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*I went to a screening of the newest Marvel film, “Black Panther” and I kid you not, I did not want to leave. I stayed until the very last credit and they almost had to put me out of Disney Studios. I wanted them to show it again. Trust and believe I wasn’t the only one.
Viewers were engrossed from start to finish and were clapping left and right. Kudos to director Ryan Coogler (“Creed” and “Fruitvale Station”), Marvel president and producer Kevin Feige and everyone involved in the effort. You guys got it right.
To say Marvel struck gold with its’ newest film would be the biggest understatement since, well, since ever. I don’t appreciate spoilers, so I won’t give them in this review. What I will do is tell you to get ready for performances that will make you believe in the fictional African nation of Wakanda, scenery that will make you want to visit, gadgets you would like to own and a feeling of pride beyond description
At the recent Black Panther press conference, Kevin Feige shared the decision was made to introduce the Black Panther into the Marvel universe in Civil War, with the intention that the Black Panther would be a standalone franchise and that Chadwick Boseman was the only choice to be the Black Panther. Chadwick Boseman more than held his own; however, for me, Michael B. Jordan, who was also in Coogler’s previous two efforts, nailed it, playing the villain Erik Killmonger. I had so much empathy for him that I found myself wanting him and the Black Panther to find a way to peacefully co-exist. Letitia Wright played Shuri, the Black Panther’s very smart and creative younger sister. Letitia was cute and funny. I liked the way Shuri and T’Challa/Black Panther interacted with each other.
Can we say GIRL POWER? The female characters were fierce. The scenes showing them fighting to defend what the outside world believes to be a third world country, had me thinking when I grow up I want to be like Okoye (Danai Gurira) or Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o). Let’s not forget T’Challa’s loving, royal and regal mom Ramonda (Angela Bassett). Like Angela Bassett said at the press conference, in African nations, there is no king without a queen and she was definitely queenly.
The star studded cast, which also includes Daniel Kaluuya (W’Kabi), Forest Whitaker (Zuri), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Sterling K. Brown (N’Jobu) and Andy Serkis (Klaw) and Martin Freeman (Agent Ross), the only two white people in the film, play their parts to perfection.
Black Panther is 400 years in the making for black people in America. It is a significant milestone in American history, let alone Hollywood history. This film shows that black people are ALL THAT and it is about time. It shows unity, pride, tradition, strength, technological skill, creativity, ingenuity and has a lot of symbolism.
Don’t miss seeing this film when it comes to theaters on February 16, 2018. I personally know people who will be caravanning to see it; some 30, 40 and 50 deep. Moviegoers will be coming out in droves. Wakanda forever!
Marilyn Smith is a Los Angeles Based writer/reviewer. Contact her via [email protected].
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