We headed out to see the latest Marvel film Black Panther despite becoming tired of comic book movies, but as being directed from Ryan Coogler, the director of Fruitvale Station and Creed we felt this should be worth seeing.
The film opens up with a back story about Wakanda, the nation of Black Panther and a flashback to a decision caused by the Wakandan king when he kills his brother who is undercover in California. The King has learned his brother is stealing Vibranium, a power that gives superhuman abilities. An argument ensues with the outcome of the King killing his brother is that his son Erik (Michael B. Jordan) remains exiled from Wakanda and will grow to resent it!
We then skip to modern day, after the events of Captain America: Civil War where T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) has now been made the new king and the new Black Panther.
T’Challa then heads back out of Wakanda to go after Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) who has been stealing Vibranium.
We know that Ulysses has been working with Erik, who is hoping that T’Challa will come for him so he can get back to Wakanda and take the throne he believes he deserves.
Indeed T’Challa does go after Ulysses with Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) & Okoye (Danai Gurira) and a battle begins which sees the Civil War CIA Agent Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) get critically injured. Ulysses managed to escape, due to the help of Erik and a big car escape scene.
Returning to Wakanda with an injured CIA agent and not having served justice on Ulysses serves unrest, especially from T’Challa best friend W’Kabi (Daniel Kaluuya)
This anger quickly sees him join Erik, when he returns to Wakanda with the body of Ulysses, to overthrow T’Challa. All culminating in a huge battle to become the king of Wakanda!
Now once again we thought we have had enough of these comic book films yet we left this film very impressed. It certainly felt different to other films, some great performances, especially Letitia Wright as T’Challa’s younger sister, Shuri who invents Black Panther’s weapons. Unlike other Marvel Universe films, it does feel more like a stand-alone film, with only Ross returning from previous movies.
However, as with nearly all modern day blockbusters, it’s just far too long, some of the CGI left us disappointed, especially in the car chase sequence but these are minor quibbles, it is a film that is worthy of its praise and box office.
You can watch the trailer here:
Pre-order the film from Amazon here:
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