fumanstan

I really really liked it. It's not dethroning my favorite MCU movies, but it's darn good and enjoyable.

I enjoyed Killmonger's character, his background, and motivations more then I expected. It felt socially relevant while not trying to beat the audience's head over with a message, the way I felt something like The Last Jedi was doing. Being caught between cultures was an interesting dynamic to see, and I liked seeing how he was very much a product of growing up somewhere like Oakland and how that contrasted with the other characters Killmonger interacts with.

There was a little too much exposition, but even as a comic book reader and not knowing much about the character I felt like I did need the explanation of his powers and Wakanda technology. The supporting characters are pretty great, as Nakia, Okyoe, and Shuri were all great and fun to watch. Seeing Angela Bassett, grey hair and all, just made me think again how she should have been Storm.

cultshock

I went to see this today with the wife and kids. Didn't love it but did like it a lot. A bit slow in spots but it had some good action scenes and some comedy too, great VFX.


Oh man, she was awesome!

Thank you, I knew I had seen her recently and it was bugging the hell out of me where it was!

Orbi-Wan Techno

Longer review tomorrow. Definitely among Marvel's best. The design of the film was beautiful, the music was great, and the humor, while sparse, was used well. No gratuitous cameos except for Stan Lee, and a very interesting family/political thriller, to boot.

fumanstan

I had been wondering if they were going to connect to the rest of the MCU or even Infinity War in this, so I was a little surprised there wasn't more there.

That said, I feel like Bucky sure does end up in a lot of after credit sequences

Trevor

Could become my favorite Marvel movie, but I love them all so that’s not saying much.

OldBoy

Gonna see Civil War again and then see this, hopefully Wednesday...

bahgee

Don't know if anyone can relate to this, but Killmonger reminded me alot of Tupac Shakur in the movie Juice.

RoboDad

I agree with most of your comments, except one.

I have to disagree that this is among Marvel’s best. While it was very beautiful, and enjoyable - I enjoyed it much more than The Last Jedi - for me it is not on the same level as The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Winter Soldier, or Iron Man.

I would put it about the same level as Ant Man. A great introduction to a lesser-known character, and one that has good sequel potential.

OldBoy

Ohhh, Tupac was great in that one. Also, loved him and film, Gridlock’d. Would love bluray of that. Fucking fun flick!

Why So Blu?

With the amount of media you buy you could easily swing a Region Free player (You could probably get one for about $99 - $120 nowadays). The German BD of Gridlock'd is great!

OldBoy

Eh, I think I saw it streaming somewhere. I’d settle for that...

Mike86

I liked it overall but didn’t love it. I feel like the hype was a bit too strong with this one and that it’s being built up more due to being the first major superhero film starring a predominantly black cast. It’s much how I felt about Wonder Woman which was also really good but people rode the hype train a bit too strong because it was a woman in a starring role. Before anyone jumps down my throat I do understand the significance in both instances and think both are good films but to me I feel like some let that overhype how good of films they really are in the grand scheme of things. I just feel like I’ve seen better from the genre.

All that aside though I did enjoy the film. I felt like it was a bit slow in a lot of spots and some of the lore seemed to drag on but when it picked up it was badass. Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa may be one of my favorite portrayals of a hero in the MCU. Also Killmonger may be one of the best MCU villains to date. There was also a lot of beautiful scenery and I do give the film credit for being a lot different than we’re typically used to by now. I’ll have to watch it again but upon first viewing to me it’s a more middle of the road film.

mike7162

Just got from a late screening - enjoyed the movie very much. I refused to ride the hype train, and all of the hysteria surrounding this film meant it couldn't possibly live up to expectations.
It was well made,very well acted. Costume design and production design were stellar.
It was very much a standard issue Marvel movie. I felt it was a little too long, especially the 30 minute CGI orgy at the film's climax.

Timber

Loved it. It tugged at my heartstrings both when Killmonger met up with his father and then when he decided he'd rather die than be in chains. I can't believe a comic book movie made me tear up.

I don't know where they'll go after killing Killmonger as he seemed like the heart of the movie, which is strange to say considering he was the villain.

Orbi-Wan Techno

Reminder, this is just MY OPINION. Your mileage may vary.

From my review page, ORBI-WAN GOES TO THE MOVIES:

Black Panther (PG-13) - A sleek, exciting techno-thriller that blends hi-tech and cultural tradition to create something truly special

Oh, Marvel, you sure know how to play the long game, don't you? Going all the way back to “Captain America: The First Avenger”, you planted the seed by introducing Vibranium, the fictional mineral used to create Cap’s amazing shield back during World War II.

The kinetic-energy absorbing material later played a major role in “Avengers: Age of Ultron”, which introduced us to arms dealer Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) and name-checked the mythical techno-rich country of Wakanda. In “Captain America: Civil War”, we were finally introduced to Prince T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), who also wears the mantle of Black Panther. His father, King T’Chaka (John Kani), was killed in the UN explosion that was blamed on Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), T’Challa (and the world) soon learned the truth behind the bombing, and T’Challa agreed to hide Steve Roger’s friend in Wakanda, and use that country’s advanced technology to help Bucky recover from the brainwashing and other trauma he had endured.

After a brief history lesson about Wakanda, its hidden wealth and its resources, “Black Panther” gives us some important backstory about King T’Chaka and his younger brother, set in Oakland CA of the 1990s. Flashing forward, we pick up with the events immediately following “Civil War”, where Prince T’Challa must undergo the ritual of facing challengers to the Wakandan throne. We are introduced to other members of T’Challa’s family, including his mother Ramanda (Angela Bassett) and his genius sister Shuri (played with buoyant enthusiasm by Letitia Wright). Rounding out the major Wakandan players are the head of the Elite Guard Okoye (Dania Gurira) and Wakandan spy Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o).

A robbery at a British museum alerts T’Challa and his sister that Klaue and his crew have stolen a lost sample of Vibranium and is planning the sell it to the highest bidder. The newly crowned Wakandan king travels to South Korea, where circumstances force him and his entourage to team with American CIA agent Everett Ross (Martin Freeman reprising his role from “Civil War”). He also uncovers the dark family secrets that stem back to his father’s visit to California back in the 90s, that tie to a former Special Ops warrior, now a soldier of fortune Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan).

Under the steady hand of director Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Creed), “Black Panther” is an excellent adaptation of a Marvel comic and character that fires on all cylinders. Outside of some lengthy but necessary exposition at the beginning of the movie, and some dodgy CGI during a couple of battle scenes (especially during the climactic confrontation in the film’s third act), “Black Panther” is a beautifully crafted, exquisitely designed, and well-choreographed hi-tech action movie that redefines the label of “superhero” movie that we’ve come to expect. From the costuming, set designs and even the music soundtrack, Coogler and his production crew has set out and succeeded in making Wakanda a super-futuristic world that still reflects African culture and tradition.

We’ve already been promised more stories involving Wakanda, its king and its people, as evidenced in the trailers for the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War, due in May. I, for one, am ready to the next adventure. I am giving “Black Panther” a high 4.5 out of 5 lightsabers.

NOTES TO PARENTS (MINOR SPOILERS): Black Panther is rated PG-13 for comic-book mayhem, stylized fighting and generally bloodless violence. There are a few PG-level profanities scattered through the film. There is no sex, although a couple does kiss a couple of times. A flashback shows the death of an important character. There is hand-to-hand combat as T’Challa fights challengers for Wakanda’s throne. A woman is poisoned and some guards are shot during a museum heist. A close-quarters fight breaks out in a casino, with punching, kicking, gun-fire and spears. The fight turns into a crazy car-chase with some spectacular crashes. A character’s body is covered with hundreds of decorative scars representing the number of people they’ve killed. An American agent is shot and taken to Wakanda to save his life. A member of the Elite Guard is killed. During a coup attempt, different groups of Wakandans battle each other with traditional weapons fused with hi-tech enhancements, but it’s not clear if anyone actually dies. An important character is thrown over a waterfall, supposedly to their death.

MID- AND AFTER- CREDIT SCENES: There is one mid-credit scene and one after-credit scene.

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B5Erik

So I took the family to see BP this morning and we all loved it.

I actually thought the dialogue driven character moments were the strength of the movie, and I found myself not wanting action scenes to come up. I enjoyed them, but I liked the character dialogue stuff more.

The overall look of the film was fantastic, but the CGI was average, at best. It wasn't Jumanji (the original) level mediocre, but it wasn't quite as good as most other Marvel movies (Coogler hasn't directed a movie dependent on CGI, so it isn't suprising that his final decisions and direction in that area were just OK). However, the cast is strong enough and the story compelling enough that any less than stellar CG effects were irrelevant to the quality of the movie.

Boseman is the next Chris Evans. His T'Challa is noble, honorable, soft spoken except when being louder is absolutely necessary - Black Panther is really Captain Wakanda. I can't imagine anyone else in this role as he hit it out of the park. His accent is absolutely perfect, too. I love him in this role just like I love Chris Evans as Steve Rogers or Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark. They've found another winner.

Is this movie as good as the hype? Not quite, but it's close.

I LOVE the Marvel movies, so I put this one somewhere near the bottom of the top half of the MCU. That's meant as high praise.

4 1/2 out of 5 from me.

(In reality, probably a 4 1/4, but quarter options aren't available in the poll, and I think 4 1/2 is closer to accurate than 4.)

B5Erik

Oh, by the way, Angela Bassett is still ridiculously hot. If I were single and met her I would risk personal humiliation (due to crushing rejection) and ask her out. (If she were single, too.) Got Nothin' To Lose. What a beautiful woman!

Just an observation.

Carry on.

E Unit

She’s been that for the better part of the last 20 years. She’s aged gracefully well.

B5Erik

She has aged amazingly well. She's 10 years older than me, but she looks the same age as me. Hell, if she dyed her hair she might look even younger than me! (And I don't really look quite my age, either.)

She just comes across as a classy, sophisticated, intelligent woman - who also happens to be drop dead gorgeous!

Decker

I liked it quite a bit. Thought it was pretty interesting and enjoyed having a comic movie with more realistic stakes -- the future of a country and its culture is, to me, much more inherently interesting than one where thousands of robot wasps decent from the heavens. Thought most of the actors were great; didn't really have a problem with any performance. Liked that it kept in its own world without the need to keep referring back to the larger MCU.

Thought that first action sequence with the trucks in the dark was hard to see and tough to follow. Still don't really get what was going on. The chase out of the casino in South Korea was much better.

DJariya

Since you’re in love with Angela Bassett, you might want to check out her new TV show on FOX, 911. She’s the lead and plays a badass LAPD cop.

Timber

Glad I wasn't the only one. I didn't want to bring it up because I don't always want to be the guy complaining about a movie being too dark but the first 10 minutes or so were unwatchable to me.

Dr. DVD

I just looked her up on IMDB and she's 59 years old. I would NEVER have guessed that from looking at her. What's just as interesting is that I've always thought Chadwick Boseman was a young rising actor about the same age as Michael B. Jordan, but he's actually my age (40) . He's so youthful looking that he was able to pass for a college student about four years ago in "Draft Day".

ultimaton

Black don't crack

0073735963

Outside of really enjoying the movie, since this dealt with should they share all their tech with the world, it just brings me back to the fact that "oh yeah, aliens exist and tried to destroy the world a few years ago". Yet it seems life continues to go on in 99.999999999% of the exact same way in the MCU and Netflix shows as it did pre-invasion. Why didn't they help with New York or immediately after?

Maybe that's too much of the "Star Trek unified world once aliens arrived" naivety in me but it's something that's always there.