Black Panther

     Black Panther is directed by Ryan Coogler (Creed) and stars Chadwick Boseman (42), Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station), and Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave). It tells the story of the Wakandan prince, as he rises to the throne and must deal with problems arising from within.
     The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to make good movies. That is the easiest way to sum them up. At a certain point, they start to run together. Is any worse than the last? Not really. At the pace with which they must put out films, it is not hard to see why the films do. But Black Panther showed a new avenue for which the stories to be told. Ryan Coogler is one of the hottest up and coming directors, with a festival darling in Fruitvale Station, followed by one of the best sequels/reboots in film history in Creed. At this point, MCU films are going to be good; the question that now must be asked is if it will rise above what came before it, or if it will join a long line of good movies?
     The best part of the movie is the world which it builds. One of the biggest drawbacks of many MCU films is the color palette, which often draws on grays and blacks. But Coogler showcases Wakanda in all its technicolor glory. From flying cars to cityscapes, the world feels fresh, alive, and perhaps most importantly new. I wish we had gotten to spend more time in Wakanda, because the time that is spent there is some of the most exciting of the whole movie.
     Another issue most MCU films have is weak villains. Aside from Loki (who is more of an anti-hero at this point), no villain has been very compelling. However, Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger helps to change this narrative. His motivations are clear and personal, making him a force to be reckoned with. He is also significantly more charismatic than T'Challa is, and at a certain point you feel like maybe you should be on his side.
     The actions scenes have fun dynamics, but certain moments are too dark and it is hard to tell exactly what is going on. The long take in the casino was unique and not something I had seen before. Although the final battle was a bit stale, certain elements that I won't spoil helped to bring some new energy to these scenes.
     Overall, Black Panther is a solid movie. It stands above some of the more recent output from Marvel but just misses out in being in the top tier. Bonus points for a solid soundtrack.

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