Black Panther

Kathleen Kenney, A&E Writer

“I have seen gods fly. I have seen men build weapons that I couldn’t even imagine,” Martin Freeman, as Everett K. Ross in Black Panther, said. “I have seen aliens drop from the sky. But I have never seen anything like this.”

Black Panther is a fun and enthralling movie based on the Marvel comic series. It follows a fictitious African country, Wakanda, and its newly crowned king, T’Challa, who is portrayed by Chadwick Boseman. T’Challa, who is also the Black Panther, must face an enemy who challenges him and Wakanda as a whole.

Black Panther is riveting. I was caught up in the storyline, kept on the edge of my seat waiting for everything to work out and desperately fearing that it would not. There is an intricate and beautiful blend of ancient tradition with modern technology and issues. A scene detailing the tradition of choosing  a king is closely followed by a scene in which a gunshot wound is tended to.

This blend can also be seen in the music. The music switches from African drums beating in tandem with the character’s spears, to modern beats and styles of music, sometimes in the middle of a scene.  The cinematography, visual effects, and scenery also show the blend between old and new, with beautiful natural waterfalls and countrysides, juxtaposed with bustling cities full of futuristic skyscrapers.

I enjoyed many of the characters. They were wonderfully written and I found myself being drawn into their stories. They all have interesting problems to deal with in relationship to others, themselves, and their country. They have unique personalities that show a variety of people within and outside of Wakanda. All of the characters are wonderfully developed and portrayed by their actors and actresses.

My only complaint is that it took me a little bit to catch on to what was happening and to get into the plot. Some of the opening scenes left me very confused or questioning what was going on, or where some of the characters went. However, I quickly caught up and was pulled into the lively plot.

Black Panther is a fun and interesting movie, and I would happily view it again or suggest it to those around me. I give Black Panther 9 out of 10.

Kathleen Kenney 

A&E Writer