Phoenix Productions
New Release - Black Panther (SPOILERS)2/20/2018 Video Link: TBA
Black Panther is a testament to a tired and worn-out formula having new and vibrant life breathed into it. This review will not specifically cover any controversial topics revolving around the film, although you can't talk about it without at least mentioning them. The cinematography in BP is definitely at and even above Marvel's high standards. It's no Blade Runner 2049 (Rating Legendary), but it definitely holds its own in the visual effects and camera work front. The score and Kendrick Lamar soundtrack blended together brilliantly to capture the subculture around BP's intended audience, as well as deliver that signature Marvel goodness. There is a lot to like here. Marvel has the tendency to meet the fundamentals of filmmaking with flying colors. I would classify the fundamentals here about equal with the also excellent Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Rating 10), Captain America: Winter Soldier (Rating 9), and Spider-Man Homecoming (Rating 10). The acting in BP is by far the best in the MCU (although Homecoming's really, really close by), with incredible performances out of...well, everyone. Michael B. Jordan plays a surprisingly strong, yet simple villain in Eric Killmonger, whose motivations and plan are simple yet certain. For the role he is given here, he executes it with the same mastery that made him an amazing lead in Creed (Rating 10). Marvel's tendency towards weak villains seems to be coming to an end. Chadwick Boseman, reprising his role from Captain America: Civil War (Rating 8), is awesome here. But the acting is so on-point from everyone in the cast that he actually gets overtaken by many of the supporting characters, such as Lupita Nyong'o's Nakia, Danai Gurira's Okoye, and Letitia Wright's Shuri. The film's action and setpieces are a beauty to behold. As formulaic as the film may be, it still manages to keep me satisfied and enjoying every moment of it. All that being said, there are some weaknesses in the film that keep it from that coveted rating of 10. The two halves of the film feel almost as if they have completely different directors. The first half really captures the emotion and conflict of the film, but has a disconnect from the second half, which enters traditional Marvel battle territory, with a much more Wakandan vibe. There are very few plot holes that I spotted on first watch, but they are definitely there. Also, the pacing felt very erratic throughout the film, speeding up and slowing down on a dime. This isn't a turn-off for me personally, but it is worth mentioning. While Killmonger's character is fantastic in the role he is given, he could still have been fleshed out far more, and used for far more than just a single movie. In addition, while it is obvious where the end-credits sequence with Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier) lies in the MCU timeline, it creates a disconnect from the rest of the film, which occurs a week after the events of Civil War. Overall, Black Panther rises above the rest of the MCU, and superhero movies in general, to take its throne alongside the other rulers of the MCU: Winter Soldier and Homecoming. Black Panther is my second-favorite MCU film, just behind Homecoming and surprisingly barely overtaking Winter Soldier. Neither film is an easy one to compete with, yet Black Panther does so effortlessly. It is a must-see, especially as a triumph for the black subculture that the film very clearly caters towards. This is very much a Black Lives Matter movie, and in my opinion, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, in this instance, it is absolutely amazing. FINAL RATING: 9
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