“Incredible” and “kinetic” are just a few of the loving words that people are using to describe and praise Marvel’s Black Panther.
The film from director Ryan Coogler had its first screenings Monday night and a premiere in Los Angeles. Official reviews won’t go out until Feb. 6, but audiences at the select screenings were able to share non-spoiler reactions on social media.
The film’s cast includes Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan and Lupita Nyong’o. It follows T’Challa (Boseman) after the death of his father, the king of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, and his ascension to the throne.
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The Los Angeles Times’ Jen Yamato wrote that it is the first Marvel movie about something real.
“Black Panther is incredible, kinetic, purposeful,” Yamato wrote. “A superhero movie about why representation & identity matters, and how tragic it is when those things are denied to people.”
“I never wanted this movie to end, and as soon as it did I wanted to go back,” tweeted Mashable critic Angie Han. “Solid action, smart story, tons of personality.”
Han and Vulture editor Kyle Buchanan both singled out Letitia Wright for her character Shuri, T’Challa’s inventor sister. Many spoke highly of Jordan’s Erik Killmonger, a villain, and Danai Gurira’s warrior character Okoye too.
A few called it Marvel’s most political film to date.
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Others were more tempered like writer Dave Schilling who says, “Black Panther is not the best Marvel movie. It’s not the worst Marvel movie. It’s an entertaining movie.”
IndieWire critic David Ehrlich wrote that it’s, “Like a Marvel movie but better. The action is predictably awful, but this is the first MCU film that has an actual sense of identity & history & musicality.”
WATCH BELOW: Black Panther trailer
Los Angeles Times’ Tre’vell Anderson compared the emotional highs to those in Wonder Woman. “I don’t even like superhero movies but THIS IS IT!” he tweeted. “I feel like I felt after watching Wonder Woman BUT BETTER! Like. Wow. I’m amazed!”
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“The representation of Black women in #BlackPanther made me feel seen,” tweeted film critic ReBecca Theodore-Vachon. “Seen in a way other superhero movies have not done well.”
Insecure actress Issa Rae said that Jordan is “the best villain that I’ve ever seen in my life.” She also said that she is inspired by the movie.
Warning: This video contains explicit language.
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Other celebrities and critics took to Twitter to share their reactions to the highly anticipated Marvel film.
Black Panther hits theatres on Feb. 16.
Watch the trailer in the video above.
—With files from the Associated Press
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