Marvel continues to impress with groundbreaking film

Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore, Wikipedia

Marvel has once again impressed fans with its newest film entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Black Panther.” This film is not only a must see for Marvel fans, but for everyone. With an amazing cast, plot, editing, scenery and costumes, "Black Panther" delivers on all fronts.

With the king of Wakanda, T’Chaka (John Kani), dead after the events of “Captain America: Civil War,” which is completely explained in the film, so no previous Marvel knowledge is needed, his son T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) is now the new king of Wakanda as well as the new Black Panther.

In the film, T’Challa must try to capture a criminal named Klaue (Andy Serkis) who is stealing a rare metal called Vibranium, but he also must fight to stay in power when another member of the royal family reveals himself and challenges T’Challa for the throne.

The film shows an incredibly talented cast of almost all African-American actors and actresses, all of which are amazing in their assigned roles. Especially Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan, who portrayed Erik Killmonger.

Both play their respective roles so realistically with such emotion that it's almost hard to think they are just acting. Not only is the acting for the characters done beautifully, but the design for each of them is also worth mentioning.

Every character had a multi-layered personality that made each character truly their own person, which made everyone in it at least somewhat likeable as a character, even the villains.

The film also gives a refreshing feeling in its fight scenes showing not only skilled martial arts and fighting, but instead of the quick-paced editing that makes it hard to see exactly what’s happening in fights, it gives us some more slow-paced editing and lets the actors excite the audience with their well-choreographed fights instead.

The film also shines in terms of costume design and scenery. All the designs for the Wakanda clothes are based off real African attire and are recreated amazingly with all of the characters in it.

One last feature to this film that makes it so much fun to watch is its soundtrack.

"Black Panther" offers a soundtrack filled with songs that are a combination of both traditional African music with a mix of pop into it to make a whole new type of music that is amazing and works so perfectly with all of the film. The film even brings light onto a few issues in this world with racism, while not sounding too preachy.

Everyone watching the film should make sure they stay seated through the credits for not just one after-credit scene but two. One that has a nice ending to the film and another that reveals something new for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

All in all, this film delivers on all fronts and is a masterpiece that everyone should see this year. With the amazing characters, soundtrack and plot, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in this film.

 

jkirstei@ramapo.edu