Incredibles 2

Year: 2018

Director: Brad Bird

Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Huck Milner, Samuel L. Jackson, Bob Odenkirk, and Catherine Keener
Tagline: It's been too long, dahlings
Synopsis: With Helen (Elastigirl) off saving the world (and saving their chances of getting superheroes legalized again), Bob (Mr. Incredible) watches the kids.

Review

Like all Pixar films, we are first treated to an animated short.  This time it is "Bao."  As always, the animation is beautiful.  And the story is clearly heartfelt and personal.  I got where the story was going, but it didn't quite click with me.  To me it was nice.  To someone else (perhaps a parent) it might better resonate.

And now for our feature presentation ...

It's been 14 years since we met the Parr family, Lucius, and of course Edna Mode.  Was it worth the wait?  My answer is a resounding "Yes!"  While I don't think it fully recaptures the original magic, Incredibles 2 is still a terrific follow-up to a terrific original.

One of the best parts of the film is it has something for everyone.  Is it a comedy? An action film? A story about family dynamics and parenthood? Or a story about superheroes?  Yes, yes, yes, and yes.  It's all of those things and balances them in a way that never gets old or feels forced.  The story does borrow some elements from the original, but it takes them in a fresh direction that allows for further character development as well as the introduction of new characters.

And really, this is all about the great characters.  Edna again steals the scenes she is in.  Lucius is as cool as ever (forgive the unintended pun).  As for the Parr family, we pick them up right where we left them.  They have the same faults and hangups and are continuing to learn.  They are just like a normal family ... only with superpowers.

Another fun aspect of this film is getting to see even more of what Elastigirl is capable of with her powers.  She has some great action scenes.  We also get more of what Frozone and Violet are capable of.  The new supers are interesting too, especially Voyd.

I watched The Incredibles a few weeks ago to get ready for the sequel.  And one of the most apparent things is just how much animation has improved in the intervening years.  Pixar has especially excelled at humans and hair in those 14 years, and it shows.  The original still looks good.  But this one looks fantastic.

Also important, the music is just as good as the original.  And we get introduced to theme songs for Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, and Frozone.

Topping it all off, Incredibles 2 is funny throughout and flat out hilarious at times.  Jack-Jack steals the show with his ever-increasing powers.  But the rest of the family, Edna, and Lucius have lost none of their own wit.  Neither have the film-makers.

The film is rated PG for some mild language and peril.  It seemed on par (on Parr ... get it?) with the original in terms of the action and danger.  The mild language flew past me the first time I saw the movie.  Then it was pointed out in a review I read.  I guess it is the kind of stuff I'm too used to hearing.

If you haven't already seen Incredibles 2, what are you waiting for?  Go see it.

*** Spoiler Section ***

I don't know if there will be an Incredibles 3.  I'm certainly up for the idea if they can come up with a story.  And I hope we don't have to wait 14 years for it.

Without being heavy handed about it, the film does leave open a couple ways for the story to continue.  First off, the Underminer is still on the loose.  We can't leave that unresolved forever, right?  Second, the Screenslaver does pose an interesting question that the film doesn't truly answer.  Why should people simply trust the supers?  Sure, we know that Bob, Helen, and Lucius are in it because they truly want to help others (a fact Rick Dicker acknowledges).  But it's an interesting idea I think they could play around with in another film.

Quotable Quotes

• "Num num, cookie?" -- Bob to Jack-Jack
• "How's Jack-Jack?"  "... He's in excellent health." -- Helen and Bob
• "Combustion imminent?  What does that mean?"  "It means fire, Robert." -- Bob and Edna
• "No firing the baby in the house." -- Bob to Dash and Violet
• "I renounce my renunciation." -- Violet
• "You want me to un-crush?"  "What?  Nobody's ever asked that before?" -- Krushauer and Bob

ISFS

Ocean's 8

Year: 2018

Director: Gary Ross

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Rihanna, Awkwafina, Richard Armitage, and James Corden
Tagline: The plan is priceless.
Synopsis: Debbie Ocean and her crew attempt to pull off a jewel heist at the Met Gala.

Review

Although it's been a while since I've seen it, I quite enjoyed Ocean's 11.  And I remember thinking Ocean's 12 and Ocean's 13 were reasonably fun heist films too.  So I was looking forward to Ocean's 8.

So where does the film fall within the series?  It's been so long since I've seen the previous two, but I'd say 8 is better than 12 and maybe on par with 13.  But it just doesn't have the same panache as Ocean's 11.  Like the necklace in the movie, the film is a really good copy, but it just doesn't hold up under closer inspection.  It's got the look, but not the sparkle.

The heist itself is pretty well thought out and interesting.  The film starts out a bit slow though as Debbie Ocean (Danny Ocean's equally larcenous sister) gets herself paroled, immediately breaks parole, and gathers her crew.  Things pick up when we get to the actual heist.  From there on my attention was held and I enjoyed watching things unfold.

Even though there are fewer characters in this film, it felt like we had less chance to get to know them, compared to Ocean's 11.  Sandra Bullock's character is well done.  And I liked both Helena Bonham Carter's and Anne Hathaway's characters.  But the rest felt a bit flat and perhaps more like stock characters.  James Corden (as an insurance investigator) is fun, but he has very little screen time.

As enjoyable as the heist is, I did find myself picking holes in some aspects of it, once the credits had rolled.  When I was in the moment, I was able to suspend my disbelief ... mostly.  But those holes left a bit of an aftertaste that dampened my overall enjoyment.

The film is rated PG-13 for some adult situations and for language.

If you are a fan of the Ocean's films, or just enjoy watching a clever heist film, I'd say go see Ocean's 8.  It could have done more, but it was still an enjoyable time at the movies.  I'm glad I saw it, though I don't know that I need to ever see it again.  I do, however, want to go back and watch Ocean's 11.

*** Spoiler Section ***

The film has two twists.  The first one isn't much of a twist though.  The promotional material basically gives it away and I had it figured out before I even set foot in the theater.  The second twist I didn't see coming, but then I also wasn't looking for it.  That said, it isn't the least bit surprising.  It is more of an, "Oh, well of course" kind of thing.  But it makes for a nice wrap up at the end.

I'm really not sure the revenge plot would work or that the authorities wouldn't eventually piece everything together.  The evidence they plant against Debbie's ex (Clive Becker) seems circumstantial.  Any good lawyer would be able to point out all the holes in the story.  He had only limited opportunity and very little means to logistically have pulled off the plot he is accused of.

Speaking of Becker, why doesn't he ever turn in Debbie for parole violation?

Quotable Quotes

• "Why do you need to do this?" "Because it's what I'm good at." -- Lou and Debbie
• "These are all Russians." "They're hackers." "Are there hackers who aren't Russian?" "No.  There's barely any Russians who aren't hackers." -- Debbie and Lou
• "How long would it take you to make seven pieces of jewelry?" "Five or six hours." "How long if I told you you didn't have to live with your mother any more?" "Less." -- Debbie and Amita
• "Is it genetic?  Are the whole family like this?" "Literally." -- Frazier and Debbie
• "You would've loved it." -- Debbie

ISFS

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Year: 2018

Director: Ron Howard

Starring: Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Joonas Suotamo, and Paul Bettany
Tagline: Never Tell Him the Odds
Synopsis: The early adventures of Han Solo.

Review

Well, it's no Rogue One, but it's also not The Last Jedi.  Solo is a fun yet flawed film that takes place in the increasingly familiar galaxy far, far away.

I enjoyed the film.  I did.  There are things it does totally right.  But, the film also has struggles at times and falls far short of the film our favorite scruffy looking nerf-herder deserves.  Here are some of my thoughts.

The question on most people's minds going into this film was: can Alden Ehrenreich pull off the iconic Han Solo.  Eh, mostly.  He's not Harrison Ford.  And those are impossible shoes to fill.  But Ehrenreich does an admiral job capturing the swagger of our favorite smuggler.  Put it this way, I more readily believed that he was Han Solo than I believed that Mark Hamill was really Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi.  He does his best and I would not mind seeing him take on Han Solo again.

Although it isn't Peter Mayhew under the iconic fur (hair?) of Chewbacca, everyone's favorite Wookie is still one of the best parts of Star Wars.  And seeing him first meet and become friends with Han is indeed fun and enjoyable.  Does anyone not love Chewie?  (Side note: I enjoyed Han's reaction to learning his new pal's name.)

Yes, Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian steals every scene he is in.  He's perfect in the role.  That said, his droid, L3 is one of the low points of the film for me.  She just annoyed me.  A droids' rights subplot was not really what the film needed.  Mostly though, she seems totally unsuited to the charming and debonair Lando.  The film tries to explain the unlikely duo, but it still just felt off to me.  I can understand why Lando has the banal Lobot by Empire Strikes Back.

I did think that Qi'ra (played by Emilia Clarke) was a fitting addition and a worthy foil to Han Solo.  But their love story was the cheesiest.  Yes, Han and Leia had some pretty cheesy lines.  But Han and Qi'ra were making my eyes hurt from rolling.  I'm no expert, but I don't think people actually talk like that.

As for the other characters, they were ... there.  And they were functional.  In a universe with some of the most iconic characters ever to grace the silver screen, nobody stood out as being memorable here.  But they aren't bad characters either.

The story has a western feel to it, which works for Han Solo.  The story is serviceable in that it gets Han, Chewie, and Lando all to meet each other and assures that a certain Kessel run takes place and that a particular game of sabacc is won by the right person.  But other than that, it's not a particularly compelling narrative.  A smuggler owes debts to a crime lord and has to pull another, bigger heist to pay his debts.  Double crosses ensue.  There's nothing new there.  It's not until the last act that things really pick up and start getting intriguing.

Again, I did enjoy Solo.  But I went with low expectations and it never really exceeded those expectations.  If this film weren't about characters we already know and love, it would fall completely flat and be forgotten.  Fortunately, we do love Han and Chewie (and even Lando).  So I hope that perhaps we do get another future outing with them.

If you are a Star Wars fan, I'd say go see Solo.  It has its fun moments and pays respect to the original trilogy.  Just don't have your expectations set too high.  If you aren't an avid fan of the galaxy far, far away ... well, maybe wait until Netflix.

*** Spoiler Section ***

Perhaps one of the best things Solo does is it answers (in its own way) the argument about whether Han shot first.  Han most definitely shot first.

I appreciated some of the references to the original trilogy, such as Lando telling Han "I hate you" and Han responding with, "I know."  We also see the same guard outfit that is used by Lando in Return of the Jedi.  Apparently they keep that on the Falcon as a disguise.  It was fun to watch Chewie first playing the holographic dejarik game on the Falcon.  And of course we see Han's lucky dice.

There were a few missed opportunities though.  I kept waiting for someone to refer to Han as either "scruffy" or "a scoundrel."  There were a few perfect opportunities.  But no.

It is a little weird that Han is given the surname "Solo" by an Imperial recruiter.  Certainly the name suits him, but would he really keep anything the Empire gave him?

One review I read criticized the reveal of Enfys Nest as if it was supposed to be shocking that this seemingly hardened marauder was a female.  That's not how I took it at all.  To me, the shock of the moment was to see how young she was.  She looks like a teenager, not the grizzled, middle-aged male or female I was expecting.

And then there was the twist at the end.  Who is the secret head of Crimson Dawn?  Darth Maul.  Wait.  What?!  The last time I checked, Maul had been sliced in two by Obi-Wan Kenobi and was tumbling down one of the ubiquitous bottomless shafts that every space station must have.  It was a cool twist, but I left very confused.  I had to go home and do some Googling.  Turns out Maul's whole "not dead" storyline is told in both the animated Clone Wars and Rebels series.  Huh.

Quotable Quotes

• "I hate you."  "I know." -- Lando Calrissian and Han Solo
• "Assume everyone will betray you, and you will never be disappointed." -- Tobias Beckett to Han Solo
• "That's my cape!  It's custom made!" -- Lando Calrissian to Qi'ra, who is using a cape to put out a fire
• "I've got a really good feeling about this." -- Han Solo
• "Throw him to the beast."  "There's a beast?!"  -- Empire Soldier and Han Solo

ISFS

Avengers: Infinity War (Spoiler Free)

Year: 2018

Director: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo

Starring: Everyone.  Or at least almost everyone who has ever been in a Marvel movie.
Tagline: Destiny Arrives
Synopsis: The Mad Titan Thanos is collecting infinity stones.  Can the Avengers stop him before he succeeds and destroys the known universe?

Review

Wow.  Seriously.  Wow.

Since this is going to be spoiler free, there's not a lot I can say.  For now, I'll just hit some highlights.

After 10 years of buildup, this is the epic film we've been waiting for.  It starts with a bam and never lets up until the credits and post-credits scene are over.  Yes, there are times when characters talk and explain things, but it felt like action scene after action scene.  In a good way.

One of the highlights of the film is seeing different characters interact.  The Guardians of the Galaxy are working with the Avengers.  Spider-Man is meeting Dr. Strange.  Hulk is trying to figure things out after his absence from Earth (if you don't know that, you are way behind in watching Marvel movies).  It's great.  And the directors do an excellent job juggling so many characters in a way that feels lively instead of crowded.

Infinity War is by no means a standalone film.  It is banking on the fact that you have been with Marvel for the last 10 years.  While you don't need to go back and watch all the MCU films, you should at least have seen Thor: Ragnarok and Black Panther before seeing Infinity War.  Otherwise, some elements won't make much sense, nor will you be able to fully appreciate other elements.

The film assumes the audience will have some understanding of what the infinity stones are and where they are located.  We are also expected to know who these dozens of heroes are and already care about them.  Because really, it's not their movie this time.  The story centers on Thanos: who he is and why he is after the stones.  And it works.  It works well.  Partly because Thanos is one of those villains who truly believes that what he is doing is the right thing.  He is the hero of his own story, even though he is the villain in ours.

It's not a spoiler to say that this is part 1 of 2.  If you paid any attention at all during the pre-production phases of the film, it was originally called Infinity War Part 1.  But then they decided to drop the "part 1" since the second film will have a different name.  (That title hasn't been released yet since the name itself is a spoiler.)  This is very much a part 1 of 2.  Part 2 will come out in one year.

I thoroughly enjoyed Infinity War.  It was epic.  It was funny.  And it was heart-wrenching at times.  For the most part, it balanced all those things well.

The violence level is what you'd expect.  There was some swearing, from the characters who typically swear (I'm looking at you Star-Lord). 

As with all Marvel movies, there's a post-credits scene.  And it's an important one.


*** Spoiler Section ***
Nope.

Quotable Quotes

• "When you said you were going to open Wakanda to the rest of the world, this is not what I imagined."  "What did you imagine?"  "The Olympics.  Maybe a Starbucks." -- Okoye and T-Challa
• "I am Groot!"  "I am Steve Rogers." -- Groot and Captain America
• "You speak Groot?"  "They taught it on Asgard.  It was an elective." -- Rocket and Thor
• "There's an Ant-Man and a Spider-Man?" -- Bruce Banner (who's been gone a while)
• "There can't be a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man if there's no neighborhood." -- Peter Parker

ISFS

Ready Player One

Year: 2018

Director: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Lena Waithe, Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Rylance, and Simon Pegg
Tagline: A better reality awaits
Synopsis: Wade Watts spends most of his time in the virtual reality world of the OASIS.  When ownership of the world is threatened, Wade and his friends unite to uncover a hidden Easter Egg that will save the OASIS for everyone.

Review

Nope, I haven't read the book.  So I can't make any comparisons.

This is kind of a difficult review to write.  On the one hand, I enjoyed Ready Player One and had a good time watching it.  But on the other hand, I was still disappointed when I left the theater.

The story is that in the year 2045, most people live their lives in the virtual reality world of the OASIS.  When Halliday, the creator of the OASIS, dies, he leaves a treasure hunt of sorts.  There are three keys each with three clues.  These will eventually lead you to a hidden Easter Egg within the OASIS.  Find the egg and you inherit Halliday's fortune and full control of the OASIS (i.e., you become an instant trillionaire and one of the most powerful people on the planet).  The nefarious company IOI (Innovative Online Industries) of course wants to find the egg so they can basically rule the world.  The are headed by money-grubbing, generally-no-fun Nolan Sorrento (Ben Mendelsohn).  Average twenty-something Wade Watts (aka Parzival) wants to find the keys in order to save the OASIS from IOI. 

With me still?  It's a treasure hunt.  Let's stick with that.  And it is a clever one at that.  The story is fun and kept me invested the entire time.  The writing is sharp too, with numerous lines that made me smile. 

Ready Player One also offers an immersive trip inside the OASIS.  It's a world where anything is possible and people can be anyone or anything they want.  Spielberg does a terrific job creating that world and sharing it with us.  It's beautiful.  (Although I'd have liked a bit more color in the palette.)

Apparently, the book is a nonstop series of references to the 1980s.  The movie version broadens that to include references to the 1990s and even later.  Put it this way, there's a scene with the Delorean from Back to the Future being chased down by a Tyrannosaurus Rex from Jurassic Park and King Kong.  There's also another sequence that takes place in the world of a well-known horror movie (I won't spoil which).

As enjoyable as the world and story are, the characters are a bit of a letdown.  They are likable.  But they are also flat.  Even when we are with them in the real world, they never feel real.  Their backgrounds are each summed up in a one minute backstory.  It's easy to root for them, but hard to think they would be suited to become the most powerful people in the world.  The film's villain and his requisite henchman, while interesting, are also flat.

The film is rated PG-13, and the reasons for that are also disappointing.  The level of violence is about the same as, say, a superhero movie.  But there is a lot of swearing.  Or at least it felt that way to me.  Instead of ever using a word like "stuff" or "things," pretty much all the characters used the S word instead.  And it is prevalent.  There is also one use of the F word (in what is meant to be a humorous context).  The movie also has a naked woman, but the scene is carefully edited too not be revealing (this is in the virtual reality / CGI world).  There is also a suggestive dance scene between two characters.  Oh, and there are zombies.  Basically, it's PG-13 for good reason.  I wouldn't call it scandalous, but it's not for kiddos.

Ready Player One is indeed a fun and enjoyable film.  It's crafted by a master storyteller who clearly loves movies.  But the film isn't perfect.  It hearkens back to some of Spielberg's classic blockbuster films ... but it doesn't attain their level.  If you love nostalgic movies and video games, by all means, go enjoy the film.  I was entertained and am glad I saw it.


*** Spoiler Section ***
Who leaves important passwords on a sticky note in plain sight?  Seriously?

I don't know the book, but I feel like there were elements about Ogden Morrow's life and story that were left out.  I kept wanting to hear more from him and why he left and how he viewed the OASIS he helped create but then had reservations about.  What he was doing in the real world might have grounded the movie more.

For a movie about how reality is better than virtual reality, we didn't get much time in the real world.  It was hard to tell how salvageable things are or aren't.  I was actually surprised when police showed up.  It had seemed like law and order had disappeared and resided only with IOI.

Quotable Quotes

• "She wanted to go dancing.  So we watched a movie." -- Halliday (regarding his first and last date with a woman)
• "People come to the OASIS for all they can do.  But they stay for all the things they can be." -- Parzival (aka Wade)
• "You can climb Mount Everest ... with Batman." -- Parzival
• "Try not to destroy everything on your first day." -- Halliday to Parzival about almost accidentally pushing the big red button
• "Is that the holy hand grenade?"  "Yep."  "How much did that cost you?"  "Not as much as it's going to cost them."  -- Sho and Parzival

ISFS

A Wrinkle in Time

Year: 2018

Director: Ava DuVernay

Starring: Storm Reid, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Levi Miller, Deric McCabe, Zach Galifianakis, and Chris Pine
Tagline: Be a warrior
Synopsis: After Meg's scientist father goes missing, three mysterious beings guide her, her brother, and her friend on a journey across the universe to rescue him.

Review

I have read A Wrinkle in Time, but it was as an adult and it made very little impression on me.  I remembered very little going into the film.  Maybe if I'd remembered more of the book, more of the movie would have made sense.  Or maybe I would just have been more disappointed.

During much of the movie, I wished I could wrinkle time and thus get to the ending faster.  I tried to like it, but I was bored most of the run time.  I could simply never get invested in the story or the characters.  I kept waiting for something where I could say, "Well that was at least cool" ... but that never happened.  Nor is the film so bad that I can now make fun of it and point out all its ridiculousness or plot holes.  There are some things that don't make sense.  Some moments feel pointless and drag on.  Overall, it feels like the film version of "it's the thought that counts."

Mrs. Whatsit is -- I presume -- supposed to come across as socially inept and quirky.  But mostly she comes across as unintentionally rude verging on obnoxious.  Charles Wallace is a precocious child genius.  But he too comes across more as annoying (granted, I vaguely recall having that same impression after reading the book).  Meg and Calvin are nice but bland (and even a bit cliched).  Mrs. Who has her quoting schtick ... until she doesn't (I have no idea if that is in the book or not).  And Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey) ... well, she is truly larger than life in the film.  But most of her dialog feels like it came from a book of motivational quotations.

As for the plot, it feels more like a paint/quest by numbers.  The so-called "tests" of Camazotz aren't much of tests.  Throughout the story, Meg is told a lot of encouraging things, but her growth and understanding feel scripted rather than earned.

The film has a few intense scenes that might be a bit much for younger kids.  Michael Pena's character has red eyes, which is kinda creepy.  Zach Galifianakis's character has a man-bun, which is kinda terrifying.  That is all.

I wanted to enjoy A Wrinkle in Time, but I just couldn't.  It is pretty to look at and it has a nice enough theme, but that is about all.  Nothing went beyond the surface for me.  All the film's good intentions fell flat.  If you loved the book, go back and read the book.  As for the movie, I'd say save your time and money for the upcoming blockbuster season.


*** Spoiler Section ***
One of the few things I do remember from the book is "Aunt Beast."  But she, her kind, and her world are omitted from the film.  Considering how long the movie already is at that point, it was probably for the best.  Still, I remembered liking that part of the book, or at least finding it intriguing.

Quotable Quotes

• "You sound like my mother."  "Is your mother a baritone?" -- Meg and the Happy Medium
• "I really don't think we should have brought her along."  "She can hear you."  "Oh."  -- Mrs. Whatsit and Mrs. Which
• "I give you the gift of your faults."  "You know those are the bad traits, right?"  "Are they?" -- Mrs. Whatsit and Meg
• "You look like a person." -- The Happy Medium to Mrs. Whatsit
• "The only thing that travels faster than light is darkness." -- Mrs. Which

ISFS

Black Panther

Year: 2018

Director: Ryan Coogler

Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, and Andy Serkis
Tagline: Long live the king.
Synopsis: T'Challa (aka Black Panther) assumes the throne of Wakanda but is soon confronted by a dangerous threat to him, his country, and the world.

Review

Once again, Marvel has done it.  You'd think after so many films (18 and counting) things would start getting stale in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe).  But Marvel's strategy to bring in different directors and allow them enormous freedom to make the film they want (within certain MCU parameters) has paid off again in the form of Black Panther.

Who T'Challa is and the setup for his film actually occurred in Captain America: Civil War, but you don't have to have seen it to understand the story.  There are enough flashbacks to give the gist of what happened.  Black Panther can stand alone.  Indeed, this film might have the fewest references to other goings on in the MCU.

First off, Black Panther is visually astounding.  That includes both the CGI effects and the real-life look of the film.  Most of the film takes place in the fictional kingdom of Wakanda.  The country is fully realized and immersive.  It's a place rich with history and culture and unlike any place else we've seen, in part thanks to its technological superiority.  (Seriously, is there anything vibranium can't do or be used for?)  The costumes and production design are top notch throughout.  And the ancestor plane (or whatever they call it) is gorgeous.

Black Panther is also really funny.  It's not humorous in the same way that Thor: Ragnarok is (and that one still has my vote for funniest Marvel movie).  The humor in Black Panther is much more droll and springs from the characters themselves and their relationships.

The main thing that makes Black Panther stand apart from other Marvel movies (or even other superhero movies in general) is that it has something to say.  There are some deeper themes than we are used to.  There are themes of responsibility and accountability, the importance of some traditions and the dangers of others, the nature of loyalty and where it properly rests, and the effects of choices.

T'Challa is in the middle of all those themes as he tries to decide what sort of king he will be.  (He might have done well with a brief pep talk from Ben Parker: "With great power comes great responsibility.")  He is also faced with the consequences of his forebears, their choices and their traditions.  In so doing, he must reevaluate his place in the world and Wakanda's place in the world.

All the while, the villain -- Erik Killmonger -- has his own vision of what Wakanda's place in the world should be.  And while his vision is terrible and terrifying, we as the audience can understand why he feels/believes the way he does.  Killmonger is one of the most fully realized, and thus interesting, villains in the MCU.  He manages to be sympathetic on one level, even though you realize how dangerous and heartless he truly is.

Other characters also have to deal with the various themes as they evaluate and reevalutate their beliefs and loyalties.  Black Panther is a film about becoming and growing.  For example, there's a scene where Shuri (T'Challa's sister) calls Ross a "colonizer."  At first, it annoyed me, because it seems in direct opposition to what T'Challa says about not being responsible for the deeds/choices of his father and ancestors.  But I think that was the point.  Nobody is perfect in this film.  They all have their weaknesses and blind spots.  The film is about recognizing errors and working to correct them.  It's about learning to take personal responsibility for things.  T'Challa learns that.  Shuri (and Ross for that matter) still have much to learn.

As groundbreaking as the film is, it's by no means perfect.  And while the characters and locations are new and exciting, when you get right down to it, the plot is very much the same as most superhero films.  There aren't any big twists or surprises that we haven't seen elsewhere.  If you are OK with the superhero formula (which I mostly am), it isn't a problem.

That said, the need to further the plot led to a loss of some characterization.  Because such-and-such needed to happen, some characters changed their loyalties at an unbelievably quick rate.  I won't spoil anything.  It just felt like some characters were shoehorned into roles that fit what the story needed.  Similarly, Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) is sure quick to accept everything he sees and everything he is asked to do, especially given it is for a country not his own (and a country that has been lying to the world for ... I'm not even sure how long).

The film is rated PG-13 for the typical Marvel superhero level of violence.  There was some swearing.  And one character gives another character "the finger" (which was totally gratuitous).

Black Panther is a fun and enjoyable film.  But I'm not sure it quite rises to the level of a great film.  Visually it is amazing in its world-building.  Thematically it has much to say.  But in the end, it's a superhero film following a tried and true formula.  Still, it's a great time at the movies and an interesting addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  It's definitely worth seeing on the big screen.

As with all Marvel movies, there's a mid-credits scene and a post-credits scene.


*** Spoiler Section ***
I think the next order of business for King T'Challa is to work on some of the laws and statutes of his kingdom.  Seriously, a murderer should not be able to come in, "kill" the king, and take the throne and have everybody just be OK with that because it's legal.  You have a murderer on the throne.  There's a problem with that.  And there's a bigger problem with then serving him because he's legally the king.  Yes, that is part of what the movie is about, thematically.  But c'mon Wakanda.  Kill the king = become the king is not a good succession strategy.

I wondered if they would somehow acknowledge Bucky Barnes (aka the Winter Soldier).  I liked the oblique reference ("Another white boy to fix"), but I'm glad he also got a scene after the credits.  That of course takes us one step closer to Avengers: Infinity War.

Quotable Quotes

• "Did he freeze?"  "Like an antelope in headlights." -- Shuri and Okoye about T'Challa
• "Delete that footage." -- T'Challa to Shuri
• "You get to decide what kind of king you will be." -- Nakia to T'Challa
• "Does she speak English?" "When she wants to." -- Ross (about Okoye) and Okoye

ISFS