It’s just one great film after another.
When Marvel Studios promised to bring their characters to life in the big screen, no one imagined it to be this grand and breathtaking. “Black Panther” can not only boast of having the first black superhero in center-stage spotlight, this Marvel stand-alone is also the first superhero film to ever get a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars.
We know you’ve seen the film and loved it. Black Panther immerses its viewers in an action-filled tension, never failing to add slivers of humor and ultimately tell an empowering narrative. Every scene of this groundbreaking movie, that’s been nominated for a total of seven Oscars categories, is better than the last. It immerses you into a curious and otherworldly heritage.
Each second thrives with gripping intensity, forcing you to hold your breath in their every move. And, if you ever need a Black Panther refresher, here’s a rundown of everything that made us say WAKANDA FOREVER:
1. “Don’t freeze”
Sure, King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) may have a sleek one-of-a-kind bulletproof suit made out of Vibranium, but that doesn’t mean he’s not immune to falling for a femme fatale (there are so many in this film, btw). His elite army general, Okoye (Danai Gurira), warns him not to be carelessly stupefied at the sight of his love, Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o).
2. Kinetic suit
King T’Challa’s Black Panther suit emits this purple glow because of its recent functional upgrade where the Vibranium absorbs all forms of kinetic energy—from punches, exploding bombs, to a barrel of bullets. It charges the suit to radiate a strong blast at command. It’s just too bad we didn’t see this suit in action that much in “Infinity War.”
3. Ceremonial fights
During Wakanda’s crowning rituals, its five tribes can choose to challenge the heir to the throne to prove that he is indeed worthy to be king. Part of this ceremonial fight is the stripping of the mythical powers of the Black Panther, and we must say T’Challa can do more than survive a fist fight.
4. Ancestral plane
“One who has not prepared his children for his death has failed as a father,” the late King T’Chaka told his son when they meet in Wakanda’s ancestral plane, right after his coronation. The fact that Vibranium-mutated herb flowers can make the living journey to a soul realm, once made us believe that there’s more to the nation’s beliefs of myth and magic. We know by now that the elusive Soul Stone was guarded by the Red Skull in Vormir, but wouldn’t it have been cooler if the same meteor that crashed in the heart of Wakanda actually contained it instead? It would’ve made Wakanda a more mystical place in the MCU.
5. The guy on the chair
According to Ned from “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” all superheroes must have a guy in the chair—the tech genius, reliable navigator, and code-cracking extraordinaire. But for “Black Panther,” the guy on the chair is a woman—Shuri (Letitia Wright), who is actually Black Panther’s younger sister. Shuri is easily a crowd-favorite, breaking the princess archetype and the string of cinema’s damsels in distress. This woman is a badass. And although still treated as a child, she’s a genius with infinite cutting-edge inventions, making the element of Vibranium seem like it’s the blood that flows within her.
6. White guy
“Another broken white guy for us to fix,” Shuri said as CIA Agent Ross (Martin Freeman) was being wheeled in her lab. As the movie’s second after-credit scene reveals, Bucky is well and alive—and he’s now the Avengers’ White Wolf.
7. Wayward tech
Despite seeing all the technological marvels in Shuri’s lab, Agent Ross is surprised by the probability that the Vibranium-rich nation has hoverboards. For goodness sake, Agent Ross—they even consider guns as primitive!
8. Holographic driving
Wakanda has the coolest gadgets in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. Yes, it actually beats Iron Man’s inventions—sorry, Tony. Shuri has developed an accessory that when attached to any vehicle allows it to be maneuvered even if you’re thousands of miles away, like, say, in a Wakanda tech lab.
9. Two kings
Even with his radical ways, Erik “Killmonger” Stevens (Michael B. Jordan) is hard to be classified as a villain. Each of Wakanda’s candidates for the throne represents each of their father’s ideals and legacy, and Erik’s end-goal is to share Wakanda’s prosperity across Africa, and help their kind across the globe. Having two kings also means seeing two Black Panther suits on the big screen!
10. Wakanda forever!
The best sunsets are said to be in Wakanda, and we can’t help but agree. This beautiful nation that is hidden from the rest of the world gives the Marvel Universe not only another genre to explore, but gives it a balance of modernity and heritage that while is shown in a fictional setting, is deeply rooted in reality’s aspirations.
Photos courtesy of Marvel Studios
BLACK PANTHER IS NOMINATED FOR BEST PICTURE, BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE, BEST ORIGINAL SONG, BEST COSTUME DESIGN, BEST SOUND MIXING, BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN, BEST SOUND EDITING. THE 91ST ACADEMY AWARDS WILL AIR ON MONDAY, FEB. 25, AT 9 A.M. IN THE PHILIPPINES.
REAL PEOPLE, REAL STORIES. WE COVER PERSONALITIES WHO ARE WORTHY OF MAKING THE HEADLINES. PROFILES, LIFESTYLE, CULTURE, ARTS, LITERATURE, ENTERTAINMENT—TELLING STORIES THAT MAKE US FEEL AND CELEBRATE LIFE. WE ARE ALIKE. FOR STORY PITCHES, PERSONAL ESSAY, LITERARY, AND ART SUBMISSIONS: EDITORIAL@ALIKE.COM.PH