REVIEW: Black PantherBy Bri ManzanoFebruary 18, 2018In the wake of his father’s death, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) must bear not only the burden of the crown and the mantle of his country’s protector, the Black Panther, but also the weight of his father’s loss, and whatever ugly secrets his father may have left behind. As T’Challa balances grief and responsibility, he must keep his country from being outed as a technologically advanced utopia - lest Wakanda’s deadly weapons wind up in the hands - or Klaues - of those who would use them for sinister ends.

Let me be frank: I love most Marvel movies. They may be formulaic; they may have their trusted tropes; and they’re certainly not beyond reproach, but as a consumer, they give me what I want, so I’m there every opening weekend and they’ve got my attention from the flashy logo to the post-credits scene. But I didn’t just love Black Panther as a consumer. I loved it as a critic, and as a lover of films that can be talked about for more than just their surface-level elements. I loved it as a conservative who loves all kinds of people but hates tokenism and pandering. I loved Black Panther and I could probably talk for a while about why I loved this movie.

Chadwick Boseman stepped into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2016’s Civil War and was openly welcomed by most, but I was skeptical - and only because such important character introductions in films as crowded as Civil War are rarely handled with grace. But Boseman’s T’Challa remains loyal to the character that was born in Civil War but came into his own in Black Panther even as early as his first scene, and he sets the tone for the rest of the movie: different from his already-established comrades, and refreshingly so; slightly more sophisticated than his predecessors; reverent, vibrant, suave, charming.

I could talk at length about the racial element of this film, but I really shouldn’t have to in order to discuss why it’s great. It’s not preachy about the fact that he’s the first mainstream black superhero. In fact, the words “black” and “white,” I believe, are only said once each throughout the entire film. T’Challa is not special because he’s black; he is surrounded by blackness. He is special because of his captivating struggle, his unwavering loyalty to what’s good, and his unique position in the Marvel universe. And even as racial as the film becomes (with use of the word “colonizer”), the resolution is as diplomatic as it could possibly be. (I would imagine that people on both sides of any racial tension would be satisfied with Boseman’s closing monologue.)

Other things I loved about Black Panther: stunning visuals; original fight scenes; emotional intrigue; appropriately paced development; largely natural humor; fantastic performances fascinating fresh spin on the superhero film. In many of these ways, Black Panther should set the tone for the rest of the MCU.

It’s not perfect, though. Amongst the authentic performances, Michael B. Jordan seemed to waver at times - which is a shame, because his character is seething with bitterness and rich with inner turmoil. The effects aren’t always flawless, and like I said, the plot does eventually take a turn for the racial, but it resolves in a way that is sure to appease nearly everyone.

Rating: 8.95/10
Favorite scene: Busan chase
Least favorite scene: “Death is better than bondage.”

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