Black Panther review: The game-changing black superhero movie from Marvel

Marvel’s Black Panther has a lot going for it. In the off chance that this Marvel movie didn’t have much going for it, one could still say it was one of the best looking movies from the company ever. Black actors on Wakanda have never looked so good.

Black Panther rocks the Afrofuturism and anti-imperialist worldview. It’s bold and probably the most radical superhero movie till date. No other superhero movie till date has gone to the lengths of showing African scientists tower over their western counterparts. No other superhero movie has had as many black actors, especially in the lead roles.

Ryan Coogler’s film has gone to the lengths other superhero movies have not. In fact, the only two non-black actors – Andy Serkis and Martin Freeman – acted in Lord of the Rings movies.

Black Panther, at the end of the day, is a lively and entertaining movie that is not afraid to embrace its blackness. Plus, it’s got all the hallmarks of a great Marvel movie. The grand VFX, the likeable characters, the big battle sequences and a memorable villain.

Black Panther may not be new to the viewer – the character was introduced in Captain America: Civil War – but the actor that plays the titular hero, Chadwick Boseman is truly a boss. If Black Panther is anything to go by, Boseman will soar in Avengers: Infinity War. Black Panther needs no Avengers to introduce its titular character

T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) is the new king of the fictional African nation of Wakanda after the death of his father, King T’Chaka, back in Captain America: Civil War. Wakanda, is the most technologically advanced nation in the world and the weapons it possesses can wipe out any nation.

T’Challa takes time getting used to his new role. It’s a whole other ball game than just zipping around with the Avengers. His first task is to get Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis), back to Wakanda. In a ‘Skyfall’ type casino shootout in South Korea, this movie, with all its gadgets, may seem more like James Bond than any other Marvel movie.

Besides bringing Klaue back, T’Challa is challenged for the throne. Not one, but twice. One of them is Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), who is intent on taking over Wakanda and threatening the nation’s way of life. Some would argue that Killmonger is the most complex Marvel villains to date. At the end of the day, Killmonger, is a human, like all others. He wants to use the Wakandan knowledge and technology to reclaim power across the world from those that have abused it.

Jordan on his part delivers a standout performance. As they say, every great superhero needs an even better villain to ward off, and Jordan does justice to his role. Jordan plays the role of a man whose African culture was taken away from him early on in his life. Jordan plays the role of Killmonger with aplomb. He has rage in his eyes but also the calm composure to not overdo the scenes.

T'Challa realises that this is at the expense of the Wakandan way of life and henceforth ensues a battle for supremacy at the top of the Wakandan throne.

At 134-minutes, Black Panther doesn’t feel long at all. The movie, set out by Coogler, is highly ambitious but delivers on most counts. It’s got the worldwide action setpieces, a prolonged one-on-one fight, a great car chase scene reminiscent of the Fast & The Furious series, and lots and lots of advanced technology for T’Challa’s half-sister Shuri (Letitia Wright), another breakout actress.

The cinematographer, Rachel Morrison (an Oscar nominee for Mudbound) has done justice to Black Panther. The sets may be expansive, but there are many visually arresting shots to go with it.

Let me also take a moment to acknowledge what a wonderful job rapper Kendrick Lamar has done on the soundtrack. Watch the movie and then go home and hear the complete album. Everyone will just be mesmerized by how good it is.

Black Panther is a Marvel movie, falling into the trope in some sections, and that may be its only fault, but that isn’t to let go off all the boundaries Coogler and his team pushes, especially the black diaspora that is all over this movie.

By the time you reach climax, you’re so consumed in Coogler’s world that you’ve probably forgotten the revolution playing out in front of you. Nonetheless, marvel all you want, because Black Panther is worth it on the big screen a hundred times over. In all of Marvel's 18 movies, Black Panther stands tall.

Note: Stay till the very end of the credits as there are two extra scenes after the movie ends.

Rating: 4/5