PG-13 | 2h 14min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi | 16 February 2018
Director: Ryan Coogler
Stars: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Sterling K. Brown, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker.
While I was in the theatre, I felt more enthusiastic about the film than I did by the time I got home.
I am impressed by the way Wakanda women were portrayed. That was a terrific creative choice, since some say that a society should be measured on how it treats its women/children/least able citizens (that's a terrible grouping). Clearly Wakanda does not treat women as less able. But the rights of passage to be king involve a test of physical fighting power; that eliminates the slender tech-developer sister from contention. Do you really want the strongest, most physically agile guy ruling, or maybe someone with wisdom and foresight?
The idea that an oppressed people were subjugated because they didn't have the weapons to fight back is an interesting one. Surely the current proliferation of guns in America, and their prevalence in poor neighborhoods, and their use being mostly within those neighborhoods, would seem to dispute that. I certainly thought about the Jews while the Nazis were in power. You also need the will to use the weapons and an organized plan of attack, which requires leadership. Erik Killmonger's rise to the throne presented the possibility that such leadership had arrived.
The scene (mid-credits) of the king appearing before the UN to offer Wakanda's technology to the world was an interesting tease, but sounds like a cerebral sequel, not an action-packed one. In fact, it sounds more like a TV series, one that I'd like to watch. The post-credits stinger involved some Marvel character not in this film; per an IMDb synopsis: "Shuri continues to help Bucky Barnes with his recuperation." I shrugged.
I felt the film was 2 movies in 1, with the criminal Klaue stealing the vibranium weapon; then his accomplice challenging the new king of Wakanda. The film had only a couple of brief moments when I felt it was slow, which is quite an accomplishment. I'm not a fan of superhero movies, and I don't think that makes me more tolerant. The sci-fi elements did appeal to me. One of the best moments was the aerial descent into the secret valley of the Wakandan utopia: flash to Galt's Gulch.
I'd like to see it again; I might talk myself back into a higher rating. I'm surprised that you can't order a disc yet (although you can pre-order a streaming copy.)
The advertised rate of $5 on Tues at AMC Tustin District was false. Even with (free) membership, the price was $6.75 on the app; perhaps the fine print says with Premium membership, which is $15/yr. Instead, I decided to attend at Edwards Marketplace. They don't have the recliner chairs, but I was able to keep on my short-brimmed hat for warmth, even leaning my head back on the chair, which I could not do at The District. I think 3 of us were at the 10:30 a.m. showing. The price was $6.50, but I wanted to support their daily offer of that rate, and NOT support AMC's false advertising. It's faster to get to the Marketplace, since the freeway was clear; the District is accessed by surface streets, and after 2 films within 2 weeks, I don't think I could do it without Google Maps yet. With the help of Google Maps, I was able to run my next errand with ease, again along a path I would not have chosen on my own.
The ticket seller gave me the wrong show, so I had to go back outside, wait (it was cold) to get the proper auditorium (no film titles posted on the electronic signs). I was still in my seat by the start time; the previews didn't seem so numerous as other non-Fathom shows. (I'm recording all this for possible future reference.)
Marvel Studios, Disney, dir. Coogler; 8+
