Black Panther

It takes something truly special to upstage Spider-Man’s long-awaited integration into the MCU but that’s how I and plenty of others felt when we laid eyes on Black Panther way back when in Captain America: Civil War.

The suit, the mysterious backstory and the promise of a future trip to Wakanda stood out in a film hardly short of stand-out moments.

It’s been a long time coming, amid plenty of press furore, but we have the solo film we’ve been waiting for and the last piece of the MCU puzzle before the forthcoming Infinity War.

We join the action after Civil War (although the post-credits stingers here and in Civil War blur the timeline somewhat) and Director Ryan Coogler gives us a beautiful, animated introductory segment before finally welcoming us into the world of Wakanda. The MCU has given us plenty of great locales but this sits at the top table; brilliantly designed, otherworldly but steeped in tradition which itself could serve as an epitaph for the movie itself.

This sits somewhere alongside the earlier Doctor Strange, Ant-Man and Spider-Man: Homecoming as a genre exercise and character-driven story rather than having too many wider implications for the rest of the MCU. This is no bad thing as we delve into the rich traditions that surround this world but does leave a few things for Infinity War to pick up on in their absence (not least the much-debated Soul Stone.)

It stands as a family-oriented drama big on tradition with a hefty shake (not stir) of 007 as T’Challa continues his long-standing feud with Ulysses Klaue and new villain Erik Killmonger. Michael B. Jordan’s turn has been touted by some as one of the MCU’s best villians and he certainly can be spoken of in the same conversation as Loki, Vulture and Red Skull with his charisma and screen presence. His own backstory is brilliantly realised and his rationale as a 'villain' more relatable.

There’s some truly breathtaking action sequences here and, refreshingly for the MCU, plenty of chunky and satisfying plot twists. There’s more feeling and heart to the movie than some of the early Marvel outings and it feels firmly Phase Three in this regard. The decision to keep Chadwick Boseman’s performance as poised, headstrong and dignified working well as the comedy is left to Letitia Wright as T’Challa’s sister Shuri who basically steals the entire film anytime she’s on screen as a sort of ‘cool Q’ figure in Wakanda.

Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira (in the sort of high-on-the-bill movie casting she deserves after her brilliant performances in The Walking Dead) are also brilliantly written and developed in the cast and it’s only Daniel Kaluuya who is underused as one of T’Challa’s advisors. The full introduction of Martin Freeman as Everett Ross (classically Martin Freeman but with a surprisingly on point American accent) is another strong point as well as Andy Serkis, let loose out of mo-cap, chewing scenery as the brilliant Klaue.

It’s distance from wider events probably sits it below Thor: Ragnarok in Phase Three but its patience and wisdom in amongst the great set pieces elevates it above much of what we’ve seen before in this stellar franchise, although a little more use of the Kendrick Lamar-curated soundtrack wouldn’t have gone amiss.

Another incredible entry into the MCU and featuring one of its best superheroes and villains. Roll on Infinity War.

4 stars ****