I'm not saying "Black Panther" is an amazing film- it is a pretty good one yes, on its own, but nothing here screams "superhero movie," and I kinda wish it wasn't one. In the land of Wakanda, where it is explained how the Black Panther gets his panther-like abilities (something about the fake metal vibranium), the people (Wakandians?) fight with spears and clubs- not too dissimilar from the Amazons in last year's "Wonder Woman." But every moment "vibranium" is mentioned I groaned. Why would people, if this metal can heal people from bullet wounds, control spaceships, create holograms, have spears? I'm sure they're indestructible, and they can sometimes charge up and shoot "pulses" out at enemies, but why a spear?! Can the lightsaber from Star Wars also shoot out pulses? No! They use blasters- they're two separate weapons. And there are blasters here, or at least these fist-worn hand cannons that only fire these pulses. There is no clear distinction from what each weapon can do in a fight scene, and just when you wonder "how can they get themselves out of this one" the weapon then absorbs the incoming fire, or something else. Its James Bond influences are felt here, with Shuri (Letitia Wright), the titular kitten's younger sister, acting as Q, giving the purring leading man gadgets to play with and returning quips, but it isn't as rewarding as even the worst 007 flicks. It isn't until the action turns to director's famous hand-to-hand combat that things get good. And they really get good.
Not unlike Ryan Coogler's smash hit "Creed," the highlight of the picture is one of those "one shot" fight scenes, at a failed underground weapon sale goes awry. It is brief, but I cheered for every whip the camera did around badguy number #2 as T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) raced to nab then villain Klause (Andy Serkis). His rule as primary adversary is short lived (no spoilers here, I didn't know he was in the movie until the opening credits began scrolling), an awful, hammy performance that proves why he needs to stay beneath his usual performance capture suit.
Now this is where you can yell "spoilers," but oh well. T'Challa dies. Only he doesn't. Sure, he is flung off a waterfall about 3/4s the way though, secondary characters mourn his "death," and N'Jadaka (Michael B. Jordan) takes the throne (his official "I'm the real bad guy" now moment). Now, if you have ever seen a movie, you know he's not dead- there's too much action that hasn't taken place yet! I never thought for a second he was deceased- oh, and the fact that T'Challa appeared in the latest "Avengers" movie trailer helps. It is a waste of story, giving false motivation to the lead characters, and is a bad attempt at trying to make this an "underdog" movie.
This is where the film's plot grows opaque- N'Jadaka takes takes command of Wakanda by besting T'Challa in ritual combat. But he never really died- he "somehow" stayed "barely" alive, I think one of the tertiary characters called it, so then N'Jadaka never really bested him. Is there no one who checks to make sure the dead guy is dead before hailing a new king?!
Heart-shaped herbs are another murky addition to the story, explained to be what gives someone "Black Panther" abilities. When the bad king takes over and gains the super powers for himself, he burns the rest of the garden where they grow. But why?! A conveniently stolen herb is what gives T'Challa his powers back (making him no longer "barely" alive), why would someone want to burn them? If he takes damage, I'd wager popping an herb or two would patch you right up. I'd keep them in my medicine cabinet. Then again, I'm not a movie villain (I make sense...).
At least the action is good... well, for the most part. This is where the film goes all "Star Wars," on us; the end climax features spaceship (well, they're in the sky but...), a large-scale war of nameless minions, and a duel between the hero and the villain. It is a welcome change of pace for the Marvel franchise- it is a proven way to end a movie, and I didn't care. But the battle between T'Challa and N'Jakada was disappointing- the second they put on their masks, they disappeared into a video game cutscene, with unconvincing CGI and all the cliche's in the book. (Tell me if you have heard this one: the hero takes advantage of something the bad guy overlooks. Big surprise.) The resolution was unsatisfying; yay, the good guys won!? As if we didn't see that coming. If the halfhearted underdog story worked even remotely, then I would be ending the review with a different sentence.
Not unlike Ryan Coogler's smash hit "Creed," the highlight of the picture is one of those "one shot" fight scenes, at a failed underground weapon sale goes awry. It is brief, but I cheered for every whip the camera did around badguy number #2 as T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) raced to nab then villain Klause (Andy Serkis). His rule as primary adversary is short lived (no spoilers here, I didn't know he was in the movie until the opening credits began scrolling), an awful, hammy performance that proves why he needs to stay beneath his usual performance capture suit.
Now this is where you can yell "spoilers," but oh well. T'Challa dies. Only he doesn't. Sure, he is flung off a waterfall about 3/4s the way though, secondary characters mourn his "death," and N'Jadaka (Michael B. Jordan) takes the throne (his official "I'm the real bad guy" now moment). Now, if you have ever seen a movie, you know he's not dead- there's too much action that hasn't taken place yet! I never thought for a second he was deceased- oh, and the fact that T'Challa appeared in the latest "Avengers" movie trailer helps. It is a waste of story, giving false motivation to the lead characters, and is a bad attempt at trying to make this an "underdog" movie.
This is where the film's plot grows opaque- N'Jadaka takes takes command of Wakanda by besting T'Challa in ritual combat. But he never really died- he "somehow" stayed "barely" alive, I think one of the tertiary characters called it, so then N'Jadaka never really bested him. Is there no one who checks to make sure the dead guy is dead before hailing a new king?!
Heart-shaped herbs are another murky addition to the story, explained to be what gives someone "Black Panther" abilities. When the bad king takes over and gains the super powers for himself, he burns the rest of the garden where they grow. But why?! A conveniently stolen herb is what gives T'Challa his powers back (making him no longer "barely" alive), why would someone want to burn them? If he takes damage, I'd wager popping an herb or two would patch you right up. I'd keep them in my medicine cabinet. Then again, I'm not a movie villain (I make sense...).
At least the action is good... well, for the most part. This is where the film goes all "Star Wars," on us; the end climax features spaceship (well, they're in the sky but...), a large-scale war of nameless minions, and a duel between the hero and the villain. It is a welcome change of pace for the Marvel franchise- it is a proven way to end a movie, and I didn't care. But the battle between T'Challa and N'Jakada was disappointing- the second they put on their masks, they disappeared into a video game cutscene, with unconvincing CGI and all the cliche's in the book. (Tell me if you have heard this one: the hero takes advantage of something the bad guy overlooks. Big surprise.) The resolution was unsatisfying; yay, the good guys won!? As if we didn't see that coming. If the halfhearted underdog story worked even remotely, then I would be ending the review with a different sentence.
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