Black Panther (2018)
T'Challa, after the death of his father, the King of
Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African
nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king.
Director:
Ryan CooglerStars:
After the events of Captain America: Civil War, King T'Challa returns
home to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of
Wakanda to serve as his country's new leader. However, T'Challa soon
finds that he is challenged for the throne from factions within his own
country. When two foes conspire to destroy Wakanda, the hero known as
Black Panther must team up with C.I.A. agent Everett K. Ross and members
of the Dora Milaje, Wakandan special forces, to prevent Wakanda from
being dragged into a world war.
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
16 February 2018 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Pantera Negra See more »Filming Locations:
Pinewood Atlanta Studios, 461 Sandy Creek Road, Fayetteville, Georgia, USA See more »Company Credits
Production Co:
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Dolby Atmos | Auro 11.1 | Dolby Surround 7.1 | DTS (DTS: X)| 12-Track Digital Sound (IMAX 12 track)Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.39 : 1
Lupita Nyong'o has been one actress who has been in movies for Disney,
Marvel, and Lucasfilm. She starred in The Jungle Book (2016) and Queen
of Katwe for Disney, Black Panther for Marvel, and Star Wars Episode
VII: The Force Awakens and Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi.
Ryan Coogler's eagerly awaited film based on the Marvel Comics character stars Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong'o, Michael B. Jordan and Daniel Kaluuya.
With uncanny timing, Marvel takes its superheroes into a domain they've never inhabited before and is all the better for it in Black Panther.
There's no mistaking you're still in the
Marvel universe here, but this entry sweeps you off to a part of it
you've never seen: a hidden lost world in Africa defined by royal
traditions and technological wonders that open up refreshing new
dramatic, visual and casting possibilities. Getting it right where other
studios and franchises — they know who they are — get it wrong, Marvel
and Disney have another commercial leviathan here, although it will be
interesting to see how it plays in certain overseas markets, where
industry traditionalists say black-dominated fare sometimes
underperforms.
Thinking way ahead, producer Kevin Feige
and the Marvel brain trust introduced Black Panther into their superhero
mix in 2016's all-star Captain America: Civil War, with the
intention of building yet another franchise. This seems like a natural
idea now, but back in July 1966, when Stan Lee and Jack Kirby birthed
the character in Fantastic Four No. 52, he was the first African superhero to appear in American comics. (Historical footnote: the Black Panther character debuted three months before the Black Panther Party came into existence.)
Although director and co-writer Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Creed)
sets his framing action in Oakland, California, the film's heart lies
in Africa. In one of the tale's beguiling inventions, the beclouded land
of Wakanda keeps the world away by posing as one of the planet's
poorest countries and restricting visitors. In fact, it possesses
ultra-advanced technology and has a gleaming metropolis that co-exists
with a bustling street life and natural wonders on par with anything in
the world. What makes this possible is a mined substance called
vibranium, a source of power akin to nuclear that Wakanda has always
seen fit to keep to itself.
The wonder and novelties of the society
are fun to behold, the streets full of life, the inhabitants happy. All
the same, this enlightened land remains a monarchy, and with his
father's death, T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) becomes king in a
spectacular coronation ceremony. There to support him are his noble
mother, Ramonda (Angela Bassett); younger sister Shuri (Letitia Wright),
a smart-mouthed scientist who's next in line for the throne; chief
counsel W'Kabi (Daniel Kaluuya), head of security for a tough border
tribe; mentor Zuri (Forest Whitaker), the king's valued spiritual
leader; and the Dora Milaje, an independent-minded security force
comprising shaved-headed women, notably its best fighter Okoye (Danai
Gurira) and the rebellious-minded Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o).
Then there's M'Baku (Winston Duke), who's
opposed to T'Challa's technological beliefs and challenges him to a
mano-a-mano slugfest, which takes place in a lagoon surrounded on one
side by towering rocks from which concerned citizens can watch and a
sheer cliff on the other. The physical contest is intense and, while the
outcome cannot be in doubt, it effectively sets up another such match
later on.
Does this sound like your everyday Marvel film so far?
It certainly doesn't look like one. Along
with the color of nearly everyone's skin, there are vistas, costumes
and settings that keep the images popping off the screen, even though
this Marvel offering is not in 3D.
Black Panther also sets itself
apart via an ideological divide between two camps within the Wakandan
leadership. The royals and traditionalists, including T'Challa, insist
that vibranium must remain exclusively in their own possession, as it's
been the secret of their success since time immemorial. A minority
believes that this extraordinary substance should be shared with the
world, or at least with the kingdom's struggling African neighbors, in
the interest of the common good. It's a potent community and political
dispute that will presumably continue to inform the series in further
installments.
In the meantime, a deliciously nasty bad
guy, a white South African gangster and arms dealer named Klaw (Andy
Serkis, in a role he introduced three years ago in Avengers: Age of Ultron),
is keen to get his hands on some vibranium himself, which involves an
unexpected side trip to Busan, South Korea, for a prolonged sequence
heavy on chases and tough-guy action but rather more conventional than
the rest of the film. The other Caucasian of any note is Martin
Freeman's CIA agent Ross, who's actually a self-deprecating good guy.
But the biggest threat to T'Challa and Wakandian stability comes from
another mercenary, an imposing African with the conspicuously
on-the-nose name of Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan, the lead actor
in both of Coogler's previous films), who is strongly convinced that
vibranium should be available to all people (and that he should profit
by dispensing it).
Much intense drama and action follow; there's a real and sustained
sense of jeopardy for the kingdom, and the fighting significantly
involves the female warriors, who are very cool indeed. Just as he
staged the boxing in Creed with intensity and invention, Jordan
handles the more extensive face-off stuff here with freshness and brio,
building to a tensely stirring climax. For such an action-packed modern
film, it's surprising how little blood figures into this combat epic. A
brief return to Oakland at the end brings things full circle, while the
usual Marvel post-credits teaser reminds us that its next offering will
be Avengers: Infinity War, coming May 4 and in which T'Challa/Black Panther also appears.
The actors are all seen to very good advantage. Boseman certainly
holds his own, but there are quite a few charismatic supporting players
here keen to steal every scene they can — and they do, notably the
physically imposing Jordan, the radiant Nyong'o and especially Wright,
who gives her every scene extra punch and humor.
Thanks for reading and have fun with this massive blockbuster, in cinemas February 16, 2018.
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