The reviews are in today, and Black Panther is sounding like another solid Marvel Studios entry to some — and something much more to others.
So what do the range of positive words (at the time of this writing, the film holds a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes with 51 reviews counted) have in common?
First, absolutely glowing reviews for the production design (Hannah Beachler), costumes (Ruth E. Carter), and cinematography (Rachel Morrison).
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And the supporting cast, including Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, and villain Michael B. Jordan, are consistently lauded as standouts.
While this is mostly a good thing, especially for women’s representation in the world of superhero movies — some feel Chadwick Boseman‘s stoic lead is in danger of being overshadowed by everyone else…
See what critics had to say (below):
Jason Gerrasio, Business Insider: “Like “Wonder Woman” last year, “Black Panther” is a project that fans have been waiting decades to see. And just like “Wonder Woman,” it was worth the wait.”
Liz Braun, Toronto Sun: “Black Panther is every bit as good as you were hoping. Actually — it’s better. A terrific screenplay from Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole elevates this thing way beyond the usual boundaries of the Marvel Universe.”
Jake Coyle, AP: “Just as he did in the surprisingly sensational Rocky reboot “Creed,” Coogler hasn’t reinvented the genre so much as electrified it with a new perspective and a rare talent for marrying naturalistic character development with spectacle muscle.”
Haleigh Foutch, Collider: “Black Panther isn’t just a crowd-pleasing superhero movie (though it is that for sure), it’s a vital moment in cinema history and a heartfelt, thoughtful exploration of the scars of colonialism and the hope for healing.”
Manohla Dargis, The NY Times: “It’s important to the movie’s politics and myth-building that he is surrounded by a phalanx of women, among them a battalion of women warriors called the Dora Milaje. These aren’t moviedom’s irritatingly token strong chicks, the tough babes with sizable biceps and skills but no real roles.”
Robbie Collin, Telegraph: “Black Panther seems to overcome the genre’s long-standing neuroses around creating rounded, exciting roles for women by just getting on with it.”
Alonso Duralde, TheWrap: “Black Panther does such a great job introducing the fascinating supporting characters in his orbit that it can barely find time to dig into its purported protagonist.”
Marc Bernardin, Nerdist: “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 that Black Panther gets so much right, but one crucial thing wrong, is both thrilling and maddening.”
David Ehrlich, IndieWire: “In making a movie that so lucidly allows one group of people to see themselves on screen, Coogler has created the first Marvel movie in which anyone can see themselves on screen. That’s an accomplishment all viewers can appreciate ├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥ one that gives new depth to the overarching themes of the MCU, finally grounding this franchise with the kind of stakes that it needs to support its cosmic scale.”
Jamie Broadnax, BlackGirlNerds: “I left the theater wanting to see this movie at least 10 more times. I already know that Black Panther├óΓé¼╦£s weight in gold at the box office will be in repeat viewings, because we just won’t want this cinematic experience to end.”
[Image via Marvel.]
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