Black Panther

I am so tired of Marvel movies and superhero films in general.

But what's this? A Black Panther movie? Alright, you've got me hook, line, and sinker.

I suppose I can put aside my tiredness for one last time, as this Black Panther film is quite a spectacular feat from the outside. Not only is it a Marvel film that's breaking boundaries by letting its director have more freedom overall, it's breaking the racial boundaries by having an all-black cast. So, even though films like Civil War and Doctor Strange have me biting at the monotonous beige duct tape that is superhero and action films today, Black Panther has just enough going for it that actually makes me want to see it succeed...and succeed it does.

There's no sense going into Black Panther expecting the same old Marvel origin story, because we've already seen the origin. The fact that this isn't Black Panther's first rodeo in the MCU benefits it entirely, and besides a quick 15 minute wrap up in the beginning, this is an all-new story that preaches the benefit of worldwide outreach and helping those in need, as well as clever commentary on those who believe they're better than everyone else. It deals with family ties, family lies, and the struggle of being the newly-crowned king of a country you hold so dear, with a little of that "Marvel charm" sprinkled in, but we won't hold that against it.

On support is a slightly different tone than other Marvel films, which entails a lot more of a mystical aspect rather than a technological wonder aspect (though some of the latter is still mixed in). Rather than the titular hero being just about what he puts into the suit he wears, it's more about the background of what the Black Panther means on a more spiritual level. This brings way for some breathtaking visuals courtesy of director Ryan Coogler, which add to the spirituality of it all, rather than just grey and browns that plague every other Marvel film out there.

Another benefit comes from the wonderful cast of characters portrayed by that fantastic aforementioned all-black cast. These are top-notch actors at the top of their game. I waxed poetic about Chadwick Boseman's performance in Civil War, and its definitely still a masterpiece here, especially where he's given some range to work with rather than being a supporting character. The supporting cast, made up of such actors as Lupita Nyong'o as Boseman's love interest, Danai Gurira as his top general, and the fantastic Michael B. Jordan as the villain, Killmonger, really wrap this all up nicely. It's a cast you feel for, the motives are all there, you almost don't know who you want to root for in the end.

However, here comes the time where I have to give out any knocks against the film, and fortunately there's only really one I can center on...

Marvel, for god's sake. Stop. The. F****g. Jokes. A joke is fine here and there, but when you're quoting dead memes and interrupting a good scene and good flow just for a quick gag, it becomes strenuous and just cringe-worthy. I get it with characters like Tony Stark, you kinda pioneered everything off of his wit and everything, but serious characters like these don't NEED this kind of humor to make it work. Everyone gives DC crap for trying to copy your jokes, but honestly you don't do it much better.

Alright, rant over. Besides that, I can't really complain. Black Panther is like a well-oiled machine with the best parts manufactured by a team who knows how to wrap it up well, besides one or two hiccups along the way. People call it the best Marvel film, and I'm unsure about that, but I am sure about its 8.9/10 score.

Next up is Infinity War. I've already got a headache.