BLACK PANTHER Review - Ryan Coogler Has Delivered One Of The Best - And Most Important - Marvel Movies Yet
The signs are all pointing to Black Panther being a box office hit when it's released on Friday and it deserves every penny! Hit the jump to read this spoiler-free review of Marvel Studios' latest movie.
Make no mistake about it; Black Panther is an incredibly important movie. The story of these characters is going to resonate with a lot of people out there (of all ages) who aren't used to seeing themselves represented in film or on television but the movie delivers an important message to everyone. That's a big part of what sets it apart from a lot of other comic book adaptations and it also means Marvel's latest stands out as one of its greatest releases to date. Not only is this one of the studio's best but it now sits alongside the likes of The Dark Knight, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Wonder Woman as a masterpiece which deserves serious awards attention.
Director Ryan Coogler and co-writer Joe Robert Cole have crafted an incredible story packed full of great action and meaningful moments which touch on everything from Trump's America to colonialism. Black Panther delivers an impactful tale which will leave you wishing T'Challa was really out there and that his principles could have a similarly positive effect on the world we live in. However, while an awful lot of real-life issues are addressed in this movie, there's plenty of room for epic comic book action which will leave fans of the hero's adventures on the page grinning from ear to ear.
Chadwick Boseman is superb as the titular hero and he expands on his work in Captain America: Civil War in a big way here. It's the women who steal the show, though, with Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, and Letitia Wright the obvious highlights. There's not a weak link to be found in the cast and Michael B. Jordan's Erik Killmonger is not only Marvel's most relatable villain to date but one of its best as well. He's up there with Loki and Zemo, delivering some of the most memorable work of his career. Andy Serkis makes an impact as Ulysses Klaue too and gets to have a lot more fun in Black Panther than he did Avengers: Age of Ultron.
By now, you don't need us to tell you that the special effects are top notch (this is a Marvel movie) but it's the work of cinematographer Rachel Morrison which truly impresses, while Ludwig Göransson's score and soundtrack is A+ and as well utilised here as music in franchises like Star Wars and The Dark Knight Trilogy. Visually, Black Panther is Marvel's most beautiful film yet and Coogler ensures it looks a lot different to the other Marvel Cinematic Universe entries (which is by no means a bad thing). All of these elements add up to make the movie something truly special and the cultural impact it's going to have is extremely significant and that makes Black Panther not just a great comic book adaptation but a vital and unmissable piece of filmmaking.
Black Panther is one of Marvel's best movies to date and Ryan Coogler has delivered something which is going to have a lasting impact not only on comic book fans but an entire generation. Wakanda Forever!
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