BLACK PANTHER
The latest feature based on Marvel
comics, I’m going to be honest and say that I never really collected any
attempts to maintain the title itself but always appreciated T’Challa’s
presence in the Avengers, Daredevil, Captain America, and
other guest appearances he would often make in other titles. His
previous cinematic introduction in the last Captain America: Civil War
film was clear cut perfect in my opinion and I thought he would make a
great addition to the Avengers. But I was also looking
forward to a great starring vehicle for the character.
AS far as action set pieces go, Black
Panther packs a wallop! Featuring a great ensemble cast, we find that
Wakanda is a technologically advanced society well into the next age as
far as scientific advancements go. Utilizing the mysterious
properties of the fictional “vibranium”, Wakanda has made these huge
leaps under the leadership of its monarchal king. And here is where
things get a little interesting, because we quickly learn that the
Wakandans are NOT a united people…. They are five tribes,
separate customs, separate beliefs, and they are as fractured
internally as any other nation. Isolated from the rest of the world,
they’ve advanced with one another but they still hold xenophobic views
to the outside world and toward one another.
The new King, T’Challa, is forced to
come to terms with how he will be King and how he will lead the nation
that now sets on his shoulders. A mission to retrieve the international
arms dealer, “Klaw”, has exposed the King to an enemy kept
in secret for years. An outside force that will push the King to face
the sins of his father’s past, and his responsibilities to his people
and to the rest of the world. Chadwick Boseman is incredibly charming as
the King, endearing and compassionate as a
hero and leader. He shoulders much of the films nuance with the skill
of a veteran actor, playing opposite Michael B Jordan’s “Killmonger”.
Daniel Kaluuya has a smaller, but incredibly intense part to play as
W’Kabi and Lupita Nyong’o is Nakia, T’Challa’s
love interest and a skilled espionage agent in service to Wakanda.
With that said, there were some
pacing issues in the early portions when the film attempts to insert an
American CIA agent (Martin Freeman) to provide later exposition for a
villains introduction. The film could have been better served
with a little less storyline development on the character. It feels a
little like an earlier draft of the script would have used Steve Rogers
in this role, but decided that his presence would be too much of a
distraction and they rewrote a new character in
his place. Andy Serkis’ is brilliantly used as the Villainous “Klaw”
but feels a little wasted by the time of his departure.
8 out of 10. A definite “must-see” for fans of the Marvel franchise of films.
And we need a little controversy-- cuz it feels so empty without me...
A little bit on the film’s drummed up “Controversy” and all that hogwash.
Never, in the history of going to
movies and enjoying movies have I ever seen such a rampant and concerted
effort to ruin a film from two completely separate sides of political
spectrum. From the Neo-Con Right we have a slew of posts warning
of racial violence, threats, and condemnation. From the SJW Left, we
have accusations of “cultural appropriation” and that this movie “Is not
for you!” and so on so forth, yadda yadda-blah blah. Luckily I have
“advantage” of two arms, two separate hands, and
five fingers with one that I can proudly display to both sides.
Spinning in a circle as I walk around, offering both sides of the
political agendas the well-deserved flipping off they richly deserve.
If you are wholly devoted to this
film because of its Cultural Importance, bully for you. If you are
devoted to the point where you feel that you need to tell people that
the film is not “intended” for them… just shut up. A film is intended
for as wide an audience as possible… it’s intended to make money,
entertain, and occasionally make us think.
On the flip side, if you wholly
against this movie because you don’t like “Dah Racial Stuff, bro”… seek
mental health aid. You’re being a narrow, small-minded, arrogant POS and
I don’t like you. I really don’t. I think you’re illogical,
because racism is not logical. I think you’re insane- not just stupid,
but insane.
DEAD SHACK
Here we are with another “Shudder
Exclusive” horror flick that seemed loss in release limbo for quite some
time. It got a little buzz on the festival circuit, but not enough to
really get my engine revving for the release. I think it suffers
a little from Zombie over exposure, but let’s not go there quite yet.
So the story is about a family
heading out to a rented cabin for the weekend… father, son, daughter,
father’s new fiancée, and the sons teenage best friend. This isn’t
exactly the happiest of families- the fiancée is a bit of a lush,
recovering
from a hangover throughout the drive up to the cabin. The father is an
even bigger lush, trying to be “best buds” with his kids and putting in
too much effort with the sons best friend. The sister and brother
constantly antagonize one another, and the best
friend is shy, nervous, and has a serious crush on the sister. They
come across a neighbors cabin and hilarity ensues.
Literally.
Because this plays as horror comedy,
with the three teens wisecracking while coping with the zombie horrors
that they encounter. The key to good horror comedy, however- is to take
the horror seriously and let the characters just BE funny,
which is achieved in this film. The characters are really at risk and
the zombies never become slapstick or amusing. There is real horror on
display and some truly gruesome scenes.
6.5 out of 10.
No comments:
Post a Comment