Capsule Review (minimal spoilers):

Black Panther is the latest film from Marvel Comics about yet another superhero. T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) is the King of the imaginary African nation of Wakanda, who has recently inherited the position after his father’s death in Captain America: Civil War.  The nation struggles with the transition, which forms the basis of the story.

The story is full, and there’s a lot to take in, but the pacing keeps thing moving to a very satisfying resolution. Fortunately, it stands by itself – You do not need to know anything about Black Panther or any of the other Marvel superheroes to connect with the film.

The film has a runtime of 2 hours 14 minutes, so be advised.  As with other Marvel movies, there’s a mid-credits scene, and a post-credits scene, so don’t leave too early! Black Panther is available in 3-D, but it’s not necessary for this enjoyable entertainment. Obviously, I do recommend the film.

Main Review:

Wakanda is a poor nation, or so they would have you believe. However, that’s just an illusion they put out to the rest of the world. Millennia ago, a meteorite crashed into their land, and it was  composed of a material  that is the strongest known substance, and it also has enabled the Wakandans to advance their technology far above what the rest of the world can do. Internally, the nation has profited from this, but they keep it a secret. Some outsiders know, but that’s about as far as it goes.

That is the challenge of the movie – how can they contain the secret any longer? Should they? With the transition to a new king, it gives them the opportunity to reinvent the nation, and what it stands for. This drives the story, and it is a good story to tell. You don’t feel shorted or slighted on any front.

They properly portray the grandeur of the nation. Everything is lush, and the cast is reasonably fleshed out. None of the characters appear as window dressing. You get a sense that they all know who and what they are. It’s an impressive feat when you have more than a handful of major players. It’s a rare treat when it’s done right.

It’s a good movie, and it does take a welcome jab or two at the sort of film this is.  It is only a borderline superhero movie, in that it’s not the primary part of the film unlike most of the previous ones. I won’t go any further. Definitely see it in a theater, you won’t be disappointed.

Capsule Summary (minimal spoilers):

The 15:17 to Paris is the latest film from Clint Eastwood. It is a dramatization of a terrorist attack that occurred on a train that was travelling from Amsterdam to Paris. It was thwarted by the actions of three Americans, two of which were serving in the military.

This film has the rare honor of using the three people involved in the incident as actors, playing themselves. It has a reasonable plot where you get to know about them and their past. It’s a good story that’s worth seeing, but it leaves a couple questions about the event that are not addressed, but could have been. It’s entertaining, but you could probably wait for it to arrive on cable or streaming services, and not feel slighted.

Main Review:

This film has three sections. Each portion tells part of the story, and you get a good sense for who these guys are. It starts with Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, and Spencer Stone, and how they met as children. We get a good backstory, and it tells us of these kids getting their start as troublemakers. When they become adults, Alek and Spencer join different branches of the military, and later decide to meet up while on furlough in Europe. Spencer convinces Anthony to join them. The last portion of the film is the train ride itself.

The first section of the film has a lot of supporting characters. Judy Greer and Jenna Fisher are the mothers of Spencer and Alek. You get a sense of why these kids are the way they are, as they grow to adulthood. There are several blink-and-you’ll-miss-them actors here, but it’s always good to understand who these kids are.

The second section is really more of a travelogue for going to Europe on a short timeframe. The timing slows down a bit, and you can see that these guys aren’t actors, but they do a passable job in the movie. Clint Eastwood keeps things moving, and you get a good sense of the touristy nature of their trip, but you’re really waiting for the main event.

As to the resolution, I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the end of the film. While the situation is pretty close to the truth, there’s mention that some scenes were altered for dramatic effect. As for the end, there are some questions that I had that were unanswered by the film, or were glossed over.  It felt a little incomplete, but this Wikipedia link provides the answers I was looking for.

I do recommend the film, but don’t believe you must see it in theaters.