With FC favorite and story purr-fector, Ryan Coogler, perched behind the lens of Black Panther, the film honors vintage written material while advancing comic film making in splendid fashion. And it’s all we hoped for.

Wakanda represents a refreshing symmetry between a superhero origin story and the proximity to the origin of humanity. A nation hidden from the rest of the world and of vast beauty and resource, it exists as highly technical yet firmly traditional. Also rich with vibranium, Wakanda invites the envy and fancy of arms dealer Klaue (Serkis) and the revenge of jilted Killmonger (Jordan). Killmonger, familial nemesis to T’Challa (Boseman), brilliantly juices empathy, although a foe. Just in a slight glance, we find traits of greed, integrity, spite, strength, stubbornness and power all in play. And it’s natural.

T’Challa has a sister, Shuri (Wright), who soothes with her cadence and dominates with her intelligence. The rhythm of her appearances, brilliantly choreographed by Coogler, breathes cool and calm into the MCU mayhem, albeit minimal, that tries to creep into the film.

An epic, beautifully cast and just completely enjoyable film, Black Panther is groomed for Film Clas Elite status with 4.76 out of 5 napkins.