Review of Black Panther (2018) by Lewis C — 28 Feb 2018

All together, Black Panther is a strong film and one of the best MCU movies to date. The strongest elements of the film are the standout characters and the amazing cultural and landscape elements of Wakanda.

Chadwick Boseman is incredible as the lead and easily one of the most relatable and best heroes of the MCU. The story focuses more on his struggles trying to lead a kingdom rather than being a perfect superhero, relying too much in his powers.

This makes him very relatable to the audience. The same goes for Michael B. Jordan's Erik Killmonger, who is arguably the greatest MCU villain to date. Killmonger is one of the best aspects of the film; however, his screen time is limited compared to what it could have been.

The rest of the cast also put in top performances, specifically Andy Serkis, Florence Kasumba, and Letitia Wright. Although the movie is solid overall, it still has its flaws despite the massive hype and expectations.

The action sequences are often weak and the CGI is poor at times. This is specifically noticeable in the final fight. The fight between Killmonger and Black Panther is fought in a dark setting, so it can be difficult to see the action.

Also, the large scale fight is underwhelming with Daniel Kaluuya's W'Kabi constantly switching sides not making much sense and feeling necessary only for the fight to happen. The second half of the movie can feel a little rushed too.

Despite these drawbacks, the overall story and connectable and strong characters make up for the flaws. Black Panther is an enjoyable movie and a solid entry into the world of Wakanda and Black Panther.