“Baba”. It is the isiXhosa word from the Nguni Bantu tribe spoken by South Africans, Zimbabweans, and Wakandans meaning “father”. It’s one of the first words you hear Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa say to his father T’Chaka (John Kani) in Captain America: Civil War. It is also the first word you hear in Marvel’s 17th entry into their cinematic universe, Black Panther, spoken by a young Erik Stevens (before the Killmonger moniker) to his father N’Jobu (Sterling K. Brown). The pride you hear in both sons’ voices as they address their fathers is so substantial that you can feel it in your soul. That is the pride you feel while watching what could arguably be the best MCU movie to date (fyi, the word pride will be used a lot as you continue reading).
Black Panther is set a week after the events in Civil War, where T’Challa hunted down and apprehended the culprit of his father’s murderer (oh and that whole big fight happened in that movie too). With the mantle of King and Black Panther being handed down to him, T’Challa will face hardships, truths, and revelations that will truly test his mettle and prove that it is “hard for a good man to be a king”.
This movie is beautiful, thoughtful, full of pride, joy, and wonder. Sonically and visually, the movie is emotionally striking. The score and soundtrack is powerful and ethereal. They are rooted in the African traditions, with drums, flutes, and tribal calls littered thematically throughout every musical selection. These subtle sounds are also heard throughout Kendrick Lamar & TDE’s soundtrack, giving audience members who have heard the album an even fuller sonic experience. The movie does not heavily feature songs from the album, but instead uses the right songs at the right moments to blend the traditional and modern together.
This mixture is also carried into the visuals of Black Panther, especially in the costumes and set designs of Wakanda. Natural and man-made structures are harmoniously constructed together in Wakanda as seamlessly as traditional tribal garbs are weaved in with fashionable suits and dresses that could be seen on any runway today. All of it is shown in a vast array of color and vibrancy that shows that Director Ryan Coogler and his crew took ultimate pride in connecting African history and culture with modern day Wakanda in order to make it a real place. I would bet someone is currently looking to book a flight to Wakanda as you read this. (Plus, did anyone else notice Pride Rock from Lion King). The effervescence that exudes from the sounds and visuals bleeds into the work of the actors and actresses. You could feel the pride radiate off of their every being as they interact with one another, and the feeling of family was palpable in the dialogue between them. There was not a character wasted in this film, and I could write a whole other post based solely off their merits (hmmm…). (Pride count: 7)
Chadwick Boseman's portrayal of T’Challa is powerful in more ways than one. Unlike in Civil War, the audience gets to know the man and not just the mantle. The vulnerability, joy, love and pride of being able to be back home leading a people and country he loves is heard in his words and seen in his eyes. While Black Panther may be the star and title of this movie, it is the women of Wakanda who are the heart. Angela Basset is the definition of grace and royalty as T’Challa’s mother Ramonda. Lupita Nyong'o’s Nakia is beauty in true form, not just in her apparent physical beauty, but in her essence, strength, and determination. Danai Gurira’s Okoye, the leader of the Dora Milaje, Wakanda’s all-female royal guard, is the definition of bad-ass and could just as easily hold the mantle of Black Panther. The surprise stand out of this movie (one of many), however, is Letitia Wright’s Shuri. Her youthful happiness, hope, joy, and intelligence is the soul that ties everyone together. Another surprise stand out of this movie is one of the early antagonists(?). Winston Duke plays M’baku, the prideful leader of the Jabari, a Wakandan tribe who removed themselves from the country’s technological advances. Duke shines in every scene that he is in, and makes you want to know so much more about his character and motivations. (Pride count: 9)
The villains of this movie officially break the Marvel villain curse (in how many of the 17 MCU movies do you really remember the villains? I bet I can name the ONE you thought of). You will audibly yell “I love him” whenever Andy Serkis’ Ulysses Klaue comes on the screen. But, of course, it is Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger that may have taken Loki’s title as Marvel’s best villain. There is a reality in his pain and a truth in his motivations. You connect to the reasons in which he does what he does, and even if some of his actions are HIGHLY questionable, there are moments where you root for him more than T’Challa. Killmonger is the device in which Coogler chooses to deliver the plot of Black Panther. He brings to light messages and social commentary that are truly relevant today. What is the duty of the 1% to fight the atrocities that happen across the world, especially those against your own people? Where do you find the balance between nationalism vs. family? Can pride for your own and connection to your identity ever come at the expense of others? Jordan evokes these questions with such a command, confidence, and fun that these messages come across without beating you over the head with them. (Pride count: 10)
If there were one negative to this movie, it was that there were times where you were left wanting more (kind of like this review’s discussion of the characters… but just wait). Specifically, there are times where there was a slight lack of tension or weight. The height of tension in this movie comes in a crucial fight scene in the 2nd act. But at one point in this sequence, there is a sloppy voice over that kills the significance of a key moment. Plus, in my first viewing, the strength and depth of all the supporting characters seemed to overshadow Killmonger’s presence in the movie (he is surprisingly absent from the first half of the movie and I left the theater feeling as if I should have learned more about him). This made the 3rd act and final action sequence between T’Challa and Killmonger seem less suspenseful. But during my 2nd viewing, I noticed that the weight of Killmonger’s interactions in the 3rd act is equal amongst all characters, not just with T’Challa. This made the movie that much more memorable 2nd time around. It was still only the trivially small editing missteps or apparent CGI transitions that were the biggest complaints of this movie.
Black Panther is a nearly perfect movie, bringing weight to all of its scenes, characters, and messages. Most importantly, it creates pride in one's own identity (especially Black identity). There is a reason this review is full of words like pride (12 btw), radiate, effervescent, vibrancy, and power. It is because there have not been many representations of Black and African culture in film that could be described with those words. Yes, there have been other black superheroes and black movies, but almost none of them have been devoid of drama, crime, poverty, prison, or stereotypes. Black Panther is not just a movie, but an event. The first presentation of cinematic Blackness in a long time solely representing hope, joy, and Black Excellence (insert Diddy meme here). I give Black Panther 9.5/10 Jabari grunts from M’Baku. Now I’m off to my 3rd viewing.
(yes Coco technically got a better score, but it is still not a better movie. Retroactively give it a 9 in your head if you want. I’m not changing it.)