Marvel puts together a regal Blu-ray release fit for a king
What I sat in a theater to see Black Panther, you could feel an energy in the room, a palpable excitement and energy that thankfully was matched by what unfolded on screen. Since its release, Ryan Coogler’s entry to the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been labelled a “global phenomenon,” a tag that in this case goes well beyond its (massive) box office take. New on Blu-ray this week, you can return to the vibrant splendor of Wakanda.
First glimpsed in Captain America: Civil War, this African nation was long considered a poor, reclusive, yet noble land. The reality is they are the most advanced people on Earth. Wakanda is a land enriched by the arrival of a meteorite many years ago, delivering unto them the alien metal “vibranium.” Their society respects their history and traditions, but has embraced the advancements this element has offered up, giving them technology that surpasses all others on Earth, riches they conceal from the rest of the world, maintaining a simple facade to protect their interests. After the death of his father, King T’Chaka, heir apparent T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) returns home to assume the throne. After overcoming a tribal challenge, his first true test as king comes in the form of Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis), a smuggler who has previously stolen vibranium, murdered citizens of Wakanda, and threatened to reveal the nation’s secrets. Looking to further line his pockets and challenge Wakanda, Klaue has partnered with a young mercenary named Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), who has his own personal ties to the nation. Fueled by a radical agenda and personal vendetta, Killmonger’s act threatens not just T’Challa’s reign, but Wakanda’s position in the world order.
Marvel ventures typically riff off a film genre; in this case you might label Black Panther as Bond-esque. There’s a thrilling, jetsetting spy quality to proceedings that drives the plot and action beats. At its core, the film deals with more intimate themes such as family, legacy, and overarching ideas that are rooted in colonialism and racism. It’s a deftly wrought film that delivers a blast of entertainment, with some potent political commentary. The conflict between, and ideals offered by, T’Challa and his counterpoint Killmonger mirror ideologies of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Is progress made, or justice served, by building bridges or by clenching your fist? T’Challa is royalty, having been privileged to grow up in a land where isolationist qualities and technological advancements have allowed them to embrace and enrich their culture with little to no interference. Killmonger’s life is built on a fracture between his own legacy and Wakanda, and being tied to the disenchantment of America’s youth. Growing up in an impoverished area of California, then entering military service, he spent his formative years enduring issues of race and witnessing colonial intervention first-hand. Wisely, the film doesn’t frame this conflict as good vs. bad; instead the film serves to challenge T’Challa’s ideas about how to rule, how to do right by his kin, and how to position Wakanda in this new age. It’s Killmonger that drives that reflection, a character that serves as an uncomfortable and potent reminder of where our society is, and what it’s built on.
The Marvel formula is still there underneath, but Coogler has visually shaken off the blandness while managing to work in some very important ideas. He demonstrates how unafraid he is in embracing the cultures that inspired this tale. Wakanda itself is crafted by respectfully drawing from African culture, using the technology available as well as the isolation of these people to showcase a heritage less impacted by the evils of colonialism. It’s a land that feels very tangible and rich; costume and set design marry the traditional with a futuristic spin. Lush visuals and compelling world-building are accompanied by a musical score from Ludwig Göransson and soundtrack from Kendrick Lamar that offer some of the most compelling sounds you’ll hear in a theater this year. Coming shortly after Thor Ragnarok, Waititi and Coogler (along with Gunn’s Guardians series) are evidence that Marvel is finally allowing some distinct creative forces to tell their stories.
Marvel has typically knocked it out of the park in terms of casting, and their success has allowed them to draw in actors of a different caliber. Often accused of lacking diversity, Black Panther seems intent to correct that by drawing on a wealth of talent to populate this corner of its universe. Boseman realizes his regal potential hinted at in his short screentime in Civil War, showing a man who feels the burden of legacy and duty, and also empathy for Killmonger, who despite his destructive qualities, could have been so much more had he been afforded the opportunities T’Challa had. Michael B. Jordan is enthralling, bringing a fire to the screen fueled by charisma and chaos. MVP goes to Leticia Wright, who gleefully portrays T’Challa’s whip-smart younger (and infinitely cooler) sister Shuri. Much has been (rightly) made of how Black Panther showcases female roles, and Wright is ably supported by Lupita Nyong’o, whose role as a love interest is thankfully superseded by her involvement as a Wakandan spy, and also the phenomenal Danai Gurira as Okoye, whose own conflict concerning duty to her king, husband, and Wakanda itself offer up some really interesting moments. On top of this we also have supporting turns from Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Daniel Kaluuya, and Winston Duke threatening to steal the show as rival Wakandan Chief M’Baku.
Black Panther is undoubtedly top tier Marvel, but it’s not without issues. At its core, it does follow much of the typical Marvel formula, so if you have superhero fatigue, there’s nothing truly new here. The other issues are largely technical. The action beats lack the punch that much of the dialogue-heavy scenes deliver. This is a surprise, given how much intensity Coogler was able to imbue into Creed. Unimpressive choreography is marred further by some dubious CGI that feels unfinished, lacking depth and weight. It’s odd that these weaknesses are apparent here when the MCU seems to have this aspect of their films down, but the sheer richness of the rest of the film is the real treat here and overcomes most of the technical critiques that can be laid down.
The Package
Black Panther offers an extraordinarily vibrant and detailed aesthetic, one that is showcased very well in this release. Colors pop. Detail is impressive, from faces to places; from vegetation to costume adornments, the efforts of the production team are very much on show. There are, however, a few darker scenes where the black levels seem a little light. Accusations of Marvel’s previous films being visually bland have been sometimes justified, but Coogler’s effort, much like Waititi’s Ragnarok, truly injects life into the MCU. The Blu-ray release is brimming with special features:
· Director’s Intro: A short intro from Coogler where he briefly touches on the responsibility and pride that came with working on the feature.
· From Page to Screen: A Roundtable Discussion — Delve into the film’s making: A panel of comic book writers and writer/director Ryan Coogler discuss the history of the character and comics of Black Panther, his cultural and political significance, and how the cinematic take draws on that. It’s a great watch that is illuminating and educating.
· Crowning of a New King — Explore the world of “Black Panther” in all its color and complexity: A short but useful look at the character within the MCU, from his appearance in Civil War and the path he has taken since.
· The Warriors Within — Get to know Wakanda’s women and the actors who portray them: The women of Wakanda get their own featurette, and rightly so. One of the strongest components of the film gets a little more detail, focusing mostly on some of the key female characters.
· The Hidden Kingdom Revealed: A nice look at what went into bringing the fictional kingdom to life.
· Wakanda Revealed: Exploring the Technology: The hi-tech gadgets of the film get explored, with details on how vibranium led the nation’s development in terms of its tech, buildings, and even clothing.
· Deleted Scenes: Four scenes include U.N. Meet and Greet, Okoye And W’Kabi Discuss the Future of Wakanda, T’Challa Remembers His Father, and Voices from the Past. You may argue they add some interesting depth to certain aspects of the film and characters too, but their excision makes sense for pacing.
· Gag Reel: A surprisingly short gag reel.
· Exclusive Sneak Peek at “Ant-Man and The Wasp”: A little bit of footage, but mostly interviews and behind the scenes snippets. Reveals little about the upcoming feature.
· Marvel Studios the First Ten Years: Connecting the Universe: A quick recap of the current state of the MCU.
· Director’s Commentary: Coogler pairs with production designer Hannah Beachler to run through the film. It’s an excellent pairing, given the film’s exquisite design work, and their commentary is infused with enthusiasm about the project, and gives a lot of insight to their creative approach.
· Digital download code
There are also two “digital only” extras — Wakanda tourism ads. To studios/Blu-ray publishers: Stop it. If we pay for a physical release, we should get everything included on the discs. Digital only content is a slap in the face of collectors.
The Bottom Line
Black Panther shows how expansive and confident a story and filmmaker can be within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. One only hopes the studio continues to put its faith in storytellers like Coogler and rich, diverse characters such as these. Brilliantly layered and bold entertainment, with a rich set of extras to complement the Blu-ray release.
Black Panther is available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD from May 15th, 2018.