Black Panther User Review Thread - Tag Spoilers

[CaptainWagner]

I think the complaints about the tradition are really odd:

1) They severely underestimate the importance of tradition to societies, especially when it comes to choosing a leader. If they drop one tradition because they don't like the result of a challenge, then what comes next? What are the ramifications? It's directly applicable to what happened with the last US Presidential election. The GOP electors COULD have broken with tradition and not nominated Trump. But they knew that would hold massive consequences.

2) There were already people in Wakanda who both had doubts in T'Challa and who were inclined to support Killmonger's worldview (Specifically W'Kabi) So it wasn't a huge job to support him after he won the challenge.

 

[P Supreme]

Movie was good it bothered me that

Spoiler

BP gets killed in his first movie than brought back to life

and also not enough screen time for Killmonger who I enjoyed and

Spoiler

Killing Klaw was a big NO for me as well really wanted to see him as the main villain in the sequel

Battle Rhinos were the highlight for me

 

[BullMcGiveny]

9.5/10. If you know me you know I don't much enjoy things, but every bit of hype about this movie is well deserved.

Top five superhero movie, easy.

 

[squeekness]

Saw this today and was a little underwhelmed. There were lots of things I liked -- the wmen warriors, Jordan's performance, and yeah, the battle rhinos. But instill feel like I've seen it before, that it didn't give me anything radically new. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either.

 

[SomeOldGuy]

Saw this today and was a little underwhelmed. There were lots of things I liked -- the wmen warriors, Jordan's performance, and yeah, the battle rhinos. But instill feel like I've seen it before, that it didn't give me anything radically new. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either.

Just got back and...me too. It’s a solid film but didn’t blow me away. My main thoughts coming out were:

1. I want more M’Baku, way, way more M’Baku.

2. I love Andy Serkis and I love the character of Klau here...but he/it was wasted, would have been better to focus on Killmonger.

3. The big third act fight was too long and not as epic as it seemed to think it was.

4. Really looking forward to seeing more of Wakanda in IW. Wakanda ought to have been a character unto itself and it was just sort of there. (Note I consider this a good thing, it left me wanting more.)

5. If this doesn’t win an Oscar for best costume design I burn down the Academy.

 

[JtheDreamer]

Just got back and...me too. It’s a solid film but didn’t blow me away. My main thoughts coming out were:

1. I want more M’Baku, way, way more M’Baku.

2. I love Andy Serkis and I love the character of Klau here...but he/it was wasted, would have been better to focus on Killmonger.

3. The big third act fight was too long and not as epic as it seemed to think it was.

4. Really looking forward to seeing more of Wakanda in IW. Wakanda ought to have been a character unto itself and it was just sort of there. (Note I consider this a good thing, it left me wanting more.)

5. If this doesn’t win an Oscar for best costume design I burn down the Academy.

It's neck and neck - but I'd still take the Sakaar garb at the moment.

 

[squeekness]

Just got back and...me too. It’s a solid film but didn’t blow me away. My main thoughts coming out were:

1. I want more M’Baku, way, way more M’Baku.

2. I love Andy Serkis and I love the character of Klau here...but he/it was wasted, would have been better to focus on Killmonger.

3. The big third act fight was too long and not as epic as it seemed to think it was.

4. Really looking forward to seeing more of Wakanda in IW. Wakanda ought to have been a character unto itself and it was just sort of there. (Note I consider this a good thing, it left me wanting more.)

5. If this doesn’t win an Oscar for best costume design I burn down the Academy.

I agree the costumes were great and very well thought out. I also enjoyed the music, all those lovely African instruments and rythyms. Fantastic.

 

[Manowar]

This movie was excellent. I definitely don't think Jordan overshadowed Boseman. If anything Jordan overacted in the role. Whereas boseman was more nuanced. You believed everything he said as the character.

Doesn't Jordan overact in every role he is in? Its like he plays the same character in every movie. Always cocky and full of attitude.

 

[DeadStroke]

I give this a strong 9/10, it would have been a 10/10 if it was for the action. I really liked the car chase sequence but everything else was....serviceable and sometimes lackluster. Man, if this movie had some real down and dirty, mean fight choreography like WS and CW, then this movie would've been perfect for me.

It needed a bigger action set piece. However, I'd argue the two Waterfall fights are some some of the most brutal fights in the MCU.

We saw heroes/villains getting real wounds and showing real pain.

Final fight just isn't up to snuff and the last thing can impact what you saw before.

 

[Mike Murdock]

Doesn't Jordan overact in every role he is in? Its like he plays the same character in every movie. Always cocky and full of attitude.

Have you seen him play Wallace in The Wire?

 

[DoomRulz]

Just saw it tonight; 8/10 for me.

It's far from the best superhero movie ever, much less the best MCU film, but it's up there. This is also easily the most visually stunning of the Marvel movies. The set pieces and costumes were amazing. But in terms of storytelling, it wasn't anything to write home about. Winter Soldier and Civil War were far superior in that regard.

Can't believe I'm saying it but Boseman was a bit flat as BP. He wasn't as much fun to watch as he was in CW, but maybe that's because he did't have much screen time, plus, he was a new character to be invested in. His sister was a far more interesting and entertaining character, as was Killmonger. I loved watching Andy Serkis. Man, that guy was having so much fun with his role, he just let loose and it was great!

While I can respect that the vibranium is what Wakanda is built on, I felt like it was too...magical. I mean, is there anything this substance *can't do*? It seemed like it was providing an easy solution to everything.

 

[parkerpete]

I’d give it a 7. Main takeaways:

-set and costume design are on point. But aesthetically I actually think Ragnarok is just as good if not better— anyway keep the color and Kirby designs coming, Marvel!

-action was underwhelming, which affected

-my opinion of T’Challa, who is just not that interesting. I think Boseman is fine, but the character is sorta dull. It would be helped if the effects and direction did a better job of selling him as a physical badass, the way the Russos managed to achieve with Steve Rogers. But too often he comes across as Chadwick Boseman switching places with a weightless digital avatar.

-SPOILER: I don’t understand how Killmonger goes from needing Klaue to escort him to Wakanda, to, uh, not needing him within minutes.

-all the actors are good, but Winston Duke sorta effortlessly walks away with the movie. I went from ‘who the hell is this guy’ to ‘this guy is gonna be a huge star’ in his limited screen time.

-best visual effects in the movie were Lupita N’yongo, who is just the cutest, and Angela Bassett, who still looks damn fine!

-The emotion of the very end, when Shuri and BP touch down in Oakland, is real and I like what the movie was going for in general. But I wish I had been that emotionally engaged when the actual plot was happening.

Overall, the movie is a nice milestone and solid on its own, but massively overrated. Similar to Wonder Woman. Although I’d say it’s superior to that movie, which was decent enough but suffered from a really dismal final act.

 

[Boy Scout]

It needed a bigger action set piece. However, I'd argue the two Waterfall fights are some some of the most brutal fights in the MCU.

No question. I felt every punch.

 

[BaronZemo]

fantastic movie. Not the best MCU movie but that was expected. It will be very difficult for any MCU movie to be the best from now on. Definitely in my top 5. I appreciated the richness of the themes and the tone which was a nice contrast from Ragnarok which i also really liked.

This should put once and for all the asinine trope that "the MCU movies are the same" which was lame to begin with.

Anyway only fans was the dodgy CGI int he final fight and some spots throughout and the action which was good but could have been better. This film has some of the best character work in the MCU. 9/10

 

[chaseter]

Yeah it sounds wrong, but I honestly felt where he was coming from even though I definitely don't agree with his actions. Lets not get it twisted, Kilmonger was not a good dude, but that's where I give credit Jordan's performance the most, because he was able to make that character relate table and sympathetic in a significant way. I just wish we got a bit more of him in the first half of the movie, so he could been developed a bit better.

I had pity for his plight when the twist was revealed, people gasped in my showing, but he was just a real SOB as an adult that I had zero empathy for his death. He took a personal vendetta and warped it into a master race plan. His vision was too grand/warped. Had he left it personal like Zemo in Civil War, I would definitely feel some empathy even though he still made bad choices. Killmonger was just pure evil...especially considering how many people he killed to get those scars.

 

[Spider-Fan]

I had pity for his plight when the twist was revealed, people gasped in my showing, but he was just a real SOB as an adult that I had zero empathy for his death. He took a personal vendetta and warped it into a master race plan. His vision was too grand/warped. Had he left it personal like Zemo in Civil War, I would definitely feel some empathy even though he still made bad choices. Killmonger was just pure evil...especially considering how many people he killed to get those scars.

I had sympathy for Killmonger. I was clearly rooting for him to lose, but it was clear Killmonger became who he was largely due to the failures of many people and the rough life he had. That is not to say he is blameless for his actions, far from it. He had no mental disorders or anything that clouded his judgement or guided his actions. This is why clearly he needed to be stopped. But, it is a shame that it came down to this, as he was someone the system failed. In that regard, I have sympathy for him.

 

[Flint Marko]

Agreed.

As much as I liked MBJ as Kilmonger, I do wish he had maybe played it with a little more nuance as opposed to straightforward anger and brutality. It worked for the role and I still say he's probably, on the whole, Marvel's best villain, but I wanted to know more about him beyond "the system failed me and I'm angry about it".

 

[Quasimod0]

Doesn't Jordan overact in every role he is in? Its like he plays the same character in every movie. Always cocky and full of attitude.

I kinda feel the same way, though I have only seen him in this, F4, chronicle, and Creed. I would have liked to see him tone down the attitude just a bit in this one. I felt like he was just on lvl 9 intensity the whole time and I would have liked to see a little more range of emotion from him in this one.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Agreed.

As much as I liked MBJ as Kilmonger, I do wish he had maybe played it with a little more nuance as opposed to straightforward anger and brutality. It worked for the role and I still say he's probably, on the whole, Marvel's best villain, but I wanted to know more about him beyond "the system failed me and I'm angry about it".

I don't think this role called for nuance. He was a symbolic manifestation over how Africans were wronged by history. If he had been more nuanced, it would have changed what he was symbolically representing, IMO. Zemo was also a symbolic represenation of the sins of the past (using someone others have mentioned), but he was just the sins of the Avengers. Not hundreds of years of history. Further, T'Challa has a calm demeanor and thinks about his actions heavily. Killmonger is supposed to be the opposite of that coin, driven by raw emotion and judgement clouded.

I think Killmonger was portrayed exactly how he needed to be.

 

[Flint Marko]

I don't think this role called for nuance. He was a symbolic manifestation over how Africans were wronged by history. If he had been more nuanced, it would have changed what he was symbolically representing, IMO. Zemo was also a symbolic represenation of the sins of the past (using someone others have mentioned), but he was just the sins of the Avengers. Not hundreds of years of history. Further, T'Challa has a calm demeanor and thinks about his actions heavily. Killmonger is supposed to be the opposite of that coin, driven by raw emotion and judgement clouded.

I think Killmonger was portrayed exactly how he needed to be.

I think that's exactly what the film-makers were going for and on that level they undoubtedly succeeded, which is why I have to commend how much that straight-forward anger worked for the role.

Still though, I can't help but wonder more about who he is and what his journey was like - a fatherless kid growing up in Oakland who made it to MIT and eventually climbed the ranks to become one of the most elite soldiers in the US military? That's a fascinating origin story in and of itself, and I would liked to have seen a little more of it.

Still, this is ultimately nitpicking. What they gave us worked on a number of levels and the fact that I'm complaining that they didn't give me more speaks to that.

 

[JtheDreamer]

Again, I got tired out by the straight forward anger. It was good in spots, but eventually out of place in others (almost like he was in a different movie than everyone else). Ultimately it lacked the necessary range to make him the MCU's best villain.

 

[WBwins]

A truly historic occasion in Superhero cinema that we have all been waiting for. Question does it live up to the hype?

Well no, but that doesn’t mean it aren’t good. There’s a lot to love about this movie.



First off the worldbuilding. Coogler does such an excellent job of making Wakanda feel lived in.You learn about its culture, its people and its history. The Visuals are stunning and the music complements the Wakandan scenes beautifully.



The Story whilst a bit predictable is elevated by the deep message it carries and the incredible Character development. I do agree however with the complaint that the 1st act was a bit slow. Some stuff could have been more streamlined in that Act. For example the entire Oakland prologue could have been a brief Flashback scene somewhere during the movie.



The Character work is awesomely done. It could be argued that this movie has the strongest supporting cast in an MCU film. Okoye and Nakia are Fantastic examples of 3 dimensional characters each exuding their own strength and individuality and I freakin love them. Shuri was hilarious love her relationship with Tchalla. Mbaku was such a hoot to watch an Awesome Frenemy. I’m shocked the reviews aren’t mentioning his great appearance he outclassed Killmonger in my opinion.



Speaking of Killmonger….yeah a hes great Marvel villain. wouldnt say the greatest marvel villain but a great one. Kudos to Marvel for taking such a risky approach to Killmonger. He is essentially a Black Supremacist in a Disney movie.Very Ballsy,very well written. Problem though is this villain needed more screentime and I felt he was rather overacted by Micheal B Jordan.



My Favourite Character was easily Tchalla.We saw all mutilple sides of the Character throughout the movie.Noble King, Humorous Brother,Comppasionate Ruler,Ruthless warrior,Loving Romantic,and All time Hero. His Scenes with Zuri,his Father were my favourite Character moments.



Special mention to Everett Ross. He wasn’t needed but Freeman played him well.



Movie is not without faults. The Action was largely underwhelming and the CGI was one of the worst ive seen in a Marvel film.It is only for these faults that I do not give this movie a perfect score.


Final score-8/10

 

[TheVerbos]

I posted parts of this message in the News and Speculation Thread. I indulge your patience for some of the redundancy.

...

I like this film, but I have to keep it 100.

...This was a decent Wakanda movie, but a so-so Black Panther film. It made me question whether Coogler, Feige, et. al. understand what T'Challa's true power is and why he's appealing.

It's not that he's an African king of a technologically advanced state.
It's not that he's consumed the Heart-Shaped Herb.
It's not that he wears the Black Panther suit.
It's not that he's well-intentioned.

...The preceding elements are constitutive, but in and of themselves don't round the circle.

T'Chall's power is his mind and the orientation of that mind. The man is a genius. He has a sense of preparedness. He's unpredictable. He's shrewd. Calculating.

Where on Earth were all of these traits?

I understand that the character is coming into his own as a king, but he's been the Black Panther for years. Yet, his most impressive and distinguishing characteristics were left by the wayside. Without these traits, he's not the Black Panther. He's bland.
...

Now, I enjoyed the production design, the costume design, and the performances of the cast. I just wish that the script would've struck a stronger balance between "New African King Character" and "T'Challa the Black Panther."

 

[Galactus123]

I saw it yesterday. The movie was good but it could have been better. It was visually great and actors were mostly good. I really like how Black Panther's costume looked. He is a cool looking character. CGI didn't look very good and action scenes could have been better. Michael B. Jordan was great as the bad guy and I liked Martin Freeman. I didn't really remember what he did in the previous MCU movies but he was great in this. Not in my Top 5 MCU movies but still good.

3/5

 

[beenie123]

Easily my favourite MCU film on so many levels and deserves all the praise its getting. This was a purely character and story driven film and it succeeded on that for me. everything else was just a bonus so I'll get unto the least favourite parts of the movie first. The action though good was not on the level of some of the other mcu films and the cgi even though was not nearly as bad as made out(maybe Imax helped) it was probably along with some of the action the only weak points of the movie for me, not bad just the weaker points. Outside of that everything else worked. I'm delighted and the movie is better for it that the story and characters were the strongest part and not the other way round like where spectacle and humor are at the forefront and nothing gets beyond surface level as a result.

I'll get to the story first as I found it the most well-written in the MCU so far. A secluded and proud nation dealing with a new king who in turn has to deal with the history of such nation and everything good/bad that comes with it and use that to inform its future. The balance of race vs nationalism, isolationist vs globalism, tradition vs progress and lastly identity were all touched on in some way in just over 2 hours. All these juxtapositions of themes in the story told brilliantly through and from the characters points of views just elevated this movie for me. I'll touch on the characters as I felt the story was perfectly told through them.

T'Challa-

Spoiler

What a beautifully restrained performance from Boseman. A young king born into royalty, to the most advanced nation on earth. He's initially burdened from the throne, sees his father as someone to aspire to and looking for how he can live up to him. He begins the movie as a leader looking to keep the status quo and keep wakanda as it is so much so that even his love interest can't seem to convince him. He is loyal, dignified, loving, wise, compassionate, humorous, like the poster a couple before said everything you want in a hero.

Not without flaws though as I stated even these traits didn't stop him from initially looking to follow the status quo and keep wakanda hidden. He's been prepped growing up all his life for this moment in royalty and wealth, he's had everything easy for him, his dad dies and he's next in line to become a king so his view of the world is warped from the outset from growing up without the harsh realities of the real world and what comes with it. So when he's faced with someone who's entire being represents that harsh reality he has to do some soul-searching of both himself and his nation's history. I won't go into much but his visits to his dead father between the first and second were the perfect contrast for his arc in the film.

On his first visit he went with pride, honor and an aspirational look of his father. His second with disappointment, anger, determination and a new sense of identity. Most hero's arc deals on them rising to the challenge often physical or finding the heroism in them to beat all odds. This was purely philosophical and mental arc. His arc dealt with a self identity issue of where he saw himself as a nationalist first guided from the way he grew up and his surroundings to one where he had to look at the human side of things when he was confronted by someone who represented the racial side of himself but one not shielded from the realities of the real world. Boseman played him perfectly though the movie.

I'll come back and continue with the other characters as I have so much more to say about them and this film that I don't have time for right now. But I'd like to end by saying that I watched Thor Ragnarok a couple of days before seeing this in theaters and I was happy it was everything that I wanted thor to be and addressed my main issue with most marvel movies. especially in phase 3 which ironically have been the highest rated amongst them. Both movies dealt with similar themes but one director decided to take it more seriously, put more time in crafting a story that had more depth and nuance and put characters and story first before anything else. While the other made one though enjoyable (I can even see why some might find it more 'enjoyable' than black panther), it treated nothing seriously about its story and characters that you ended up leaving not thinking to care about anything that happened in it. So I'm glad ryan coogler (and the russos) to some extent tend to delve into these movies from more than just surface level.