USA TODAY International Edition
‘Black Panther’ is a shining jewel in Marvel’s crown
A visual joy with insane action, the movie is culturally significant as well.
★★★★ review
Even with rampaging armored rhinos, spiritual dreamwalking and technology that wouldn’t be out of place in a Blade
Runner film, Black Panther still manages to bring an undeniable realness to the Marvel movie universe. Director Ryan Coogler’s spectacular new film rated PG-13; in theaters nationwide Feb. 16) features the most high-profile black movie superhero yet, and also happens to be the best origin vehicle for the mighty Marvel brand since Guardians of the Galaxy.
Chadwick Boseman follows up a memorable Captain America: Civil
War appearance as African ruler T’Challa (and his masked warrior alter ego) with a roaring solo adventure that unleashes James Bond-style spycraft, geopolitics galore and tribal intrigue a la Game of Thrones. Yet Black
Panther is extremely grounded, dealing with the consequences of ages-old colonialism and exploring isolationism at a time when countries are building borders rather than breaking them down.
Boseman lends a winning mix of dignity and swagger to T’Challa, who returns to his homeland of Wakanda for the first time since the death of his father, T’Chaka (John Ka- ni), to take the throne. In ad- dition to having to prove his worth at home, the new king must keep his country’s secret under wraps: The rest of the planet thinks Wakanda is third world, but thanks to the metal vibranium, it’s decades beyond everybody else, with hover ships and other innovations.
Unlike other comic-book films that lean into hero-vs.-hero smackdowns,
Black Panther has a cadre of allies for its main character. Wakandan “war dog” spy Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) is T’Challa’s ex; Okoye (Danai Gurira) leads the Dora Milaje, Wakanda’s allfemale special force; and T’Challa’s sister Shuri (Letitia Wright) is the gadget-inventing Q to Panther’s 007.
On a mission to take down arms dealer Ulysses Klaue (a delightful Andy
Serkis), the good guys run into mercenary Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), who becomes the most formidable challenger to T’Challa’s reign. Killmonger is the standout villain that Marvel movies have sorely needed: an enemy who feels of our time, with understandable motives and a potentially Earth-shaking scheme.
But this superb cast doesn’t have a weak link. Winston Duke is awesome in a supporting role as T’Challa’s rival, M’Baku; Angela Bassett is resplendent as Wakandan queen mother Ramonda; and Sterling K. Brown gives a heartfelt performance as N’Jobu, who has ties to Wakanda’s past.
For black audiences, Black Panther will be as culturally significant in the way it addresses identity, race and gender as Wonder Woman was to female fans. The film ventures to other important places: There are sins of the fathers and redemptions of the sons, heads butt in Wakanda about its role on the world stage, and each character wrestles with his or her place in a bigger picture.
Black Panther is a visual joy, with confident quirkiness, insane action, and the reveal of Wakanda.
Let’s not wait too long for a return trip.