Michael B Jordan IS Erik Killmonger!

[Iceman]

I can see where some of these issues with Killmonger are coming from but this theatricality of the character seems like a conscious choice to me rather than a performance issue. Of course not everyone will necessarily like that choice but if it's conscious then it's an issue with chosen style (which most seemed to like a lot) rather than performance weakness. But yes, I can see the angle that some of you are talking about.

 

[kguillou]

Its funny, I don't see it as theatrical, I see it as charismatic. He lights up a room with his presence and energy, he commands screen presence. And his lines well written and had weight to them, he never devolved into generic supervillain "I WILL DESTRROOY YOU WONDER WOMAN!!" territory. Thats theatrical to me.

He was a loveable evil bastard. Which is why he was an awesome villain, of the best. My only nitpick is I don't think the movie quite nailed his motivation 100%. They got the point across adequately, but I think the movie could've done a better job at making us feel sorry for him and maybe, even for a moment, side with him, like Magneto or Loki, or Harvey Dent or Doctor Octopus. I never once felt bad for the guy, he kept pontificating that he was trying to fight for the oppressed and yet, without hesitation killed his own brothers and sisters. Magneto was an extremist but he genuinely cared for his kind and would lay his life on the line if need be, I don't think Killmonger was nearly that selfless.

 

[JtheDreamer]

Now he's lovable?

 

[terry78]

Loki ironically has more female fans than Thor ever did. So that tells you something.

 

[RockSP]

Remember when Loki "died" in 2 Thor movies?

...and was revealed to be alive in both those movies...?

[BLACKOUT]Marvel aint wasting Killmonger. We didn't see the body. I think Zemo and Killmonger would be a sick villain team up.

I'm calling it now, T'chala put Killmonger in one of those cryo coma tubes. He conscience won't let his cousin die. [/BLACKOUT]

Anything's possible, I suppose. I don't think they'll go that route, though.

 

[Raiden]

I'm holding out hope that Kilmonger might return in the sequel somehow...

Spoiler

Maybe a tribe smuggled away his dead body and preserved it and then use Vibranium and other magic medicine to bring him back to life?

Michael B. Jordan is too awesome to just be an one-off villain.

 

[Knight-Tale]

Killmonger was the real hero of the movie
All hail the true king of wakanda who won the title fair and square
He wanted to help black people and liberate those in bondage around the world

Although T'challa did come around to his way of thinking showing that he and his father were wrong for the majority of their lives.

Hopefully they bring him back
Although his death and last line was very powerful
Everyone clapped in my theater when he said it

 

[Shikamaru]

I actually found him even more disturbing than Magneto. I couldn't pinpoint why, then I realized it's because he's an everyman.

He's not what *moviegoers* think of when they hear "everyman", but that's why he's the way he is. Most think of an everyman as a kid from Brooklyn or Queens. Point out there's more of them outside New York, they go "Hmm you're right, when's that kid from Kansas getting a good movie? ". But a kid from Oakland is still very much an everyman. And by the time he made it to the big screen, he can't help but be angry and desperate.

Even more disturbing, he's introduced to us as a [BLACKOUT]nerd, soldier, and guy searching for a piece of his culture.[/BLACKOUT] He rocks the blue. He believes in freedom. He's so familiar, and yet so distant.

 

[tamron]

And him being more physically imposing, just the scars & body language before he challenged the king, you kind of knew [BLACKOUT]T'Challa was royally screwed. It reminded me of Apollo Creed vs Ivan Drago[/BLACKOUT]

I agree with samsnee, it felt more inspired by Rocky vs Clubber. As with Lang, Killmonger was all anger and venom off of his perception that his opponent was fat, happy, and entitled. Heck, Erik's rant before the fight was a wordier version of Clubber's predictions of "pain" and "dead meat".

I don't feel like Drago had that level of motivation, he was more a tool of Soviet backers. He was there to fight with no agency of his own. Erik and Clubber certainly had agency. If anything, Klaue thought Erik to be a Drago only to be availed of that opinion.

Killmonger returning is kind of his gimmick in the comics. The Mandarin has brought him back; The Resurrection Altar has brought him back. I think the only reason we wouldn't see Killmonger again is if they don't have a good idea and it would water down this appearance. But considering that source history, how well his adaptation was received, the film's success, and MBJ and Coogler's tight working relationship, I'd be absolutely stunned if this is it for the character.

Even if not in the physical realm, Killmonger stands as a weaponized ideology that forced T'Challa out of his comfort zone. There are smart ways they could depict his presence still looming large.

 

[Y0nder]

I agree with samsnee, it felt more inspired by Rocky vs Clubber. As with Lang, Killmonger was all anger and venom off of his perception that his opponent was fat, happy, and entitled. Heck, Erik's rant before the fight was a wordier version of Clubber's predictions of "pain" and "dead meat".

I don't feel like Drago had that level of motivation, he was more a tool of Soviet backers. He was there to fight with no agency of his own. Erik and Clubber certainly had agency. If anything, Klaue thought Erik to be a Drago only to be availed of that opinion.

Killmonger returning is kind of his gimmick in the comics. The Mandarin has brought him back; The Resurrection Altar has brought him back. I think the only reason we wouldn't see Killmonger again is if they don't have a good idea and it would water down this appearance. But considering that source history, how well his adaptation was received, the film's success, and MBJ and Coogler's tight working relationship, I'd be absolutely stunned if this is it for the character.

Even if not in the physical realm, Killmonger stands as a weaponized ideology that forced T'Challa out of his comfort zone. There are smart ways they could depict his presence still looming large.

yes, a better comparison indeed. I yield

 

[EmperorCommodus]

Killmonger was the real hero of the movie
All hail the true king of wakanda who won the title fair and square
He wanted to help black people and liberate those in bondage around the world

Although T'challa did come around to his way of thinking showing that he and his father were wrong for the majority of their lives.

Hopefully they bring him back
Although his death and last line was very powerful
Everyone clapped in my theater when he said it

But he wanted to murder innocent children?

 

[Mistah K88]

Killmonger's plan was cartoony yes, but no more cartoony than other super villains (lets face it...it's a comic book movie, every villain who is worth something is going to be over the top).

His last line, does anyone take that as him rejecting his Wakandan heritage? While some people may pinpoint him targeting "oppressors". There was some hints of Africa vs. the diaspora, or more specifically Wakanda vs. everyone of African decent with him. Him mentioning how there are people who look just like Wakandans being oppressed made me feel that he thought of Wakandans as thinking that they are better than everyone else and had to be knocked down a notch. That may simply be my interpretation however. He even made sure to burn the rest of the heart shaped herbs to make sure there was no future kings after himself.

Another thing that made him interesting is that he and Nakia had the same goal as a base. Using Wakanda's resources to try to help the rest of the world. However Killmonger's vision was to pretty much cause fear, destruction, and chaos and pretty much become those that he depised, where as Nakia had a different approach to using Wakanda's resources to help the rest of the world.

 

[Iceman]

Its funny, I don't see it as theatrical, I see it as charismatic. He lights up a room with his presence and energy, he commands screen presence. And his lines well written and had weight to them, he never devolved into generic supervillain "I WILL DESTRROOY YOU WONDER WOMAN!!" territory. Thats theatrical to me.

He was a loveable evil bastard. Which is why he was an awesome villain, of the best. My only nitpick is I don't think the movie quite nailed his motivation 100%. They got the point across adequately, but I think the movie could've done a better job at making us feel sorry for him and maybe, even for a moment, side with him, like Magneto or Loki, or Harvey Dent or Doctor Octopus. I never once felt bad for the guy, he kept pontificating that he was trying to fight for the oppressed and yet, without hesitation killed his own brothers and sisters. Magneto was an extremist but he genuinely cared for his kind and would lay his life on the line if need be, I don't think Killmonger was nearly that selfless.

I see it as both theatrical (not a bad thing) and charismatic rather than natural like Vulture and I prefer it as is even if I can understand the reservations of some. He's one of the MCU's best villain performances for me. Dumb, simple lines like that aren't really reflective of theatre lol; it's kind of the opposite. That is a classic movie blockbuster line. t:

I agree with your second paragraph. They could have made him more sympathetic. His motivation was solid but they could have shown more conflict earlier as he comes off as more of a villain to me than a genuinely conflicted Magneto for eg. Anyway, I am very happy with the villain and MBJ's performance. It really took this film to another level.

 

[Loki882]

You should come hang out where I grew up. 77th and Spring in LA or City Terrace or Echo Park or 7th and Alvarado or Inglewood or....

Well, anyway, glad things are going well for you.

Heck I'm a White guy living in America and even I can see the problems/inequality (because my hometown has quite a few POC living in it). And then there's the guy who's currently sitting in the White House. And I know that other countries have issues as well.

So yeah, perhaps things are cool in some small country in Europe somewhere, but the same isn't even true for the rest of Europe, let alone the world.

 

[Visualiza]

Interesting take by Wisecrack.
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[CB Fan]

I loved how the character was written, wasn’t completely in love with Michael’s acting choices but didn’t hate it either.

 

[DeadStroke]

I loved how the character was written, wasn’t completely in love with Michael’s acting choices but didn’t hate it either.

I kind of see what you're saying, but seeing it a 2nd time changed my perspective.

I always saw him as the guy from the comics. A Harlem dude. So I expected a bit more suave and cool to him. The character was cartoony, but a bit different.

However, when really thinking of him as a guy who grew up in Oakland and went on to the military he really is that guy.

Great performance
[YT]Hnn70r2SY_M[/YT]
[YT]KUgO7NtgNF0[/YT]

 

[fancyarcher]

Yeah, I think Jordan's performance fit the character quite well. He wasn't playing a manically bad guy, he was just playing an average guy, with really bad intentions.

 

[Aximili86]

Killmonger was the real hero of the movie
All hail the true king of wakanda who won the title fair and square
He wanted to help black people and liberate those in bondage around the world

Jesus Christ...

 

[Raiden]

Checking around Youtube and it appears that this movie has opened up real talk among some African-Americans and their perception of Killmonger. To some of those people, Killmonger is actually a savior and the real hero of BP because of his intention, even if his goal will produce death and destruction. It seems to be that Coogler has written more than just a superhero movie, but one that will have discussions for many years to come.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Jordan for me as written and in performance was a very good villain and used well. He was all menace, swagger and cold blooded single mindedness which is all I can ask for when speaking of the hero's opposite number. Now I kinda think he's missing an element of having a couple of truly memorable lines but his actions speak louder than words. Nothing ever undercuts his menace and the character is shown at all times to be committed to his path and plan. Are there obvious issues, blind spots in his supposed plans for the world? Yeah. Did anyone see Winter Soldier and ever REALLY thought about Hydra's plan? This is often the case with villain plans that are about more than blowing the world up physically.


What worked for me beyond just him being a true threat to Panther on multiple levels was that he was a product of the sins of Wakanda and Panther's own father. In a way this film did far better with a similar story about the hero's father not being all he thought he was than RAGNAROK. There we also learn about dark misdeeds in the past of Odin but it's not dwelled on with any depth and isn't given any real room to breath as a plot reveal so it all comes off really weightless. Here it's woven into many aspects of the film. My own theory is T'challa when first confronting Erik is not in the right mind set to meet the challenge that Kilmonger is as a focused, highly trained world class killer. Panther had been rocked to his core mentally and maybe even spiritually so to speak. His head wasn't in the game and this worked greatly to Kilmonger's advantage who was having no such internal struggle what so ever.

 

[StarLord]

 

[Kane52630]

You know the Raider fans are making new Killmonger outfits for the new season.

 

[samsnee]

Killmonger definitely had some great lines and presence but if you think about it, he didn’t really have a lot to do. He had the museum scene. Then disappears for half the movie until he shows up in Wakanda. Then takes over, has a meaty scene with his dad, then it’s the finale. I would have liked one scene showing him actually convincing more Wakandans why they should follow him.

He showed a lot of charisma in his first scene and wish it had carried through to the Wakanda scenes.

 

[RockSP]

Props to the casting director for young Killmonger. He was believable as a child version of Jordan...same jaw, lol.