A decent movie that falters at getting the basic Superhero stuff right.

Rating: 6/10 (22 February 2018)

The Black Panther
The Black Panther tells the story of T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) the newly crowned king of Wakanda.
A fictional technologically advanced African nation.
T'Challa's throne is challenged by a brutal outsider named Erik Killmonger played by the excellent Michael B Jordan.
He has his own rights to the crown and will stop at nothing to get it.
The safety of Wakandas people are threatened by Killmongers ideas to expose and exploit the resources and technology of their hidden nation.
Only the protector, The Black Panther can stop him.
Not quite the revelation that the hype would have you believe but still a very good entry into the Marvel cinematic universe.
Ryan Cooglers film certainly has its own unique look and flavour that differentiates it from anything that has gone before.
Often a visual feast but there are some jarring effects that will slap the keen eyed audience members in the face.
A particular cliff side scene springs to mind that doesn't best display where the movies 200 million dollar budget has gone.
In many ways The Black Panther is Marvels own take on Batman.
Not quite as dark and serious as the caped crusader but there are some similarities.
He has the coolest gadgets and runs around kicking ass dressed as an animal.
I thoroughly enjoyed Ryan Cooglers movie but unlike his last offering the brilliant Creed, his latest movie isn't as polished.
Black Panther suffers from an overblown first act and a seemingly rushed second and third.
When Killmonger arrives at Wakanda baring a gift that will grant him the right to challenge for the throne the movie begins to pick up pace at an alarming rate.
By doing so it loses focus on what's needed to drive the story and get the audience all roused up.
T'Challa's defeat at the hands of Killmonger is quickly dealt with.
His road to redemption is even more Spritely handled.
Unlike Rocky Balboa's journey back from defeat in Rocky III or Bruce Wayne's climb back from Banes ass whooping in The Dark Knight Rises, T'Challa is merely given a mouthful of herbal tea and then sent back on his way for his second showdown.
Too much time is spent in the first third of the movie with our hero chasing around the weak villain Ulysses Klaue played effortlessly by Andy Serkis.
Such a brilliant actor who is given an underdeveloped villain to play for a second time in the last twelve months.
Anyone who has seen The Last Jedi will know where I'm coming from.
Putting this aside this movie still manages to succeed due to its fantastic cast and superior direction. A shame then that the action scenes aren't dealt with as slickly as I would have liked.
In Civil War BP's introduction was an awesome one.
His fighting style jumped right off the screen. In this movie he seems less accomplished.
The action scenes are more CGI orientated and often look like
in-game video clips from a PlayStation that fail to trick the eye.
There isn't really a single standout moment regarding action that will linger in the memory.
Even a scene with an armoured stampeding rhino falls by the wayside.
Indeed the Black Panther looked more spectacular when taking on Captain America or his roof top brawl with the Winter soldier in Civil War.
Perhaps the greatest fight scenes are those involving The Walking Dead's Danai Gurira.
Her character Okoye was easily the most bad ass of all in the movie. She could be the next big action star proving she's just as capable with a spear as she is with a Samurai sword.
When all is said and done this movie is still a pretty decent one.
A pretty good one in fact.
No movie is perfect. Some are just closer than others.
There's lots to get excited about here. The fantastic soundtrack, the sweeping landscapes. The top notch performances by all involved.
On the other hand it's the basic superhero stuff where this film falters a little.
Fight scenes are a bit messy, CGI is a little unpolished in places and certain characters are underdeveloped and under used.
Still I do recommend you go watch it and I'll even probably buy the Blu-ray.