I’m sure you have heard of Black Panther, the latest installment into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And if you are anything like me, you have been anxiously awaiting its release for about a year now. If you have not heard of Black Panther, where have you been? Like actually, what have you been doing? I’m, 1. concerned that you’re not getting enough outside exposure, and, 2. sad for you.
Basically the most important thing you need to know is that you should run, not walk, to Black Panther. As a poor college student I can confidently say that it is the best $10 I have ever spent.
If you’re thinking about dipping out of the article early, I’ll give you a few alternate titles for Black Panther that sum it up. They could include: How to Be Shook; All of These People are Beautiful; Black Excellence; Ok Kendrick I See You; Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan Just Took Their Shirts Off; and Everyone Has Spears Here.
You’re probably asking yourself what the big deal is.
Well, don’t worry for one second because I’m going to tell you why it’s so fantastic.
Okay, first and foremost, THE CAST. Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong’o, Forest Whitaker, Daniel Kaluuya, Sterling K. Brown, to name a few. The cast of this movie is one of the most stacked that I have ever seen, and everyone brought their A game. The term shook is an understatement when referring how beautiful and talented this cast is.
Second, it takes on an important emphasis on highlighting social injustices that are present in our society today. The film’s villain Erik Killmonger, portrayed by Michael. B Jordan, is motivated by injustice that he sees around him—the systematic oppression of black people. He is trying to harvest Wakanda’s (the fictional crazy-secret-wealthy African country in which the movie takes place) resources and power in order to distribute wealth and weapons to the poor and oppressed so they can fight back. I, too, am shocked that this is an ACTUAL plot of a Marvel movie. Thank you, Marvel.
I know that most of the time in films you’re supposed to hate the villain, but I found Killmonger to be incredibly relatable. I felt for him. This could also have something to do with the fact that I have a very strong crush on Michael B. Jordan, but really who doesn’t? I appreciated how his motives came from the fact that he wanted to help the poor and less fortunate. It is really incredible and refreshing to have a villain that, at his core, has a positive motive. He was genuinely trying to help people. He may have gone about it the wrong way, but the thought and the sentiment were there.
The soundtrack, the soundtrack, the SOUNDTRACK. Kendrick Lamar has done it again. The soundtrack, which he produced and features in, is incredible. Every song is a BOP. During the movie when they songs would come on, I couldn’t help but tap my toe. They are dripping in trademark Kendrick Lamar hip-hop swag and style. Even if you do not go see the movie (mistake), please, I literally beg you, listen to the soundtrack.
We all know a good Marvel film comes with action. Black Panther provides no shortage of epic action and intense fight scenes, but it also brings a style, elegance, and poise unseen in other Marvel movies. Black Panther oozes sophistication. It is honestly mind-blowing to me how just cool this movie is. I have few words that describe it better than cool, awesome, and wow-I’m-shook.
With its beautiful cast, thought provoking messages, Kendrick Lamar-produced soundtrack, and action filled charm of a Marvel movie with a little something extra, Black Panther is a new kind of Marvel film. It bleeds style and action like any other Marvel film, but unlike other Marvel films, Black Panther focuses on issues that are real in our everyday lives as well and that is really important.