REVIEW | Black Panther (2018)

We’ve seen gods fly and aliens drop from the sky. But you’ve yet to see anything like this.

From New York City, to the far reaches of the Galaxy — and now, an entirely new society.

With the passing of Wakanda’s former king, the crown now falls upon his heir — T’Challa — to govern and defend the tribes of his advanced and resourceful African nation against the likes of the notorious arms dealer, Ulysses Klaue, and the formidable and ferocious Killmonger. The walls of Wakanda will be tested from both sides as T’Challa leads his people towards a new future — from his throne as king, to the outside world as the Black Panther.

---

*Minor spoilers for Black Panther ahead*

As we breach a decade’s worth of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it’s safe to assume that their movies are now (and may continue to be) designed more towards the breadth of their standalone properties instead of its depth.

A notion that certainly makes or breaks the viewing experience moving forward from their Phase-3 film entries, since they’re arguably (and understandably) adopting the model of television series — spanning episodes, trilogies, and character arcs.

And for someone that will not be picking up a Marvel comic book in the foreseeable future — they have certainly displayed a tremendous effort in translating the Black Panther to the big screen. With the film bringing a cohesive and cultural addition to the multi-tiered MCU cake.

Introducing an entirely new world, primed and ready to be immersed with a whole new cast for you to invest in, while also developing a narrative to not just weave them together — but to ultimately connect with its marvellous, mystical, and galactic counterparts.

---

Make no mistake, the star of the show is Wakanda in all its fictionally limitless glory — and her king is your guide in midnight armour. With the film successfully conceiving, clothing, and conveying an entire civilisation and its ecosystem — it fantastically spearheads the way for a culturally rich setting, filled with conceptually creative design, all merging together with cleverly crafted environs.

Black Panther is a movie that holds its own with the self-sustaining substance of Wakanda, its tribes, and the living breathing land its people reside in. As Director Ryan Coogler provides the least possible distraction from the overflowing world of the fictional continent.

With a plot that’s enough to sink your teeth in but not too much to chew to exhaustion; characters dense enough to empathise with yet careful not to outweigh the talent of other cast members; and of course — the Marvel-patented action sequences that make you go “Whoahhh” (from initial trailers and beyond).

Despite the glaring racial significance associated with the film, and the parallels drawn against a recent and familiar tale of ‘evil’ uncles and devastating dethroning — Gods of Egypt (2016). The movie still manages to reserve a degree of uniqueness enough to set it apart, showcasing an entire dimension yet explored that teases what’s more to come — or the prospects of what lies ahead for the franchise.

With a wealth of films [justifiably] devoting their focus towards breakneck action simply for the sake of action (like your merchandising machine — the Transformers franchise), Black Panther has achieved a commendable balance that slides the king of Wakanda into our world seamlessly while pulling us right into theirs.

A challenge that even the assassin-filled streets of John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) stumbled to match (but still great in its own right).

---

Whether you’re jaded by the countless iterations of superhero [origin] movies, being mass-produced at an alarming rate — or experiencing the intimidation of the ever-expanding comic book culture that’s storming the globe.

Rest assured that the Black Panther’s silver screen debut is fun, fierce, and filled with moments to revisit for the casual viewer.

As the parable of Icarus is infinitely adapted through countless forms, in several scales and throughout all of time — Black Panther is a great revival when it comes to tales covering the morality of monarchs fused with the trials of tradition.

Even if The Lion King (1994) did it first, there’s no way you’d miss a tribal-toned, regal-raved, superhero spectacular. Produced and plated by one of cinema’s biggest players today — and quite possibly for decades to come.