Black Panther was lacking in so many ways. I don't know the comics but nothing onscreen was intriguing. I sighed heavily in practically every scene. I didn't "see" Wakanda, I just heard about it. And it seemed too perfect, too good to be true or intriguing. Killmonger didn't seem like a great threat either. On his end, there was a lot of telling going on but not enough showing. His agents were all over the world waiting for his command to act on his behalf? I would have told the story of Black Panther quite differently. The set up for Killmonger could have been more effective to make him seem like an actual threat.
-When Black Panther and crew first fly into Wakanda, he should have gotten a call explaining that there was upheaval throughout the country. Someone somewhere was causing political unrest and those close to Black Panther were choosing sides. Who can he trust? THE COUNTRY IS ON THE BRINK OF WAR AND IT'S UP TO T'CHALLA TO SAVE IT. That's the story.
Anyway, there are falling outs all around the king but at least one person returns to him and gains his forgiveness.
Then it's revealed that there is someone behind all of this who wants the king's attention but this person, to taunt the king, remains unseen and unheard. Who is this person and why is he or she doing this? Is it actually someone close to him?
The military heads are overthrown. The king is overwhelmed because he's got other fish to fry. Then there's his first fight without his powers which he wins. However, the outcome of this fight divides the country even more. Victory? Eh.
Yet another devastation takes place and an entire city is destroyed, but from it comes a few survivors. One is an old man who tells the king and at least one other person the story of an orphaned boy. However, the audience sees the story being told through the king's eyes and he sees the story told set somewhere in Wakanda at an undisclosed time and in an undisclosed location. Specifics aren't given at first but the old man reveals all, answering the king's questions about the boy. Killmonger's bodywork should be mentioned about his kills. This is the moment the king has all of his questions answered about what's going on and why. This person who has been taunting him psychologically this whole time is a family member; his cousin, the one people have been referring to as Killmonger.
This shocks the king but the old man explains further who the players in the story were. The old man states plainly what his cousin wants; he wants revenge first and foremost. He wants the throne. Then, he wants to help his brothers and sisters around the world rise up and realize their full potential with the help of Vibranium. And then, we hear the king say, having learned the reason behind all of this devastation and tormenting, "my own cousin has done this to me. My own blood has betrayed me but I haven't even met him."
It should turn out that Killmonger managed to infiltrate Wakanda by using spies like Nakia. Spies were used to cause the upheaval and chaos and through them, Killmonger was able to get a visual lay of the land of Wakanda. But Killmonger during that time was on the outside preparing his agents.
In a lengthy flashback, we see Killmonger's actual story being told just before he himself enters Wakanda. But he, at first, should seem like just some guy off the street. But we seem him descend into his hideout where it's revealed he's feared by his followers on the outside. Then he should go shirtless in a room and we see him look at himself in the mirror and run a hand over his chest as a way to remind himself of why he's killed so many. We're reminded that this is the boy from the old man's story and that he's a bad guy with good intentions. We should hear him tell his comrades he's going to his real home now and that he needs them to be just as loyal in his absence as when he's present.-
To me, this would be a lot more interesting than what we got. We'd know who Killmonger is and what his motivations are before we even meet him. I give the film 2.5 of 5 stars. The story is so run of the mill and all of the characters are likable. The acting wasn't great either. To me, the world building lacked depth and as someone not familiar with the comics, the traditions of Wakanda seemed shallow lacked intrigue.
