Black Panther (2018)

Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Andy Serkis, John Kani, and Trevor Noah, with a cameo from Sebastian Stan
Grade: Classic

“Would you kill me, my love?”

“For Wakanda? Without question!”

When you’re watching this film and that line doesn’t give you absolute chills in the heat of the moment, something is surely wrong with you.

Summary

To give us some background, we learn the story of the fictional African country of Wakanda, told in a bedtime story format. Millions of years ago, a meteorite made of vibranium, the strongest substance in the universe, hurled itself directly into Africa, directly affecting the plant life around it. Thousands of years later, when man came to be, five tribes settled on the specific area where the vibranium landed, and it became known as Wakanda. The tribes constantly fought, until a warrior shaman received a vision from the Panther Goddess Bast who led this man to the Heart-Shaped Herb, a plant that granted him superpowers after he ingested it. This warrior became king and the first Black Panther, the superhero protector of Wakanda. Four of the tribes agreed to live under the king’s rule, but the Jabari Tribe refused and isolated themselves in the mountains. Later, the Wakandans used the vibranium to develop technology more advanced than any other country on Earth. Because of the chaos of the world around them, and to protect Wakanda’s way of life and its precious vibranium, they decided early on to hide in plain sight under an invisible shield of sorts, so they can’t be seen by anyone from the outside world. This way, they remain the most advanced country on Earth, but to everyone else, they are a poor, third world country.

Next, we jump to Oakland, California in 1992. This is where we see undercover spy Prince N’Jobu (Sterling K. Brown), son of Azzuri. N’Jobu is planning some big mission with his friend James (Denzel Whitaker) until they are interrupted by two warrior women from Wakanda at the door. After N’Jobu proves he’s from Wakanda by showing a tattoo on the inside of his lower lip, King T’Chaka (Atandwa Kani) appears, in full Black Panther gear, and they exchange pleasantries because they are brothers. T’Chaka mentions they are in trouble however because somehow, a man named Ulysses Klaue (Serkis) has stolen a quarter ton of vibranium from Wakanda and blew up a bomb at the border to escape, with many dying because of it. Because he knew where the vibranium was and how to strike, he correctly assumes that N’Jobu betrayed his countrymen and asks why. N’Jobu denies everything, but James reveals himself as Zuri, son of Badu, another Wakandan spy. T’Chaka lets N’Jobu know he will return home at once and face the Council to be sentenced. Outside, the kids playing basketball see the Wakandan ship fly away.

In the present day, right after the events of Captain America: Civil War and following the death of King T’Chaka, Prince T’Challa (Boseman) watches the news report of his father’s death while he wears the Black Panther attire. T’Challa and head of the Dora Milaje in Okoye (Gurira), which is the all-female special forces of Wakanda, are currently leading a mission by themselves to rescue T’Challa’s ex-girlfriend Nakia (Nyong’o). They fly down to the Sambisa Forest in Nigeria. Despite her being in the middle of a mission herself, T’Challa takes down all the soldiers, along with the help of Okoye, because he wants her to be at his coronation ceremony tomorrow since he is set to become king. Before the three leave, Okoye tells all of the other women who were rescued to speak nothing of what they have seen. Next, the three go back to Wakanda and are greeted by Queen Mother of Wakanda in Ramonda (Bassett) and T’Challa’s genius younger sister Shuri (Wright). She designs all of the major technology for the country. As Ramonda mentions how proud she is of T’Challa, we cut to a museum in London.

There, Erik Stevens (Jordan) has a tour guide show him some artifacts and what she knows about them. The last one she mentions prompts Stevens to correct her, letting her know that the artifact is actually from Wakanda, and it’s made out of vibranium. He then tells her he’s taking it. Before she can protest, she passes out because Stevens poisoned her coffee earlier. As security checks on her, Stevens calls in the medics who are actually Ulysses Klaue and one of his henchmen. They show up and kill all of the security guys. Next, Stevens has Klaue check the specific artifact made out of vibranium because Klaue’s going to sell it. Stevens ends up being right, and he’s going to be paid handsomely for it. Stevens and Klaue escape, with Stevens’s girlfriend waiting for him in the ambulance they commandeered. Back at Wakanda, the coronation ceremony is in full swing. Wearing tribal gear, T’Challa comes to some cliff in a waterfall, with a now grown Zuri (Whitaker) presiding over the festivities for the day. Before T’Challa can become king, he must accept a challenge put out by any tribe member if they deem themselves worthy of the throne instead of him. To make things equal, Zuri strips T’Challa of his Black Panther powers for the time being to make a potential fight equal, having him drink some potion. None of the tribes decide to challenge, except for M’Baku (Duke) of the Jabari Tribe. After a hellacious battle between the two in front of everyone, T’Challa is able to defeat him by submission. Officially, T’Challa is king.

Later, he gets his powers back by drinking the liquid of the Heart-Shaped Herb. At the same time, it knocks him out and takes him to the Ancestral Plane, a purgatory-like place where T’Challa is able to speak to his deceased father (Kani), who gives him the advice of surrounding himself with people he can trust.

Later, T’Challa meets up with Nakia, and he tries to convince her to get back with him, but she notes that she can’t stay in Wakanda knowing there are people on the outside who need their help and resources. She suggests Wakanda start helping the outside world, but T’Challa is insistent on preserving their way of life. He meets up with his friend W’Kabi (Kaluuya), head of security for the Border Tribe, and they discuss Nakia and her ideas. Then, they both get a message from Okoye, so they head back to the Council for a meeting. There, they find out about the stolen vibranium that Ulysses Klaue has and how he plans to sell it to an American buyer in South Korea tomorrow night. T’Challa decides to lead a mission to capture him and bring him back to Wakanda to stand trial. Since W’Kabi’s parents died by the hands of Klaue, he supports T’Challa’s decision but makes him promise to either kill Klaue where he stands or bring him back to Wakanda. T’Challa gives him his word that he will bring him back and takes Okoye and Nakia with him to South Korea. Before they go though, Shuri shows him all the new tech that he will be bringing on his mission, including a new suit that can absorb kinetic energy and hold it in place for redistribution.

In Busan, South Korea, T’Challa, Okoye, and Nakia go to some underground club in disguise while on the lookout for Americans. Quickly after, T’Challa spots CIA agent Everett K. Ross (Freeman) and correctly assumes he’s the American buying from Klaue, though Ross walks around it. T’Challa warns him however that he is leaving this club with Klaue. Ross lets his other agents know of T’Challa’s presence. Then, he tries to make a deal with him, but T’Challa isn’t budging. Klaue shows up with a bunch of people, and they are all armed. As tensions rise, Okoye is outed, and a shootout/fight begins just as Klaue and Ross were about to make the deal official. A huge chase ensues, with Okoye and Nakia in one car and T’Challa on top of a separate car, driven remotely by Shuri in her lab. Eventually, Klaue is able to destroy Okoye and Nakia’s car, so Ross picks them up and drives them. Eventually, T’Challa is able to catch Klaue, but when he’s about to kill him, Okoye and Nakia show up with Ross to stop him because the entire city is watching him and recording the whole mess. So, they take him back for questioning. As Klaue sits in the interrogation room, Ross argues with T’Challa and Okoye a bit because they want to take Klaue back to Wakanda, even though he’s in Ross’s custody. Regardless, Ross goes in to speak to Klaue and questions how he got his arm cannon weapon, but Klaue says that his “supplier” is technically Wakanda. Next, he tells Ross the truth about Wakanda, the endless supply of vibranium that they have, and how it’s more technologically advanced than everyone. Ross goes back to talk to T’Challa and questions why T’Challa’s father lied to the U.N. and said that Klaue stole all of their vibranium when they had more. T’Challa dispels it all by questioning why Ross would believe an arms dealer who is locked up.

As the two argue, Erik Stevens pulls up with a rescue crew just as Nakia tries to bust in and warn T’Challa. Stevens saves Klaue and shoots down T’Challa after he tried to run after them. As they drive away, T’Challa notices that Erik’s necklace has a ring on it. It’s the same one his father gave to him. Also, during this shootout, Ross took a bullet for Nakia. As they see that Ross looks close to dying, T’Challa takes him back to Wakanda with them. Shuri takes him under her watch and says she will be able to save him.

However, with Okoye’s uneasiness about bringing back an American intelligence officer to Wakanda and W’Kabi’s disappointment in T’Challa for not bringing back Klaue, unrest in Wakanda seems to be looming. To make matters worse, the real villain emerges. Just before Klaue, his henchman, Stevens, and Stevens’s girlfriend were going to fly away in a plane, Stevens tells Klaue to drop him off in Wakanda. Klaue laughs it off and tells him that he doesn’t want to go there. However, Stevens insists, killing Klaue’s henchman and his own girlfriend, after Klaue attempted to use her to get away. He shoots down Klaue too and shows him the code on the inside of his lip. Erik Stevens, better known as Killmonger, has Wakandan blood and he’s out for vengeance and the throne.

My Thoughts:

There are so many characters in the Marvel Universe who are household names. At the same time, there are a lot of others that people don’t know about. As Marvel cranked out hit after hit with new superheroes and villains in the latter category, questions arose on if Marvel could continue their success. Will the people latch onto the new properties brought onscreen that aren’t as well-known by worldwide audiences? Though the Black Panther character isn’t unknown, he’s not one of the most recognizable superheroes out there. Even with the character’s introduction in Captain America: Civil War, there were skeptics. Let me tell you right now, anyone who doubted this film was wrong. Black Panther was one of the best films of 2018.

From the backstory to the music, Ryan Coogler directed a masterpiece of a superhero film. Everything was so carefully constructed to not only continue the overarching storyline of the MCU, but also give us a standalone film worth the wait. Even the opening that took place in Oakland in 1992 piqued my interest right away in the characters and the lore. Usually, an introductory scene like this doesn’t grab me, but everything about the presentation of this film captured my imagination. Chadwick Boseman is fantastic as the titular character. Though we got a glimpse of how good he was in Civil War, I didn’t really appreciate the casting choice until Black Panther. Now, Michael B. Jordan is one of my favorites of the new generation of actors, so in terms of star power, I wondered to myself, “Why couldn’t he be Black Panther?”. Considering Disney and Marvel’s hunt for star actors in major roles, I always thought that Jordan should’ve played the role. It’s not that Chadwick Boseman isn’t a star, it’s just that at that moment in time, Jordan was a bigger name. However, in this movie, Boseman proved that he was the man for the role. Boseman carries himself like a king and becomes a major star in the process. Along with possessing some real action hero skills to compliment his role as a leader and monarch, he has this certain level of class about him, making you believe he is the right man to lead this country with the utmost sincerity. He’s a genuine person. He’s not your normal politician. When one becomes king of Wakanda, you are expected to be a man of the people, and T’Challa is that man.

As his father explains to him during the Ancestral Plane sequence, he is a good person. Because of that, his reign will be tested. This couldn’t be a better set up for the rest of the film.

The character of T’Challa commands respect as he walks into a room, but he also has this sweetness and respectfulness when dealing with the people he loves and the citizens of Wakanda. Just as the many before him, he acts in the best interests of his country, and he tries to uphold the same ideals. What’s very interesting about T’Challa is that he is all about tradition and what his father did as king, but he can’t help but take into consideration what his love Nakia, and even Killmonger, bring to his attention. The idea that this wonderful nation can help everyone and then some but refuse to, to preserve their own way of life, is an intriguing discussion to have. On one hand, I get it. T’Challa brings up a lot of good points about how the country doesn’t want to get mixed up in other affairs because it can affect the trajectory of Wakanda and how they’ve been able to live life in harmony for so long. On the other hand, and this is something that effects T’Challa deeply when in his position, seeing so many countries and people fall apart while Wakanda stands there and does nothing is very selfish, especially considering how wealthy and powerful the country actually is. It’s a struggle that T’Challa has to think about throughout the entirety of the movie, giving us a much deeper level of conflict that is both relevant to today and timeless when looking at the history of world politics as a whole. It’s a film much deeper than your typical superhero film and forces the audience to look at both perspectives in a serious manner.

This is what makes Killmonger work so well. Though he takes a more militant approach, his argument is a good one and this is why he is such a fascinating villain to watch onscreen. It also helps that the charismatic Michael B. Jordan revels in the role. With his rugged demeanor, hailing from the inner city of Oakland and having a serious military background, Killmonger is the perfect villain to the hero that is T’Challa. He’s also really cool too. Early on, he steals a mask artifact. When Klaue asks him if it’s also made out of vibranium, he tells him “No” and that he’s just “feeling it”, wearing it for a little while. It’s a small moment to give us a nod to the attire of the comic book character, but I just thought it was such a cool thing for this “Erik Stevens” to do.

From the very first scene he is introduced, you take notice, especially as a tour guide tries to stop him from stealing the Wakandan artifact and he replies with, “How do you think your ancestors got these?”. Not only does he say it with such bravado, but it’s another instance in which Killmonger makes a good point. Once again, he goes about it the wrong way, but his argument is justified. That bitterness, that can be rooted directly back to T’Challa’s father, drives him to this very mission. Everything in his life has led him to getting back to Wakanda. Before their first fight, he tells T’Challa that he’s been training for this moment his whole life, and we believe it. We see it because of the shape he’s in, but we also believe it because of the fire within Michael B. Jordan. He believes in every line Killmonger says, just like Boseman does as T’Challa. Jordan is the star needed to really make this an iconic first film in the franchise. Boseman would’ve already made this great, but casting Jordan took it to a whole other level. Seeing their contrasting styles in leading, in fighting, and in their personalities makes the film move at a great pace. Even with the length, it was edited and cut to perfection. The fight scenes between the two were awesome as well. The first fight has to be up there with one of the best scenes of the year, with Killmonger shocking the world and beating the beloved king. It was at this moment, when the citizens stand in shock, and one soldier asks Okoye, “Is there nothing that can be done?”, Black Panther begins its journey from another great addition to the MCU films, to one of the best movies of the entire comic book genre.

The abundance of well-written and important female characters is also welcomed. They aren’t placed there just for Disney to make a point to diversify the usually male-dominated cast either, they are vital to the success of Wakanda, its government and military, and for T’Challa. Okoye, played very strongly by Danai Gurira, is the perfect “right hand” woman to the throne. Her loyalty and devotion to Wakanda and its ideals are unmatched, and she is very believable as T’Challa’s go-to warrior. Lupita Nyong’o’s Nakia is more of a jack of all trades. On one hand, she’s a fearless Wakandan spy. On the other hand, she’s the ever-elusive love interest of the almost always smooth T’Challa. In fact, she’s the only one who can challenge him and throw him off. We see this in their first group of interactions, as T’Challa is given instructions to not freeze when he sees her but does exactly that because of her beauty and their long-standing history. She’s also the one to implant the ideals in T’Challa’s head that Killmonger seems to represent, only in a much less aggressive way. She is instrumental as a supporting character, and Nyong’o does a phenomenal job in making this role much more important than it would have if the movie came out years ago. A big part of the movie is when Nakia and Okoye have to decide what to do after Killmonger starts taking over once T’Challa goes down. It’s a pivotal scene. They argue over how to best go about things while keeping the traditions of Wakanda alive, but the well-written argument gets heated. She argues that she loves Wakanda, so Okoye responds by saying that she should then serve the country and just deal with Killmonger. However, she responds that because she loves this country, she will save it rather than serve under the new regime. I’m paraphrasing of course, but the intensity and passion behind the eyes of these two in this scene is exhilarating, really bringing our supporting characters into the forefront beautifully.

Letitia Wright is also a great additional character that brings a lot of natural comic relief, easing the tension almost any time she’s onscreen. Winston Duke’s role of M’Baku was a nice surprise as well. The man has a hulking presence by himself, and his role as the jealous leader of the Jabari Tribe was a welcomed addition. Despite not being in it for all that long, he made a lasting presence.

If Winston Duke wants it, he has a big future in action movies. He has a star quality about him similar to Jason Momoa.

Furthermore, the CGI, the special effects, and the imagery throughout Black Panther were not only breathtaking, but groundbreaking. Wakanda is a magnificent country. To show us this, the CGI-created landscapes needed to also be magnificent, and they absolutely nailed it. The enhanced colors used throughout the film made it feel like a canvas that some renaissance painter had his hands all over and the Ancestral Plane sequence? It was gorgeous. It really felt like a step before heaven, with the serene background and peaceful setting being both striking and downright magical. All of the details covered about the legend of the Black Panther and the rich history of Wakanda, were also explained very well too. I didn’t feel lost, despite the amount of information thrown at me. The cultures and traditions held by these fictional people felt so real that when you here T’Challa scream the battle cry, “Wakanda forever!”, as he crosses his arms over his chest in the form of an “X”, you want to stand up and fight alongside him.

I know I did.

There are only two things that I have a minor issue with. Wesley Snipes tried to make this movie back in 1992. Though they may have honored him with that sequence in Oakland that took place in the same year, how was there no room for him in a supporting role? The only way they can rectify this is if he makes a future appearance in a bigger MCU role. In addition, Andy Serkis’s performance as Klaue was kind of weird and just a tad too cartoonish for the film. He wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t as good as he clearly thought he was. Yeah, he was memorable, but once Killmonger became the guy, we lose any bit of interest we had in Klaue pretty quickly. I guess he was a decent secondary villain, but I’m not sure if it’s because the character was decent, or his name is just really cool.

Black Panther is all it’s cracked up to be. In the ever-growing genre of the comic book film, Black Panther ranks right up there as one of the best. Perfectly casted, directed, and written, seeing Wakanda and the lore of the Black Panther is deserving of the hype it gets. It just saddens me on a deeply emotional level that Chadwick Boseman isn’t here with us to be a part of the sequels and the continuation of this remarkable hero’s story. This is a hole in our hearts that can never be filled. Chadwick was a legend in the making.

Wakanda forever.