Now that I've seen this shit twice, the one thing I absolutely love is how much this is a standalone film. Like you don't have to know Marvel in order to enjoy this. All the Easter eggs are in the background. This is focusing on the story at hand.

Yo this shit is black as fuck (including the jokes) and doesn't apologize for it.

Shuri and the Dora Milaje are gonna be a lot of people's favorite aspects. They have me starving for an A-Force film.

More thoughts in a bit.

Michael B. Jordan is the MCU's best villain hands down. I understand his motivations and his grand plan makes sense and makes you open your eyes. His comments on slavery as well as colonialism had me in tears b.

The score is so dope too with the African chants (you can hear them at the end of this track off the soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Po4tZ_kfcU) as well as the hard-hitting 808s...cotdamn. Ludwig Göransson did the damn thing.

Ryan Coogler has a oner in here that works so well as it doesn't call attention to itself. The way he can shoot action without you feeling lost is breath of fresh air. And the dramatic moments hit hard. Whoever is gonna work on the sequel has their work cut out for them. I seriously hope Rachel Morrison is nominated next year for this.

The cast is so good makes all the characters have weight. No matter how big the role is, all of these characters feel lived in with rich history.

More soon.

The last couple of trailers w/ his line readings had me shook. Which is insane because he's an incredible actor. I was hoping it was just poorly cut trailer VO

Regardless, I can't fucking wait.

Him and Coogler seem to be a great pairing so far. Mildly hype for this one...

I had high hopes for this, but you just confirmed.

Everything about this looked right.

Now I feel terrible for not buying tickets online. That was my main reason for wanting to stay away from this flick. Now I have no excuses for missing out on this. Thank you for the good news there on your part.

I'll have to wait until tickets are available here in NYC, but I suppose that is my own fault.

Except for a couple easter eggs here and there, the two Guardians didn't rely on any other Marvel movie. There's the infinity stone and a couple mentions of Thanos, but that's about it. James Gunn was just able to tell his story without worrying about fucking up the continuity or needing to throw in a scene with Sam Jackson or whoever.

As a fan of comics and one-time fan of Marvel comics, I really like how they're connecting these movies together. I'm not sure that it's ever been done on this scale in Hollywood movies before. But with the exception of Civil War, I think these movies are at their best when they just tell a good, standalone story.

And of course, they mention Civil War but not to the point where anyone coming in cold would get lost.

for the Lincoln Center IMAX screening for the Saturday matinee showing. I assumed this would have been sold out months upon months in advance similar to when that Heather Ledger Batman movie was sold out like mad.

I feel pretty fortunate to be able to cop tickets so fairly late in the game for viewing at one of the better IMAX screens in the US if what I read about that IMAX screen is accurate.

8 stories high for the screen. Only one that comes close is the IMAX in Atlantic City and then the one in King of Prussia.

Gonna peep it there myself b.

it got bumped to the IMAX screen due to a premier or some special screening.

Despite not being formatted for IMAX it was easily the best way to experience the widescreen filmmaking. I legit had to turn my head when Lewellyn is walking across the desert at the beginning.

>8 stories high for the screen. Only one that comes close is
>the IMAX in Atlantic City and then the one in King of Prussia.
>
>
>Gonna peep it there myself b.

It's serious business there too, B.

https://www.wired.com/2015/12/best-star-wars-screens/


and IT WAS GOOD on it.

I love IMAX.

The scenes formatted for IMAX are incredible.

I didn't even know! Good look, homie

Thankfully we have a legit IMAX down at the Science Center in Raleigh. That'll be more than worth the drive

NM

https://www.comicbookmovie.com/black_panther/box-office-black-panther-now-tracking-for-an-even-larger-opening-weekend-a157561

BOX OFFICE: BLACK PANTHER Now Tracking For An Even Larger Opening Weekend

Black Panther was originally tracking for a $100M dollar opening weekend but updated estimates now have the Marvel Studios film opening way higher! Could it surpass Deadpool's record-setting $152M?

When early tracking debuted for Marvel's Black Panther in January, analysts had the Ryan Coogler-directed pic opening for a $100 million dollar opening weekend.

A few days later, Fandango revealed that ticket sales for Marvel's preeminent black superhero were outpacing advance ticket sales for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - a film that set numerous opening weekend box office record before a sharp dropoff in subsequent weeks.

Now, analysts have revised that early $100 million dollars domestic opening prediction, increasing it to $150 million. The film could be on pace to eclipse the February opening weekend record of $152 million, held by Ryan Reynold's Deadpool.

Black Panther opens in North America and India on February 16. It opens in China on March 9.

Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life.

and I'm still saying 200.

Prepare for Hollywood pundits to be surprised all over again at a black movie doing big numbers.

The critics have already formed a line to kiss the ring and there's even the routine knee-jerk backlash....all arriving on time. This stuff will only encourage more people to show up to the theater.

My mom's sorority made the opening showing their next social outing. I'm hearing about youth groups around my way buying tickets for the kids. This movie's about to go hard in the paint.
---------------------------------------


---------------------------------------

He hasn't watched any of the Marvel movies and trips to the theater (with him) over 1.5-2 hours are the limit, but dammit we're going to see this.

He loved it. His first live action film experience, his second time seeing a movie in a theater. The length was just about right to keep his attention, which I thank Coogler for. Even the necessary dialogue only scenes were paced well enough that my toddler was able to maintain his interest. He yawned three times, but that’s because I had to cut his nap short to get us to the theater on time. He was pretty hyped when we walked out.

Peace,

Spirit (Alan)
http://wutangbook.com

i honestly don't think i've been more excited to see a movie before! the way they have brought black panther to the screen is just too cool. just saw a clip of a fight scene in the casino that looked great. i'm really hoping its still playing in mid march when i will actually be in a country that has movie theaters!

>Now that I've seen this shit twice, the one thing I
>absolutely love is how much this is a standalone film. Like
>you don't have to know Marvel in order to enjoy this. All the
>Easter eggs are in the background. This is focusing on the
>story at hand.
>
>Yo this shit is black as fuck (including the jokes) and
>doesn't apologize for it.
>
>Shuri and the Dora Milaje are gonna be a lot of people's
>favorite aspects. They have me starving for an A-Force film.
>
>More thoughts in a bit.

I am curious how it will be edited if at all in like China. I remember youtuber Randy Flagg who is/was living in China a while back bought that up.

through a contest on my website.

http://www.cahuggins.com/black-panther-contest/

You get more entries if you share the Giveaway after you enter and a friend enter's.

Thanks.

4 or 5 times overall between my family, coworkers and different friend groups.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/02/15/black-panther-tracking-to-beat-deadpools-box-office-record-possible-200-million-plus-holiday-weekend

Part of me was hoping Killmonger's plot would advance far enough for it to get off the ground before T'Challa came back to fight it out.

And he freely, intentionally, a remorselessly abuses black women.
There's a lot about the character that I liked, but I can't ride for him like that.

#teamshuri

Ryan Coogler is a *great* director/writer.

going to see it again on Saturday.

www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

Him and Mike B. have the chance to do what Spike and Denzel have done, honestly. Looking forward to whatever those two have coming up in the future

www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

Incredible.

Hannah Beachler...all gatdamn day.

has anyone in recent memory done this?

Normally, you can feel the 'beats' in a film....this one, I couldn't feel SHIT...it was like someone telling you a story on the street, someone who you know but dont know well enough to have heard all their stories. Just masterful.

The Soul Stone?

I'd bet it's buried in the center of the vibranium ore, but that's all a stupid guess.

problem

www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

Right. Like, the connection to Bast might be fuzzy to nonexistent without the flower. I see some elder coming out of the blue like “There is another way...”, and the shit’s just been chilling there for years because no one knew the “real” Wakanda.

why is this so awesome?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHloD113J54.

V.

Re CGI I hear folks mention it a lot and specifically I keep hearing the waterfalls fights but I didn't think it was that bad...

And the plot didn't work for me....

I knew Black Panther couldn't have really died of course so that whole section where Michael was trying to take over felt like it really dragged to me.

Also Michael went out in a very anti climatic fashion...I get they were trying to drive home how sympathetic BP is but "maybe we can heal you after you tried to kill me twice and almost kill my sister" don't work for me.

>And the plot didn't work for me....
>
>I knew Black Panther couldn't have really died of course so
>that whole section where Michael was trying to take over felt
>like it really dragged to me.

I felt the exact opposite. I could have used more of that.
It was important for us to see what Killmonger's exact agenda was.
He wasn't just a non-specific, angry power hungry monarch.
The Killmonger "takeover" scenes spelled that out. We needed
that clearly mapped out, because its the the central part of
his role as antagonist.

>Also Michael went out in a very anti climatic fashion...I get
>they were trying to drive home how sympathetic BP is but
>"maybe we can heal you after you tried to kill me twice and
>almost kill my sister" don't work for me.

Uh. BP is still devastated by learning that his father killed
his uncle, didn't give him a proper burial (a HUGE sin in
that culture) and ABANDONED A PERFECTLY INNOCENT BOY. No, that
isn't too much or too sympathetic. And you're missing a super
important point: Killmonger would have been in Wakandan jail
forever (Killmonger makes this point before he dies). He wouldn't
have been chilling with a cabinet position. So BP is basically spelling out an anti capital punishment position:

If you do wrong, you should be punished, but you don't need to
die. It's a pretty fair and reasonable stance, that fits the
sequence of events. And it's represents a change in how HE
will carry out his role as Black Panther, relative to other
ones.


----------------------------



O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

we've already seen black panther save the life of the man who killed his father.

killmonger is his cousin and had a legitimate beef for everything he did.

it's not weird that he'd try to save him too.

www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

.

and only really stands out because everybody else's accent work was so good.

everything else worked.

theyre saying it has a good chance of beating both avengers flicks and jurassic world. that would make it the #3 opening of all time.

http://deadline.com/2018/02/black-panther-thursday-night-preview-box-office-1202291093/

theres an outside chance it beats last jedi at $220 mil imo. the newest projections are based on thursday and friday haul. i think people might still be underestimating repeat viewers. i see people talking about going 3 and 4 times just to break records. once people see these targets in sight...theyre motivated to knock em down.

my family is going twice with slightly different lineups and we havent all been to a movie together since avatar. wait til these folks see those saturday receipts.

Do you realize how big of a shift an opening weekend like that would cause. Executives would literally be hunting down all the scripts they have for a majority-black audience.

That might still happen since the industry can no longer deny that black movies have a major audience.

We all should be writing scripts right about now.

First things first, hats off to Coogler and all parties involved - the pacing, the framing, the costume design, the acting...all top notch.

I only had 3 issues:

1 - MBJ himself was so dope but I don't think he was given much to work with for the first half of the movie. Obviously we know his motivations and resentment bc it's told to us but it wasn't earned imo - his return to Wakanda didn't resonate emotionally for me. His character arch really did open up in the 2nd half as we got more time & development with his character.

2 - Ulysses' eventual death was pretty weak. After all the stuff this dude has survived and been through, you'd think it would take a little more.

3 - Easy manipulative writing with the back to back scene of Wakabi being disappointed with Tchala for not bringing Ulysses back and then MBJ shows up at his doorstep with the body.

Overall, so damn good. Need to see this again to soak it all in.

>First things first, hats off to Coogler and all parties
>involved - the pacing, the framing, the costume design, the
>acting...all top notch.
>
>I only had 3 issues:
>
>1 - MBJ himself was so dope but I don't think he was given
>much to work with for the first half of the movie. Obviously
>we know his motivations and resentment bc it's told to us but
>it wasn't earned imo - his return to Wakanda didn't resonate
>emotionally for me. His character arch really did open up in
>the 2nd half as we got more time & development with his
>character.
>
>2 - Ulysses' eventual death was pretty weak. After all the
>stuff this dude has survived and been through, you'd think it
>would take a little more

Disagree.


1) That scene was symbolic -- it rid the film of the
only *classical* bad guy, and so the rest of the movie is
the film walking the audience through moral ambiguity. To
me it was like:

"Oh, y'all expected some standard good guy/bad guy shit?
Well, here's what we think about that. Enjoy the rest of
this complex, beautiful movie."

1) Klaw was dealt with swiftly and in the
same backstabber ass way that he usually deals with people.
And that scene QUICKLY affirmed how gully Killmonger was;
we needed that, because before that we didn't know if he
was just a petty jewelry thief.


>3 - Easy manipulative writing with the back to back scene of
>Wakabi being disappointed with Tchala for not bringing Ulysses
>back and then MBJ shows up at his doorstep with the body.

Nah, those weren't back to back. In fact, I'm sorta
surprised you missed the sequence because it was clear
and very poignant:

The MBJ scene with him dropping off Klaw came RIGHT
after we learned about WHO HE WAS (the heart wrenching
closeup with the camera zooming down from the Oakland
apartment building to the little boy playing hoop). Pretty
sure the next scene was Killmonger dragging the body. It
was perfectly sequenced and profound. Both times I've
seen it, the audience is gasping when they learn that
his father was killed. And then it moves perfectly into
the body dropoff scene.

>Overall, so damn good. Need to see this again to soak it all
>in.

Yeah, I've seen it twice.

My only issue is that I would have enjoyed 30 more minutes.
I didn't NEED it, but the film had my attention enough,
enough interesting shit was going on, that I could have
taken it. Can't blame Coogler/the editors -- they were
prolly like: "Man, if this is anywhere close to 2:30, no one
will see it." I totally get it.


----------------------------



O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

>>First things first, hats off to Coogler and all parties
>>involved - the pacing, the framing, the costume design, the
>>acting...all top notch.
>>
>>I only had 3 issues:
>>
>>1 - MBJ himself was so dope but I don't think he was given
>>much to work with for the first half of the movie. Obviously
>>we know his motivations and resentment bc it's told to us
>but
>>it wasn't earned imo - his return to Wakanda didn't resonate
>>emotionally for me. His character arch really did open up
>in
>>the 2nd half as we got more time & development with his
>>character.
>>
>>2 - Ulysses' eventual death was pretty weak. After all the
>>stuff this dude has survived and been through, you'd think
>it
>>would take a little more
>
>Disagree.
>
>
>1) That scene was symbolic -- it rid the film of the
>only *classical* bad guy, and so the rest of the movie is
>the film walking the audience through moral ambiguity. To
>me it was like:
>
>"Oh, y'all expected some standard good guy/bad guy shit?
>Well, here's what we think about that. Enjoy the rest of
>this complex, beautiful movie."
>
>1) Klaw was dealt with swiftly and in the
>same backstabber ass way that he usually deals with people.
>And that scene QUICKLY affirmed how gully Killmonger was;
>we needed that, because before that we didn't know if he
>was just a petty jewelry thief.
>
>
>>3 - Easy manipulative writing with the back to back scene of
>>Wakabi being disappointed with Tchala for not bringing
>Ulysses
>>back and then MBJ shows up at his doorstep with the body.
>
>Nah, those weren't back to back. In fact, I'm sorta
>surprised you missed the sequence because it was clear
>and very poignant:
>
>The MBJ scene with him dropping off Klaw came RIGHT
>after we learned about WHO HE WAS (the heart wrenching
>closeup with the camera zooming down from the Oakland
>apartment building to the little boy playing hoop). Pretty
>sure the next scene was Killmonger dragging the body. It
>was perfectly sequenced and profound. Both times I've
>seen it, the audience is gasping when they learn that
>his father was killed. And then it moves perfectly into
>the body dropoff scene.
>
>>Overall, so damn good. Need to see this again to soak it all
>>in.
>
>Yeah, I've seen it twice.
>
>My only issue is that I would have enjoyed 30 more minutes.
>I didn't NEED it, but the film had my attention enough,
>enough interesting shit was going on, that I could have
>taken it. Can't blame Coogler/the editors -- they were
>prolly like: "Man, if this is anywhere close to 2:30, no one
>will see it." I totally get it.
>

Man it’s 2:15 as is nobody wants to see a 3 hr movie not even Black Panther lol

I will say my seat positioning (3rd fucking row bc my hometown local theater doesn’t have assigned seating - what century is this) may have interfered in my ability view the movie with all my wits about me

...its even better on 2nd viewing....

saw it Thursday night and dug it. Thought it was truly solid & satisfying through & through.

we woke up today and had nothing else on the agenda that HAD to be done, so we decided to hit a morning showing since there were prime seats available at the AM viewing...

i honestly didn't expect to like it more the second time, but i tell ya, turns out the SECOND viewing is where i was able to REALLY settle in and FULLY enjoy this to the max.

At the end of the second viewing my wife & i both turned to each other at the same time and said 'i liked it even BETTER on the second go round'. So yeah, if you're able to see it twice, if you're like me, it'll probably be worth it.

my only quibbles with the film are very minor...
1. the CG in some of the scenes (i won't say WHICH scenes so as avoid spoilers)...but the CG in some of the scenes towards the end were too 'video gamey' for my tastes.

2. (semi-spoiler) the song that ends the movie is kinda lackluster for me...the one that plays as the closing scenes/credits was just---eh. For me, personally, the closing song there SHOULD have/could have been a POWERFUL afro-rythmic KNOCKOut PUNCH to end the flick....but it wasnt. After loving all of the music and score throughout the entire film, I think the closing track they chose was just mediocre and forgettable. Personal opinion obviously, but for me it was a missed opportunity to put a BANGING 'mike-drop' track at the end of a banging movie. (heh, i'd love for someone to re-edit that end credit scene with a different sounding track just to see how it plays out...maybe i'll give video editing a try someday and give it a shot myself with some tracks that give me that GUT PUNCH feel that i'm looking for lol)

but yeah, those are my only two real issues with this one. (that and the fact that i wish a certain character, who will remain nameless here to avoid spoilers, didn't die. but only because i loved the actors portrayal). Other than that :), this is one is in the top tier mix of Marvel flicks for me....

...shout out to Uncle Jam! I see you GC!

and it's just a good ass movie

the S Korean Casino scene, the filming of the action, sheeesh, so damn good. that about minute they gave to Okoye kickin ass... I don't think I was breathing, just in a trance

and Killmonger, fuck, so good. A real fucn villian. And I was rootin for him

the only real quibble i have is the action quality (okoye aside) and cgi

Even better than I expected. Dope story, looked great, and very well acted. Shot for the moon and succeeded.

One element that hasn't gotten enough props here is M'Baku. Winston Duke was awesome. And the movie did an excellent job of taking a character that was extremely problematic in the comics and turning him into one of the best parts of the endeavor.

Only thing that didn't work for me is thought W'Kabi's betrayal happened a little too fast. I mean, that's supposed to be his beast friend, and he jumped to Killmonger's side a little too quickly for my tastes.

And though I certainly understand why they did it, I really wish that they didn't kill Klawe and Killmonger. If there's one thing that Marvel has had difficulty doing, it's creating really good villains. Killmonger has been the best. Klawe was just getting interesting. I guess it's my comic book upbringing, but I've never understood the urge for damn near every superhero movie to kill their villains at the end.

On the other hand, Killmonger's last words were so ill, that it kind of was a perfect end for him.

Otherwise, all else is well. The world is Coogler's oyster now. I hope he gets to do everything he's ever wanted.

He was so fantastic. Give me an action movie with him as the lead tomorrow.

...my wife and i were chatting about how that guy M'Baku/Winston Duke was REALLy fantastic in every scene he was in....

>Only thing that didn't work for me is thought W'Kabi's
>betrayal happened a little too fast. I mean, that's supposed
>to be his beast friend, and he jumped to Killmonger's side a
>little too quickly for my tastes.
>

yeah, it wouldn't have hurt to see a few more examples of that characters evolution before he gets to that point. That said, seeing it the second time i did notice more things in Wkabi's character that hinted at his potential leanings...

>And though I certainly understand why they did it, I really
>wish that they didn't kill Klawe and Killmonger. If there's
>one thing that Marvel has had difficulty doing, it's creating
>really good villains. Killmonger has been the best. Klawe was
>just getting interesting. >

yeah...both of these villians were so good, and SO well played by the actors that, for completely selfish reasons, i didnt want them to die...i wanted more of them....


>Otherwise, all else is well. The world is Coogler's oyster
>now. I hope he gets to do everything he's ever wanted.>

here here. any way you wanna look at it, this was a reSOUNding success. i'm so happy for this cat, cuz he seems like a grounded dude, in it for the right reasons, with his eyes focused on whats most important...believable characters with genuine relatable motivations telling good stories...pulling us in an entertaining us along the way....

His ethnic group is a border tribe.

And Klaw killed his parents. One of the FEW violations
of the border in the history of Wakanda.

Not crazy at all to see him flip quickly.



----------------------------



O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

>
>His ethnic group is a border tribe.
>
>And Klaw killed his parents. One of the FEW violations
>of the border in the history of Wakanda.
>
>Not crazy at all to see him flip quickly.
>

TChalla gave his word that he would either catch or kill Klaw. He failed. And his father had already failed to catch Klaw. It was just the straw that broke the camel’s back. Also am I incorrect in remembering that it seemed like for a brief moment it looked like he would challenge TChalla in the beginning? Like it seemed to me like he hesitated for a split second when asked would he challenge Tchalla’s rise. I won’t know until I see it again whether I am just imagining that or not.



>
>----------------------------
>
>
>
>O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"
>
>
>
>
>"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."
>
>(C)Keith Murray, "


Peace,

Spirit (Alan)
http://wutangbook.com

backing t'challa would've been flipping, for him.

www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

----------------------------



O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

We don't like that he does it because we like T'Challa, but his motivations and duties are spelled out quite plainly.

...one weekend.

Marinate on that.

By Thursday it'll have made Justice League's entire worldwide gross.

WB gotta be sick right now.

a few things that I didnt care for was some of the CGI. The waterfall scenes were fine. But I really hate these long falling/fighting scenes. They look to cartoonish for me. This one was no different. I didnt care for the CIA agent. He was too just goofy for me. Also I wish MBJ got more to work with. He felt underused then just thrown in at the end. But he killed what he had.

Now what I liked the score was AMAZING! Caught my son bobbing his head through out the movie. The women KILLED in this. Lupita was really good. Letitia Wright was probably my favorite. But Danai Guirira was bad ass. God damn she was awesome. The costumes were fire. Shit I could only land tickets for a 7:20 showing. With the run time going over 2 hours I was worried my son wouldnt stay awake. Nope he was wide awake through the whole thing and loved it. Great movie.

Went with my Wife Thursday night, she's taking our daughter this afternoon since she's out of school this week.

I wanna see Annihilation too so I might try a double feature Saturday if I can work out the logistics

All I can say about this movie is give us more - I want a trilogy, with each movie surpassing the next.

It was so beautiful seeing Atlantic Station AMC's lobby all Black with everyone dressed up to see this movie. People who didn't care it was a Marvel movie and left before the end credits. They came to see something that was special it this was (it's not perfect but it pretty damn good and everyone can see that).

That shit is so good.

Seriously, though, this was outstanding. As great as he was, T'Challa was maybe like the sixth most interesting character. Coogler created a fantastic world in Wakanda (that better not get destroyed in Infinity War) that feels even more fantastic than what we've seen in Guardians of the Galaxy that's also unmistakably real. He threaded an impossible needle here and deserves all the credit in the world.

Shuri Forever

in a Black Panther mask. There will be plenty for Halloween this year.

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/7yntae/box_office_week_black_panther_smashes_at_1_with/

Black Panther - Well, that was....wow. If someone bet that Black Panther would have a bigger three-day opening than the last Avengers movie then I'm not sure if they are a time travel or really have their finger on the pulse of the US. Black Panther utterly destroyed its opening weekend and broke several records in its wake as the film opened to #1 with a massive $201.7M. That makes it the second highest opening ever for the MCU (only behind The Avengers with $207.4M) and the fifth highest domestic opening ever. It also makes it the #1 February debut, demolishing the record set by Deadpool with $132.4M. It's also the biggest opening ever for a solo superhero movie and the biggest opening for a debut superhero movie (I know the protagonist was in Captain America: Civil War first, but the classification of this film as the start of a franchise still counts). Black Panther also had the fifteenth highest international debut of all time with $169M, despite not opening yet in China or Japan. This is not only the biggest opening weekend for a film made by a black director, it will become the highest grossing film by a black director ever in just 4 days when it surpasses the lifetime domestic gross of Fate of the Furious ($226M). If all that wasn't enough, this film received an A+ rating on Cinemascore, only the second MCU film to do so besides The Avengers. And let's note that The Avengers had a opening weekend multiplier of 3x which if Black Panther repeats means were are looking at a domestic haul well over $550M. Just...wow.

So how did this happen? Well the most obvious answer is that Marvel truly created an event. Major black celebrities, social media trendsetters, and even black churches urged people to go see the film opening weekend. This really was viewed as a major cultural moment for black representation on film. But besides that it seems the film really appealed to a wide demo, with over 61% of the audience this weekend over the age of 25 and 45% of the total audience was women. Not to mention a well reviewed concept album by Kendrick Lamarr for the film coming out right before and the film becoming the best reviewed MCU/superhero film ever on Rotten Tomatoes with a current score of 98%. There were attempts from racist trolls to bomb the review scores on IMDB and RT and even try to spread fake news that white people were being attacked by black people going to see Black Panther but their attempts didn't even put a dent into the opening weekend. The timing was also just perfect, with top films that were over two months old before Black Panther's release. The film really felt like the perfect storm of cultural relevance, hype, and great word of mouth.

This incredible weekend debut is a reminder why black directors and representation matters, especially for major blockbusters. Underserved markets are very hungry to see themselves on screen. It's also worth noting that while black audiences were the major drivers of this weekend that $201.7M was not all them. Clearly with numbers that big you have to reach a very wide audience. That so many people could embrace a film whether it represents their cultural/racial make-up or not is telling that a lot of the views about demos and niche audiences in Hollywood are old and outdated. I'm really sad to be leaving this series (just temporarily) right as Black Panther about to blow up the box office even more, but I'm glad I could cover this weekend because it's one for the box office history books. A cynical mind can certainly see this as another notch in the Disney corporate machine belt (and hey you are right, this does mean now Disney has 8 of the 10 best opening weekends ever) but for whatever intentions corporate had what the audiences experienced was a big middle finger to old Hollywood that would reject this film's existence just ten years ago. And now it's opened bigger than Captain America: Civil War, it will make more domestically than Justice League in just 4-5 days, and despite opening in February it could easily be the #1 biggest grosser of 2018. Black Panther is going to prove diverse stories don't just matter on an emotional or social level, they matter on an economic level in a way that no one can possibly ignore or dismiss anymore.

Easily one of the best movie going experiences I’ve ever had.

I can’t wait to see it again and again and again.

Buying the last seat in the auditorium, today’s first seat available being at 2:45pm, arriving to the theater see the lobby packed with all black folks of all ages...that’s more powerful than anything in the movie itself.

Jordan’s Killmonger is by far the most intriguing character. An embodiment of Western Imperialism, he’s really the first Marvel villain to state his motivations and express his goals. Probably the most fully realized comic movie villain since Molina’s Doc Ock.

T’Challa is sort of a bummer. I’m not saying anything that hasn’t already been said, but his ho hum demeanor falls flat at times when standing around the magnetic Killmonger or the arresting General, who dominates every scene she’s in with perfection.

A lot has been made about the sets...which I guess are cool? Seems like almost the entire movie was filmed against a green screen. The costumes however are a sight to see. I can’t fathom how someone takes on the task of sketching, designing, and creating so many different aesthetics for so many different tribes and characters. I can’t recall ever being blown away by costumes before ever in a movie.

The climax suffers from what all of these Marvel flicks suffer from - the CGI gets to a point where nothing feels tangible. The rhinos, the train, the Panther/Killmonger fall down the hole...before long it just feels like a really glossy cartoon.

It’s fun if, at least to me, only as fine as the rest of the Marvel movies. Entertaining enough...but likely to leave a footprint that no Marvel movies yet can compare to - the kids who will see a superhero who looks like them, the aspiring film students who will know that you too can make blockbusters. That’s so, so, so vital and way better than any one part of the film.

Peace,

Spirit (Alan)
http://wutangbook.com

The explanatory video where Coogler discusses how he incorporated LAN Africanist symbolism into the casino fight scene is a microcosm of the level of thought evident on the screen.

For the most part, the writing was airtight, but I only have one major unanswered question: why would T’Chaka’s brother sell weapons to Klaw/Klaue? And how did K even know how to find him? I heard there was a four hour cut of the film at one point, which would likely answer those questions for me. I also wonder how K came upon Wakanda at all; there is another important part of the film about a border attack by K. Wondering how he even knew there was something there to take and how he survived his incursion. I’m assuming a lot of K backstory is on the cutting room floor. Which I’m fine with because the dynamic between TChalla and Kilmonger is the heart of the film.

I could probably talk for days about how TChalla and Kilmonger represent various sides of Black philosophy (isolationist versus revolutionary, Wakandans arguably being separatists, etc). I don’t even know if everything I’m reading into it is what Coogler meant to say or not. Which is what makes it incredible lol

Shuri was ready for change from Day One. Nakia was already out there running missions to help “save our girls” while the men were still stuck on tradition. So much subtext.

Peace,

Spirit (Alan)
http://wutangbook.com

and tbh I think the "four hour cut" talk has been way overblown, there can only be so many side stories planned.

but I assumed that killmonger's dad needed more vibranium for his plans, and arranged for klaw to steal it so he could get some. that's why he had it there, he wasn't supposed to have any (or at least not in those quantities)


www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

Not the best Marvel movie so far, but terrific all the same.

People here have listed just about all of my thoughts on it:

-Perfect cast. Especially liked o' girl from Black Mirror.

-What happens to Klaue is surprising, but I thought we'd get more mileage from the character, instead of getting Snoked.

-Some of the CGI was a little iffy. I saw it a second time and it looks slightly better in 3D, but still, some of it took me out of the movie, especially with the final fight between Killmonger and Black Panther.

-I feel like there were probably some key scenes left on the cutting room floor that further develop the divide amongst Wakandians between those loyal to the throne and those who can't get down with Michael B. Jordan's character. They go from a peaceful people to people ready to kill one another pretty quickly in the final battle.

-Killmonger might be the most well-developed Marvel villain so far. They were going down this road with Civil War, and they nailed it this time. So much so that it might be a few steps back if they just make Thanos a standard Evil Dude in Infinity War.

Solid movie. I was not disappointed at all.

Now I am READY for the next Avengers movie.

Thanos will hopefully continue the trend - the way he says they are trying to "humanize" his intentions in a way instead of him just being standard evil - I guess we will see though


@rob_starrk

According to Coogle on the empire podcast:

https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/black-panther-empire-podcast-spoiler-special-ryan-coogler-nate-moore/

"So in the film it is more than hinted at that they’re a couple, but there is a scene directly after Killmonger takes the throne where you hear both characters articulate their point of view as to why they should or shouldn’t follow this man and it’s one of the most well-acted scenes I’ve ever been a part of.

Unfortunately it occurred at a point in the movie where audiences just wanted to get to the resolution and so it slowed down a part of the movie and we were afraid audiences were checking out. We were also afraid if we took it out we’re going to ruin this movie—‘guys we’re going to ruin this movie; let’s not take it out.’ We didn’t take it out for three or four screenings and we finally took it out and I think Ryan and I were probably the last men on that beach saying don’t take it out.”"



www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

they def should've left that in.

The last act sprinted, but Marvel didn't know
this was going to be a mega movie.

We could have watched 3 hours of this film and been
just fine.

You have people here in this post saying the section when Killmonger was king dragged on too long because they knew T'Challa would come back. I absolutely disagree with that (I could watch an entire movie of Killmonger as king setting his plan in motion), but I've seen others say it.

This would have been a dope scene, but I'm fine seeing it in the deleted scenes when the Blu-Ray drops. The plot points that it has were either already in the film or heavily implied. We knew that Okoye was reluctantly serving Killmonger because of loyalty to the throne. We knew that W'Kabi was all in because T'Challa and his father had failed to avenge the death of his parents while Killmonger delivered, and he was itching to go to war out in the world. We knew they were a couple.

The key thing telling me that scene wasn't needed was their dialogue at the end. "You would kill me, my love?" "For Wakanda, without question." That moment hit hard as heck as is, without the extra scene, and no one in the audience was lost watching it.

every second you spend on something people complain about pacing pacing pacing

www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

Pretty clear that the women where the MVPs for this movie, at least to me. Not that I disliked the flick, but the few moments that took me out of the movie were moments where it felt like Michael B Jordan was reading his lines straight from the script rather than delivering them naturally. Not that I didn't enjoy his character since he was a fully three dimensional villain, but there were times when he was somewhat wooden in his delivery; I don't know if that's squarely on him, if that's on the director, or if that's on the script. Just to be clear, I don't think the script as a whole was bad, as I think the writing, in particular the mixture of comedy with sociopolitical commentary was remarkable, especially since this was a comic book movie.

And this movie will make his dislike watching The Walking Dead that much more since Danai Gurira did so well with the material here. At least I hope she will get more work as result of how well she did in the flick.

And lastly, I hope the blu-ray extras for this will delve into the research and work done for the costumes.

but damn...this movie is great. i need to see it again.

While having been shown in less theaters. #LOLDC

it would have been the marvel movie with the highest grossing opening (3-day) weekend and most likely #3 overall.

it was in 300 less theaters than avengers while averaging almost $3000 more per.

M'baka's mountain fortress was so dope

I loved when she got on dude about those sandals.

Especially once the final scene is revealed after the closing credits

I just wish she designed a Jag instead of a Lexus for that car chase

she was my favorite character, followed by Killmonger and Klaue

The casting was spot on in general, especially Sterling K Brown, to get that level of acting for that minor (yet super important role) was perfection



@rob_starrk

not sure what a Black Panther 2 could even be.

I'm stumped. I couldn't write a spec script if I tried lol. Whatever it is, it can't end in a final battle in an empty Wakandan grassy plain. Infinity War looks like it's gonna have a battle on a Wakandan plain, so you don't really wanna come back to that for (basically) 3 movies in a row.

This shit was awesome though, so I'm down for whatever. Shut up and take my money.

Now that Marvel got dem rights back

They kept the stakes pretty low in this first one.

Now with a sequel they can talk about the trouble Wakanda faces suddenly revealing itself as a major world power with sole access to the most powerful resource on the planet.

I know they want to keep it as self-contained as possible while still being an MCU movie, but I'd personally still want to see either Falcon or War Machine in the next one.

America invades Wakanda to try and seize control of vibranium.

N
A
M
O
R

THE FIRST MUTANT

get the right actor to play super asshole Namor and pay Hickman whatever he wants to consult on the script. it could be better than this one.

----------

IG @h_n_z

probably because white writers have had no idea how to write a bad-ass, intellectually and technologically superior black super hero. historically, he was introduced in the Fantastic Four, so working them into the next movie would be some nice symatry.

but the best character development has all happened in the last ten years. as someone alluded to above, the US invaded wakanda for vibranium. t'challa and storm married and divorced (and wouldn't BP2 a great vehicle to launch a movie version of storm that finally gets it right). but the best stuff comes out of what jonathan hickman did in his secret avengers/secret war run and, to a lesser extent, what tnc is doing now. in fact, i wouldn't be surprised if disney justified tnc's price tag as idea development for eventual movies.

how you start off like "white folks don't know what to do with him" then come with Hickman

i thought you were veering toward Christopher Priest

For 40 years, T'Challa languished because white writers didn't really know what to do with him, and then a white guy who wrote him better than anyone ever has. TNC has acknowledged this, but you don't need to take his word for it. (re) read new avengers.

this isn't a direct adaption from anything

the obvious direction is Midnight Angels, but idk if you wanna play into the civil war stereotype

it would be nice if Namor was in the works.

Don't get me wrong, its in my top 3 of Marvel movies, mostly because the highs points are so damn good and its also the most emotionally resonant Marvel movie i can remember, for whatever that's worth.

But stepping away from the catharsis of its existence, judging it purely as a film, it had PLENTY of flaws and shortcomings that i'd really like to see improved upon in another Black Panther movie.

Like so many of these movies, the action was downright silly, people looking like BS computer blips just flying around the screen nonsensically with no tangibility whatsoever while the world around them turns into a CGI meltdown...every once in a while you could actually kind of make out what the digital figurines were doing in relation to each other and their "environment"...when their knee wasn't flying past a vague armpit or something.

The plot had some serious shortcomings too, but i have to go check on the food.

And honestly, its too late now, but i really wanted at least the first Black Panther movie to have very little or nothing to do with the world outside of Wakanda and its immediate neighbors. Making it into such an overt analog for American experiences cheapens the power of the core concept, and making the outside world such a big part of the story just kinda squandered a chance to really show the idea of a hi-tech futuristic African society that's been completely removed from all outside influence.

Meanwhile, we barely got a taste of Wakanda. They could have really did a proper deep-dive immersion into this environment and unique society. They went the cheap route, making sure American audiences could relate, because apparently audiences could never relate to Middle Earth or Tatooine?

That, and now that they went and announced themselves at the UN, i feel like the possibilities to ever show Wakanda in its glory are gone.

...in my head, there's a Black Panther film that blows this one away...and i know i'm not alone

it's just the style

>But stepping away from the catharsis of its existence, judging
>it purely as a film, it had PLENTY of flaws and shortcomings
>that i'd really like to see improved upon in another Black
>Panther movie.
>
>Like so many of these movies, the action was downright silly,
>people looking like BS computer blips just flying around the
>screen nonsensically with no tangibility whatsoever while the
>world around them turns into a CGI meltdown...every once in a
>while you could actually kind of make out what the digital
>figurines were doing in relation to each other and their
>"environment"...when their knee wasn't flying past a vague
>armpit or something.

I never thought about this while reading the books but the name vibranium really stood out to me in the movie.

If this isolationist nation were the first ones to encounter this element, and at that point they had no contact with any western peoples, why would they use a Latin suffix like “ium” in the name?

I wondered if anyone considered renaming it for the movie but I guess it’s already been mentioned a few times in other flicks. Still seemed like Wakanda should have its own name for this stuff.

There was some of it found in Antarctica. I would assume that “vibranium” was just the English name of it, so the people of Wakanda using that term makes as much sense see their use of English in general (to the benefit of the audience.)

But even in the movie Klaw said that Wakandans called it “the gift”. So maybe their actual word for vibranium is whatever “the gift” is in Xhosa (the actual language used in he movie for Wakanda.) According to google translate that would be “isipho”...I wonder if that word appears in the film anywhere.

I’ll listen for that next time

If the Jabari are vegetarians, why did they have fishermen (who found T'challa).

Jabari arent really vegetarians right? That was like a joke on a joke.


I was like hmm astute observation though kid

>If the Jabari are vegetarians, why did they have fishermen
>(who found T'challa).
could have just been talking about his family since he said he would feed Ross to his children.

also they could have been suppliers but not users, for industry

>Jabari arent really vegetarians right? That was like a joke on
>a joke.
>
>
>I was like hmm astute observation though kid
hell yeah, that is still a sharp pick up

trade makes more sense tho

>If the Jabari are vegetarians, why did they have fishermen
>(who found T'challa).
>
>Jabari arent really vegetarians right? That was like a joke on
>a joke.
>
>
>I was like hmm astute observation though kid

Very astute observation!

As a side note, I took it that M'Baku and his kids were vegetarians, not necessarily all of the Jabari.

There's not much more praise I could give this movie than it has already received. It has one of the best casts in a comic book movie I've ever seen, if not the best. Great performances, awesome characters (Okoye FTW! Both Killmonger and Klaue were cool villains. And BP, how could you go wrong?), tight story that explained everything pretty simply without going overboard at all in regards to ties to the MCU, great direction (Coogler on a roll!), and exciting action. Sure the CGI was plentiful, but since when do we not get that anymore these days in comic book films?

After the first time I saw it, I was thinking it was top 5-6 in the MCU. Upon second viewing, it's top 3-4. The only 2 I know I liked better were Captain America: The Winter Soldier (I think this is #1 on my comic book movies all-time list) and The Avengers (pulling this movie off, entertainment-value spectacle, and the experience of seeing this come to life on the big screen are uncanny). But this is going to be an all-time great that stands the test of time and fights for the #1 spot with each subsequent viewing.

Bravo Marvel, bravo

>
>After the first time I saw it, I was thinking it was top 5-6
>in the MCU. Upon second viewing, it's top 3-4. The only 2 I
>know I liked better were Captain America: The Winter Soldier
>(I think this is #1 on my comic book movies all-time list) and
>The Avengers (pulling this movie off, entertainment-value
>spectacle, and the experience of seeing this come to life on
>the big screen are uncanny). But this is going to be an
>all-time great that stands the test of time and fights for the
>#1 spot with each subsequent viewing.
>
>Bravo Marvel, bravo

I put Civil War in the final four, along with the aforementioned other three. Uneasy with a ranking of the four, although Avengers may be last, since the overall movie isn't on par with the other three, but like you said, the spectacle and importance of it coming together in such a well laid out manner can never be overstated,. If it hadn't delivered, the MCU wouldn't be where it is right now.

-The opening storytelling was Killmonger's father telling him about the creation of Wakanda...there was literally no way to catch that in the first viewing

- T'Challa's ship is shaped like an African war mask
- CIA says 'shit, shit, shit' time exactly with the shots he was firing when battling other Wakandan ships..i thought that was a nice bit of editing
- I loved the recurring theme of asking someone "who are you" before they tell you who they are...Killmonger kept saying "ask me who I am"...even he respected that tradition
- Killmonger's dad had a Public Enemy poster on his wall

d

>- Killmonger's dad had a Public Enemy poster on his wall
>

and don't forget, an Uncle Jam poster too! GC in the house!

because I'd forgotten about it.

www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

Rarely do films affect me like Black Panther has. I might go see it for a third time.

There’s a scene towards the end where Coogler pans to the faces of Nakia, Okoye, and Shuri and I shed tears. That among SO much more resonates with me.

damn me for living in a country that does not have movie theaters (saudi arabia). i'm on vacation for the next month so first stop is dubai where i'm sure i'll see it twice. after that i'm in south africa for 3 weeks so i guess its fitting.

i'm excited!

Plan on seeing it there too

>Plan on seeing it there too

I may see it in S. Africa too!

Where and when will you be in S. Africa?

added to its record breaking S African haul.

If you told me any number of years ago that a Black Panther movie would make over a $100 mill i wouldnt believe it. Now its outgrossing the biggest franchise in history. What a time to be alive!

Cameron sitting on basically 5 billion dollars in box office for TWO films. Wow.

https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/features/black-panther-director-ryan-coogler-fruitvale-creed-w518450

The Humble Hero Maker: How Director Ryan Coogler Is Shaping Pop Culture


Each of the director's first three films has been not just been bigger and more successful than the one that came before – but also arguably better

By Josh Eells


Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya has a simple explanation for how director Ryan Coogler, 31, got so mind-blowingly talented.

“He’s an alien,” says Kaluuya, who plays W’Kabi in Coogler’s Black Panther, which took just six weeks to become the highest grossing superhero ever in the U.S., and has already taken in more than $1 billion worldwide. “This is a man who made this movie at 30 years old – come on, man! Are you kidding me? Doing Fruitvale, Creed and Black Panther before you’re 32? What is that?”


Indeed, maybe not since Steven Spielberg has a young filmmaker arrived so hot right out of the gate. Each of Coogler’s first three films has been not just bigger and more successful than the one that came before – in Black Panther’s case, by an order of magnitude – but also arguably better. He seems like a director who’s going to be making great films for a very long time. “Ryan is a super humble guy who will talk about how much he learned from everyone involved in the process,” says Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige, a producer of Black Panther. “But the truth is, he made us a better studio and better filmmakers. The way he deliberates and thinks things through, the way he communicates with his cast and crew – everything about the movie radiates that.”

“He’s intuitive, man,” says Daniel Kaluuya, who plays W’Kabi in Coogler’s Black Panther. “He just has this vision.”

Coogler was born in 1986 in Oakland, California. His mom, Joselyn, worked for a faith-based non-profit, where she started as an executive assistant and worked her way up to CFO. (“My mom is mad impressive,” Coogler says.) His dad, Ira, was a counselor at a juvenile detention facility. “It was a job he enjoyed, but it was also intense,” says Coogler. “A few of the kids he was closest to ended up losing their lives.” When Coogler got old enough, he worked there, too. “It can traumatize you in ways you’re not even realizing,” he says of the job. “Anytime you’ve got to repeatedly put handcuffs on children...”

In high school, Coogler was a star wide receiver and captain of the football team who earned a scholarship to St. Mary’s College in Oakland. He planned to study chemistry and become a doctor, but his freshman year, a creative-writing professor who was impressed by his work told him he should think about becoming a screenwriter instead. Coogler tried it and liked it. “I was interested in telling stories about characters like I grew up with,” he says. “Stories about people of color, but multilayered.”

After graduation he started film school at USC. One Christmas, he was home in the Bay Area working as a bouncer at a rave when a friend told him an unarmed black man had been shot and killed by police on an Oakland subway platform. Oscar Grant was 22, the same age as Coogler, and the director was struck by how easily it might have been him. Coogler’s Fruitvale Station, about Grant’s final hours before he was killed, went on to win Sundance’s Grand Jury Prize in 2013.


“For me, movies often start when I’m dealing with something deeply personal,” Coogler says. For Fruitvale, it was Grant’s tragic death and the way the criminal justice system too often fails young black men. For his follow-up, the 2015 Rocky reboot Creed, it was his father’s love for Sylvester Stallone’s franchise and a life-threatening illness his father suffered, which inspired Rocky Balboa’s bout with lymphoma in the film. And for Black Panther, it was Coogler’s struggle to understand his own identity as an African-American and the racial disparities he’d seen at the juvenile facility. “So I’m like, ‘Yo — I get to make a movie about this really profound stuff, that speaks to what I loved about comic books as a kid and what I love as a filmmaker now, and I get to work with this awesome studio and learn things while I make it?’ ” Coogler recalls thinking. “It was too good an opportunity to pass up.”

Actors love Coogler for his incisive, hands-on style. “He just sees people,” says Kaluuya. “He sees your core, sees what you’re about. And he knows how to tap into that and engage it for you.” He’s not afraid to get literally hands-on, either: “He’ll do anything to get you going,” says Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman, who tells stories of Coogler sparring with him on set to get him fired up before big scenes. “My athletic days are long behind me,” Coogler says. “But if you get in front of a fighter and weave a little bit, their body can’t help but weave back. So I’d do that with Michael (B. Jordan) when we did Creed, and I did that with Chad.”

Even working inside a multibillion-dollar Disney conglomerate like Marvel, Coogler has kept his process impressively intimate, drawing on the same tight-knit young crew he’s used for all three of his films — among them composer Ludwig Goransson, production designer Hannah Beachler and director of photography Rachel Morrison (who recently became the first female cinematographer nominated for an Oscar). But so far, his most important collaborator has been his muse Jordan, who’s starred in every Coogler film — playing the leads in Fruitvale and Creed, and arguably stealing Black Panther as the sympathetic villain, Killmonger.

“We’ve got a good thing going,” Jordan says. “I was lucky enough to find my director so early. We want to make each other’s movies for the rest of our careers. It’s been a fun ride, and we feel like we’re just getting started.”

It's so close but I'm thinking that movie night get pulled before it can make that final push to 700 since the Bluray is out.

it will need about 2 more weeks to hit $700M, as it's pulling about $400,000-500,000 a week right now.

I don't know if Disney bought those tickets or not, I'm just glad this movie was so successful.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/box-office-black-panther-crosses-700m-major-milestone-1131242
---------------------------------------


---------------------------------------