Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o,
Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Andy Serkis,
Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke
"Hero. Legend. King"
I would probably be the last person to stand in line to watch a superhero movie. Although I do catch glimpses of these type of movies on cable TV, when I am cooking or having breakfast/lunch/dinner. There was a lot of hype about "Black Panther", so I got curious. By now, I am sure everybody + his uncle have seen the movie so I won't get into the nitty gritty of the narrative.
The cinematography was sleek and conveyed the spectacular nature of Wakanda. The costume design of the Black Panther, the Killmonger, the Dora Milaje, even the colorful garbs of the elders - was all very vibrant and projected well on the big screen. The set design - from the rustic backdrop of Wakanda with its luscious forested area with amazing waterfalls, to the modern and technologically advanced gadgets used by the Black Panther - all contributed towards a visually stunning viewing experience.
Except for Martin Freeman as a rather 'weak' CIA agent (well I mean his physical appearance and demeanor isn't the usual mold of an American spy, right?) and Andy Serkis in a short lived role as Ulysses Klaue, the villain who stole Vibranium, the entire cast is composed of African Americans in well developed and multi-dimensional characters.
Chadwick Boseman as the Black Panther was believable with his subtle portrayal. Not too flashy as I thought he should be, but he gave T'challa much depth. On the other hand, Michael B. Brown as his long lost American cousin Erik aka Killmonger was flamboyant and filled with rage and angst. I do like the contentious vibe and friction between them. Their fight scene during the 'claiming of the throne' part was skillfully choreographed and one of the best scenes in the film, I believe.
I also salute the presence of strong female characters in the form of Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and even Shuri (Letitia Wright). Gone are the days of helpless damsels in distress, women are now also capable of being powerful, strong and can really kick ass! Woot, woot!
I knew nothing about Wakanda, its rulers, its army guards, its location, its strengths and weakness and its '"enemies". Thankfully, "Black Panther" did a good job in giving viewers a hugely entertaining story line with a good cast, credible dialogue (even invented their own language), enough action filled scenes together with poignant moments. Good one!
