Wakanda Forever!

Black Panther (2018)

Black Panther was very good. It was something special and created something new for existing fans and newcomers the the MCU. It was the first movie since Phase One (2008-2012) of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that didn't feel like the viewer would miss something without having seen the previous installments. It was beautiful and accessible and created a distinct and cool new piece of an already deep universe. As a film, in terms of structure and coherence and acting, it is only second to Captain America: Winter Soldier. Granted, that does not make it my second favorite MCU movie. It is certainly great, but it has stiff competition. Black Panther was supremely well acted and I believe that Michael B. Jordan is one of the top 10 working actors right now. He is masterful and convincing in his role as Kilmonger, but I expected nothing less. Boseman and the rest of the cast are also excellent, balancing seriousness and levity for appropriate times and delivering with an excellent script. On a completely unrelated side note about the actors, Daniel Kaluuya as a jacked soldier is nearly unrecognizable compared to his character in Get Out. The movie wasn't perfect, though. For everything the movie did well with its story, acting, and pacing, it had some serious flaws with the effects. There were some great shots overlooking Wakanda, but some of the action scenes were difficult to see because the hero wears a black outfit and is fighting in the dark. Two significant fight scenes were very dark, which seemed to be designed to cover up some poor CGI. Some of the scenes when T'Challa is in full costume were of only slightly better quality than the fight between Daredevil and Bullseye in the Affleck Daredevil movie. But beyond some of the poor graphics, Black Panther was an excellent movie and a worthy addition to a flourishing Marvel Cinematic Universe. I am very excited to see what is in store for Avengers: Infinity War. I give Black Panther 4 united tribes out of Wakanda's 5 tribes.