‘Black Panther’ Review Round-Up: A Relevant, Richly Realized Marvel Masterpiece
The embargo for Black Panther reviews is up, and the praise is nearly universal for Marvel Studios' latest film.Ryan Coogler’s ambitious, expansive film with a majority-black cast is promising to be a cultural phenomenon, with early tracking suggestingBlack Panthercould break box office records. Anticipation is high for the comic book movie starringChadwick Bosemanas the titular hero, which has already outsold all other superhero moviesin pre-sale tickets, and accumulated even more buzz withrapturous social media reactionsto early screenings. Could the movie possibly live up to the hype and set the standard for more diverse blockbusters to follow?
Below, see what critics thought in our Black Panther reviews round-up.
Black Panther Reviews Round-Up
Black Nerd Girls' Jamie Broadnax calledBlack Pantherthe “greatest film Marvel Studios ever made” and a veritable masterpiece:
The Rolling Stone’s Peter Traversdoubled down on that “masterpiece” praise, gushing overBlack Panther’s “history-making” and “rousing Afrofuturistic adventure”:
Mashablecritic Angie Han raves about the film’s rich visual texture, which “builds a world you’ll want to return to again and again”:
Indiewire’s David Ehrlich calledBlack Pantherthe “best Marvel movie so far,” praising the magnetic villain played byCreed’sMichael B. Jordanin a “swaggering” performance:
Varietycritic Peter Debruge agreed thatBlack Panther"feels unlike the other Avengers one-offs, featuring a superhero with purpose":
The Hollywood Reporter’s Todd McCarthy praised Coogler’s “real and sustained sense of jeopardy” that he brings in his directing style, grounding what could be a fantastical superhero movie:
USA Today’s Brian Truitt joined in on the praise, singling out the supporting cast, each of whom have such strong arcs that they can easily have their own-spin-off movies:
ForPolygon,Joelle Monique doubled down on the effusive praise of the diverse, talented cast, calling Wright’s Shuri “a revelation” who “steals every scene with her bright smile and perfect comedic timing.":
Black Pantheris the best Marvel film thus far. Aside from the incredible representation and the gorgeous visuals, the story is terrific. I have never cared for a villain the way I care for Michael B. Jordan’s Erik Killmonger. Standing with feet shoulder width apart, he always has his hands clasped in front of him, and he never looks at anyone straight on unless he intends to end them. Killmonger is as attractive as he is intimidating. But Jordan wasn’t hired for just his sex appeal. That sharp eye and wounded heart shine through a tough exterior to illuminate a real human being. He is the crown jewel of an incredibly wealthy project.
Black Pantherwasn’t without its criticisms, with reviewers likeEntertainment Weekly’s Leah Greenblatt pointing out that battle scenes often drag and that the abundant use of CG can be too obvious. But those were minor complaints Greenblatt had with the film:
Marc Bernardin withNerdistsaid the superhero movie “took his breath away,” but gets one crucial thing wrong:
The film does deal head-on with issues of race, subjugation, and oppression in ways both heartbreaking and hilarious. The final coda is as direct an address to the xenophobia at home in our current administration as that which you’ll find in any film this year, let alone a giant Marvel movie. As a nerd and as a black man, I’ve been waiting for this movie for my entire life, whether I knew it or not. The fact thatBlack Panthergets so much right, but one crucial thing wrong, is both thrilling and maddening.
What it is. And what it means.
New York Times' Manohla Dargis praised the film’s “great flair and feeling” with which the movie builds its politics and mythology:
Black Pantheris not without its flaws — its overabundant use of CG and the frenetic battle scenes are noted as common pitfalls of any Marvel movie — but it soars above and beyond its Marvel Studios counterparts thanks to a richly realized world and overwhelmingly talented and diverse cast. And it’s an important film, never shying away from the tumultuous politics from which it takes inspiration. The rapturous praise is universal — the film already boasts a100% on Rotten Tomatoeswith 45 reviews logged. CouldBlack Panthermaintain its momentum as the best-reviewed Marvel movie ever? Time will tell. You can seeBlack Pantherin theaters onFebruary 16, 2018.
