Panther is a treat from start to finish, and is in my book, the best MCU movie ever made.

VengefulKaelee
A movie that stands apart from the vast majority of Marvel fare by virtue of its excellent, unique art design and probably the best single performance in the entire MCU by Michael B. Jordan, a villain who's so well-developed that not only does he completely take over the film, but you also really feel like he has a point at times. It's not a perfect movie by any means; it has some surprisingly bad CGI and though the late, great Chadwick Boseman was a phenomenal actor, his title character surprisingly doesn't get a whole lot of depth in the script compared to Killmonger. Overall, though, it's definitely one of my favorites, for its style and its interesting themes that are unlike any other installments in the franchise.

GavsEvans123
DC must have been furious when this came out. A few months earlier, Wonder Woman became the first female superhero movie of the modern era, the first good female superhero movie, and the first DC movie since the Dark Knight trilogy to be well received. All this together meant Wonder Woman became a bit of a pop-culture phenomenon, and the key was that it appealed to a previously untapped audience demographic. DC thought theyd finally gotten one over on Marvel only for Black Panther to come along and turn the cultural phenomenon factor up to 11.

Black Panther could have easily settled for having a mostly black cast, marketed itself as the first black superhero movie of the modern era and called it a day. Instead, it does something more interesting and embraces its blackness, tying it into the themes and storyline. Subjects such as tradition, heritage, overthrowing ones oppressors, and the hardships faced in disadvantaged black communities are touched on in meaningful ways. Its rare to see a film made for mass audiences to address topics in a way that holds such significance to a specific demographic, and the film is enriched for it. You could conceivably write an academic paper on this film, and Im sure someone more qualified than myself probably has.

Another thing the film has going for it is the setting of Wakanda itself. Here we have Marvels best worldbuilding, as were given a good look at Wakandas customs, hierarchy and government. The world is brought to life in a way that is like no other MCU locale. In addition, exposition is kept to a minimum, and a lot of this is simply shown to the viewer as other things are happening, which means the film avoids dragging as new concepts are explained. These elements add flavour, while also contributing to the films events, as Wakandas isolationist foreign policy indirectly leads to the films events, setting Killmonger onto his path. Speaking of Killmonger, is this film considered Michael B. Jordans atonement for Fant4stic? Hes another excellent villain, who has a sympathetic backstory, while still being very cool and ruthless, and his plan ties into those themes I mentioned earlier.

You know how sometimes in large stories with hundreds of characters, you latch onto one minor character for a reason you cant explain? MBaku is that character in the MCU for me. Ive always just liked him, and I hope he has a bigger role in a sequel.

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