[Blu-ray Review] ‘Black Panther’

Marvel’s Black Panther is available on DVD and Blu-ray today! With tons of bonus features including interviews, bloopers, deleted scenes, and more, this will be a set that Marvel fans will not want to miss.

Black Panther, was one of the biggest superhero movies of the year, breaking, and coming close to breaking, numerous box office records, and hanging on to theaters, continuing to bring in movie-goers until long after most movies would have left. In fact, even as I am writing this review, the week the movie became available on digital, and almost a week before the DVD and Blu-ray release, my local theater is still showing it, four times a day!

Needless to say, this film was a smash hit, far surpassing most people’s expectations. I knew from the hype beforehand that it was going to be big, but I don’t know how many people could have predicted it to have this level of success. Not only was Black Panther one of the most successful superhero movies in history, as of the time of this article, it is currently sitting at number 9 on the list of highest grossing movies of all time. I say at the time this article was written, because there’s this other little movie quickly advancing on it, some small, independent film that no one’s ever heard of called Infinity War.

For the three people out there who may not have seen the movie, Black Panther tells the story of T’Challa, the king of a tiny African nation called Wakanda, which, unbeknownst to the rest of the world, is the most technologically advanced society on Earth. Using the wealth and technology afforded them by a meteorite of pure Vibranium which fell centuries before, Wakanda has far surpassed any other country in technology, while still holding on to their ancient African culture and traditions.

As king of Wakanda, T’Challa also holds the title of Black Panther, the protector of Wakanda. The Black Panther is given great strength from a serum made from a flower grown in, and affected by, the Vibranium enriched soil of Wakanda, as well as what is essentially a suit of advanced armor, passed down through the generations. T’Challa eventually is given an updated, more powerful suit, made by his sister, Shuri, one of the leading scientists of Wakanda.

The driving force of the plot of Black Panther comes as T’Challa and the other leaders of Wakanda decide on whether or not to share their knowledge with the rest of the world. Unbeknownst to them, outside threats have laid plans to infiltrate the isolated country, putting the entire Wakandan society into jeopardy.

As someone who was a little later than most to the Marvel fandom, I have to say, to me personally, Black Panther stands as one of the franchise’s best films. It’s unique story and setting, as well as the great characters and amazing sets, special effects, costumes, and locations, make it quite unlike any of the films that came before it. Personally, I can get a little bored of seeing New York destroyed for the 17th time, so for me it was a breath of fresh air to see a superhero movie focus on Africa, and the people and cultures that live there. I thought it was just what the MCU needed to breath some new life into their series.

Blu-ray Features

This Blu-ray comes with a great amount of special features, so let’s run through them quickly.

Director’s Intro

From Page to Screen: A Roundtable Discussion – Delve into the film’s making

Crowning of a New King – Explore the world of “Black Panther” in all its color and complexity

The Warriors Within – Get to know Wakanda’s women and the actors who portray them

The Hidden Kingdom Revealed – Wakanda’s diverse people

Wakanda Revealed: Exploring the Technology

Deleted Scenes

Gag Reel

Exclusive Sneak Peek at “Ant-Man and The Wasp”

Marvel Studios the First Ten Years: Connecting the Universe

Director’s Commentary

Everything here is a great look into the making of the film, and the thought and care that went into every choice. You’ll learn about the filmmaker’s research into the wide range of cultures in Africa to come up with the look of the people of Wakanda, as well as how much care went in to the portrayals of the female leaders of Wakanda. There’s tons of behind the scenes information, as well as a great selection of deleted scenes and bloopers, my personal favorites!

Final Thoughts

If you have yet to see this movie, I highly recommend this set, and if you loved this movie, then this set is a no-brainer. Black Panther is one of the best Marvel films yet, so don’t miss it!

Purchase Links

• Blu-ray: Amazon
• DVD: Amazon