Page 2 February 22, 2018
Film Review
Black Panther Review: A New Kind of
Superhero Roars to the Big Screen
Chadwick Boseman as King T’Challa aka Black Panther in Black Panther. Courtesy of Marvel Studios
By Ryan Rojas
for www.cinemacy.com
Black Panther, the latest standalone
superhero movie from the Marvel cinematic
universe, roared to a record-shattering $218
million US debut over this past Presidents’ Day
weekend, making it the highest debut ever for
a February film and fifth highest opening of all
time. Further positive word-of-mouth reviews
are sure to continue to make this a must-see
movie -- and for good reason: Black Panther is
a vibrant and exciting movie that energizes the
superhero genre and feels vital to these times.
For those who have been keeping up with the
entirety of these Marvel movies, Prince T’Challa
-- aka Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman)
-- was first seen in 2016’s Captain America:
Civil War, in which he witnessed his father’s
passing at his feet. Black Panther sees T’Challa
returning home after the events of Civil War to
his homeland, the African nation of Wakanda,
to succeed the throne as king and rule over
his people as the Black Panther. Holding
court over his inner circle of royals, including
mother Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Wakandan
guards Okoye (Danai Gurira) and W’kabi
(Daniel Kaluuya), sister Shuri (Letitia Wright),
an untested T’Challa finds himself with the
responsibility of governing over his people
in this new position.
T’Challa finds that it’s also up to him to
keep his country flourishing, which it has
done for generations by staying hidden away
from the rest of the world while mining a rare
resource called vibranium. This is an element
stronger than steel that the Wakandans put
into everything from their buildings to their
clothes, and from what his sister Shuri makes
the Black Panther costume and gadgets. But
little does T’Challa know that vibranium is also
being coveted by enemies abroad, including
Klaue (Andy Serkis) and the American Erik
Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan). It’s Killmonger
who we learn is more than meets the eye and
has more than a bone to pick with T’Challa
as he challenges him for the throne and for
control of how to lead the nation forward
with less than peaceful results.
While Black Panther is the latest superhero
flick sandwiched between the rest of
the Marvel catalogue, it’s not your
traditional superhero movie. First of all,
there’s a new visual identity that director Ryan
Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Creed) injects into
the movie that keeps the whole thing lively
and excitable. And largely, there is a mythos
to Black Panther that makes the movie feel
even weightier next to its contemporaries.
Scenes of T’Challa connecting with his
ancestors for wisdom and guidance while he
connects with his destiny is a drama more
akin to Shakespeare than Superman.
It’s all pop entertainment escapism, but it’s
undeniable that there is political juice in this
thing. An interesting point of the movie is
that Black Panther must learn how to govern
in a political sense and do what’s best for
his people, which is a discourse that’s ever
more prescient today. Scenes in which King
T’Challa is confronted with how to rule over
Wakanda – whether to continue hiding from
the rest of the world and take care of its own
people with its rare resources – is especially
prescient to these times.
It can’t not be said that Black Panther is
also the face of a new kind of hero that has
been missing from these movies in quite some
time. Having embodied some of history’s
most important African American figures,
such as Jackie Robinson and Thurgood
Marshall, Boseman gives an effortless grace
and presence to his king-in-making. Jordan is
a mad dog off the leash, and other standout
performances include Lupita N’yongo as
Nakia and Forest Whitaker as Zuri. Seeing
people of color in major roles in native worlds
is empowering and gives Black Panther a
further distinction and importance compared
to others in the genre.
134 minutes. Black Panther is rated PG-13
for prolonged sequences of action violence,
and a brief rude gesture. Now playing. •
Finance
Common Tax Mistakes
to Avoid in 2018
(BPT) - Life changes - getting married, having
a baby, buying or selling a home, sending a
child off to college or retiring - often come
with changes to your tax situation. Overlooking
these changes when filing your taxes can lead
taxpayers to make mistakes that leave money on
the table, potentially impacting their refund at a
time when the average refund is about $2,800.
Here is a list of common tax mistakes to avoid
in the 2018 filing season to help ensure you don’t
miss any deductions or credits that you deserve.
One of the most common mistakes taxpayers
make is selecting the wrong filing status. A
taxpayer’s filing status can affect which credits
and deductions they’re eligible for, the value of
their standard deduction and their tax bracket.
One situation that can make choosing a filing
status difficult is when more than one filing
status seems to fit.
In addition, common clerical errors such as
mixing up names, forgetting to include information
reported on your W-2, 1099 or other forms, or
even making mathematical errors can also affect
your tax benefits.
Most taxpayers file their taxes using the standard
deduction, but you may be eligible for a variety of
itemized deductions that could possibly save you
more. Also, you may be eligible for “above-theline”
deductions and tax credits, none of which
require you to itemize. And it’s important to note
that the newly passed tax reform generally does
not impact these credits or deductions until you
file your 2018 tax return in 2019.
Twenty percent of eligible taxpayers,
particularly lower-income workers, do not
claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
Depending on their income and the number
of children they have, these taxpayers may
be eligible for an EITC of $503 to $6,242.
Under the PATH Act, taxpayers who claim
the EITC and who file early will have their
refunds delayed until mid-February. Despite the
delay, taxpayers should file as they normally
would to get their refund as soon as possible.
Depending on your academic program,
what year the student is in, income and other
restrictions, there are federal tax credits that
can help offset the costs of higher education
for yourself or your dependents. To qualify,
you must pay for post-secondary tuition
and fees for yourself, your spouse or your
dependent. Depending on the criteria, a student
may use the American Opportunity Credit of
up to $2,500 or the Lifetime Learning Credit
of up to $2,000.
Itemizing can save taxpayers hundreds
of dollars, as only one third of taxpayers
itemize but millions more should - especially
homeowners. Owning a home is often the
key that unlocks itemization, but some
taxpayers with high state taxes and charitable
contributions may also be able to itemize.
On average, the IRS announces annually
that approximately $1 billion goes unclaimed
in federal tax refunds. Taxpayers can claim
a refund for up to three years after the filing
deadline. So, in addition to filing your 2017
return, keep in mind to file your 2015 return
by April 17, 2018. If not, you will lose your
2015 refund. •
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