2018 is a big year for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Not only is it their 10th anniversary, and the release of Avengers: Infinity War, a 10 year culmination of everything that has come so far, in one movie, but it has also seen the release of one of the most surprising hits of 2018, Black Panther. I don’t think anyone, Marvel Studios included, foresaw this movie becoming the cultural movement it has become. Starring Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa/ Black Panther, Michael B. Jordan as the movies antagonist Erik Killmonger, Lupita Nyong’o, The Walking Dead’s Danai Gurira, and 2017’s Get Out leading man Daniel Kaluuya, the movie boasts a prominently colored cast which is sadly surprising for a 2018 blockbuster. Marvel seems to have struck gold yet again, crafting an awe-inspiring, cultural, and moderately political piece while still managing to work some of the most intense and grounded action scenes into the film.  Black Panther, being the 18th entry into the MCU, still stands on its own and shows a side never seen in the MCU, and rarely seen in any major release, a primarily colored cast set in the fictional nation of Wakanda. While the movie will appeal to most whether one looks for an action movie or the unique representation of a nation of non-white characters in a position of power, there are still those, even in this day and age that still find that image hard to stomach. If you happen to be in that demographic, I would recommend you stop reading here, because in this review I will be praising Ryan Coogler and Co. for their execution of not only a cinematic triumph , but a cultural achievement.

A film is nothing without a great cast to carry it, and Black Panther has nothing but a great cast. The titular Panther played once again by Chadwick Boseman (reprising his role from 2016’s Civil War) gets to really expand upon the role of T’Challa now that he is the films lead. Returning to the nation of Wakanda, picking up right after the conclusion of Civil War and the death of his father, T’Chaka (John Kani reprising the role), T’Challa is forced into the role of King and has to figure out what that means and how to rule not only a people, but a nation. Boseman brings out the conflict and compassion of being a king flawlessly, giving real gravitas to the hero. What makes a hero if not a equally conflicted and menacing villain? Michael B. Jordan is exactly that as Erik Killmonger. Jordan gives us a performance and character as memorable, if not more so, than Loki. Jordan has said that he has taken inspiration from Heath Ledgers Joker to play Killmonger and it shows. To say more would go into spoiler territory, it is something that needs to be seen and felt to have the full effect, words do not do his performance justice. Letitia Wright plays T’Challa’s younger sister, and Wakanda’s resident inventor Shuri. Letitia is a great addition to the cast, giving us an intelligent, and fierce female heroine, also the primary source of the films humor. Danai Gurira plays Okoye, leader of the Dora Milaje, the kings personal guard. Upon only seeing Gurira in The Walking Dead, it was refreshing to see her given more material to work with, and showing off her action side as well. Lupita Nyong’o plays Nakia, a spy/ ex-girlfriend of T’Challa. Lupita is a terrific actor, whether she does mo cap or live acting. Supporting characters feature Martin Freeman returning from Civil War as Everett Ross, Winston Duke as Wakandan rival M’Baku and Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue.

Clocking in at 2 hrs 14 mins, Black Panther is one of the longer entries in the MCU but it never feels rushed given that there is so much time to spend on our characters, not to mention the beautiful Wakandan landscape and terrific action scenes. Director Ryan Coogler put all he had into this movie and it is all the better for it. Written by Coogler and Joe Robert Cole, the movie has some of the most thought provoking, inspirational and relevant dialogue of most movies, let alone Comic Book movies, further differing it from your typical blockbuster. Ludwig Göransson has crafted a musical score that fits the uniqueness and settings perfectly, ranking it among Marvels best scores with 2017’s Thor Ragnarok score by Mark Mothersbaugh. The movie also features songs By Kendrick Lamar, from the soundtrack of the same name, also produced by Lamar. This soundtrack is a welcome companion to the film, and even sits well as a standalone album. Black Panther, even with it only being February, still seems like its going to insert itself as the movie to beat this year based solely off its political relevance and themes alone. This movie is a must see, whether you see it as a comic book fan or a viewer just trying to broaden your outlook, Black Panther is the movie.

10 out of 10.

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