Black Panther

"You get to decide what kind of King you're going to be"

     Here we are again: another year, another installation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This year brings us to the African nation of Wakanda. The last entry before Avengers: Infinity Wars (if you've been living under a rock, it's the alluded culmination of the entire MCU thus far) tackles a new, more culturally impactful story in the standalone tale of T'Challa, son of T'Chaka, and his heroes dilemma of deciding who he is going to be to his people as a king, and what kind of king to the rest of the world. The movie is built by a deep personal story in relation to a nations collective identity, and with a very strong supporting cast, a great musical score and refreshing cultural aesthetic, reinforces the notion that you're no longer in Kansas, and this isn't your average Marvel movie.

Source: Deadline

     The film opens with a brief prologue explaining the origins of the MCU's precious vibranium (the strongest metal on earth, which comprised Captain Americas now discarded shield), which was sought after by Africas 5 tribes. Through the appearance of the first Black Panther based on the Panther God Baast, the tribes unite under the banner of Wakanda, where through the development of their abundance of vibranium disguise and isolate themselves from the rest of the world, developing new tech for their own personal protection. The visuals in this are sublime, with the perfect blend of tribal art and historical architecture fused with cutting edge future technology. If there was a new era of what would be considered "steampunk", I would call it this.

Source: The Cheat Sheet

     A flashback introduces an important detail I won't specify, but with the emergence of a man named Kilmonger (Michael B. Jordan) Wakandas history and the rest of the world are threatened, and it's up to T'Challa to right those wrongs. Chadwick Boseman holds it down as T'Challa/Black Panther, embodying all of the confidence, cool, intensity, and insecurity that a hero is expected to have. Michael B. Jordans Kilmonger shines as bright as Boseman, but in a much different context. On the female front we have T'Challas former flame Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), who serves well as T'Challas conscious and as a formidable ally altogether. The Walking Dead's Danai Gurira (Michonne) kicks the most butt as Okoye, the head of Wakandas special forces. It's T'Challas little sister Shuri (Letitia Wright) who steals the spotlight however. Smart, witty, funny, grounded, charming, she's the complete package. Andy Serkis returns as one-armed arms dealer Klaw from Age of Ultron lore, and Martin Sheen as Agent Ross, for continuity reasons of course.
     For me personally the films greatest strength is its sense of history and tradition that the film establishes right from the beginning. This is a place that's been around for a long time, with traditions and positions passed on over time. But is a cultures identity defined by its history, or by what it seeks to do presently through that history? This and other ethical questions are addressed in the films quick 2 hour and fifteen minute length. And while T'Challas heroic dilemma is somewhat conventionally told, it's told well through the history of his people, and even his family, rather than focusing on a particular aspect that might not hold as much levity.

Source: The Mary Sue

     This is it people. This is the last one before the ultimate climax of the ultimate movie franchise (and yes, it does set up Infinity Wars, briefly). And this is definitely a palate cleanser for this wrung out cinematic universe.

9 black panthers out of 10

But that's just my opinion. What do you think? Comment below and be part of the conversation!