Review Crew: ‘Black Panther’

Adria Watson, Robbie Pierce, and Jordan Neel

Adria says:

Who runs the world? Girls

The smartest person in the Marvel Comic Universe is a 16-year old African princess from the most advanced society in the world: Wakanda. Without Shuri’s mind, the functionality of the Black Panther suit and the flow and production of vibranium in the hidden nation would cease to exist. The focus of “Black Panther” is set around the trials and tribulations T’Challa faces as he tries to live up to his father’s legacy, but the movie truly belongs to the strong, intelligent and badass women of Wakanda. 

 

The Dora Milaje, their general Okoye, Nakia and Shuri are a newfangled introduction to what can hopefully be an ongoing step in the right direction toward representation of women of color in entertainment media. “Black Panther” showcases these powerful women as equals. Being the nations protectors and influence makers, Wakandan women are the backbone to the film’s storyline.

 Robbie says: 

It really is that good

The latest Marvel production truly lives up to its hype and shakes up the Marvel formula while avoiding all or at least most of the usual Marvel movie problems. The visuals, from the solar punk, afro-futuristic streets of Wakanda itself to the neon, grunge-covered roadways of Seoul are utterly breathtaking, and the music — both the score and the soundtrack — is phenomenal.

The writing is also some of the best in a Marvel movie in a while, with a well-paced if somewhat predictable plot, a handful of incredibly powerful exchanges and some of the more genuine and joyful laughs in a Marvel flick to date, as opposed to the snarky, quips-per-minute style of humor in many of its predecessors. The movie contains one of the most fleshed-out, memorable and human antagonists not just in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but also in recent cinema, in the form of Erik “Killmonger” Stevens. The movie does a great job of separating itself and building its own mythology disconnected from the greater MCU plotline, though it does nod to it once or twice. Even if you don’t normally go for superhero movies, “Black Panther” stands out and is definitely worth your time.

Jordan says: 

Outstandng film done right

“Black Panther” is another triumphant entry for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Being the first MCU film with a predominantly black cast, it proves that movies like this can be made and done right. What I love most is not only Chadwick Boseman’s performance as T’Challa, but also its portrayal of women as strong forces. Black Panther’s character is more defined in this film than in his first appearance in “Cap

tain America: Civil War.”

The whole time you’re watching you feel like you’re on the same journey has him.Director Ryan Coogler does a fantastic job of making the world of Wakanda feel as though it is a real city. The weakness in the film isoutweighed by its strengths. That being said the beginning of the film is a little messy when dealing with its villain. The main antagonist is Erik Killmonger, but in the beginning it is focused too much on a secondary antagonist Ulysses Klaue. The way this aspect of the film was presented could have been done better. Despite this, “Black Panther” is still an outstanding film.