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laketaj24 · 6 years

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Love and Hip-Hop: Wakanda, (Black Panther Headcannons)

A/N: I’m totally random and if you follow my Vikings posts you will figure out I’m obsessed with placing a fandom in the reality world 😂 I was bored on lunch and thought this up! Might add more, but this is just for fun! I hope you enjoy!

No Warnings lol

T’Challa “King” Udaku, Record Label CEO BP Music Group

T’Challa Confessional: What’s up! I’m T’Challa, an executive producer and the owner of BP Music Group. You probably know me by my stage name King. I still sing, but I would rather produce now. So, I started BP Music Group a year after my pops died, a tribute to him. We’ve been the hottest record label in all Wakanda for five years, no matter what you done heard. Our artists are untouchable. You probably done heard my music before producing artists like Daniel Cesar and SZA. The rock in my life is Nakia. She’s a special girl, she’s always there for me.

Nakia enters the studio while T’Challa is working with SZA. Sits in between them.

T’Challa: can we help you?

Nakia: Nah, continue.

T’Challa: O-Kay. (rolls his eyes starting the song back over, leans awkwardly to see SZA.) This song would be great for you.

T’Challa Confessional: She a little protective. But I wouldn’t trade her for anything. She been down for me since we were kids. Haven’t got married yet because it’s just not the time.

- Never cheats on his girl, but when they’re on a break he wilds out

- Dropped Erik from the label for personal differences

- Hasn’t had a hit in three years, blames it on the music industry

- Asks his mom about every business decision

- Best friends with W’Kabi and M’Baku

- Only hangs around Erik when he needs something

- Thinks his label is bigger than it truly is, (DJ SELF low key)

Nakia, Fashion Desinger, Former Milaje Trois Member

Nakia confessional: I’m Nakia. I used to sing and all that but I wanted to get away from all of that. I currently run a clothing line called Wakandan Glam, it’s nothing major. Just a million-dollar company. We make shoes, clothes and I’m starting to dabble in cosmetics. I’ve been with King for over ten years and he still hasn’t proposed. I keep talking to his mom and she ain’t got the answer either. So, I set up a deadline for myself, one more year and I’m moving on. There are several other men that want this successful, educated black woman. You feel me? Okay. Good.

Hands T’Challa a magazine with rings and points one.

Nakia: Just in case you wondering.

T’Challa: Aight. But I wasn’t. (hands her the magazine back, the continues to watch the game on TV)

Nakia Confessional: One more Year.

- Used to sing in a girl group called The Milaje Trois with Ayo and Okoye.

- Thought she was the lead singer, still gets a rush when people ask for her autograph.

- Claims she started the company from scratch but T’Challa is the money

- Talks to Ramonda about her son and tries to convince him she’s the wife

- Lives with T’Challa but always suspects he’s cheating, follows him and goes through his phone from time to time.

- Still close friends with O’Koye but doesn’t trust her around T’Challa.

- Slept with Erik once when she was drunk, refuses to admit it. (Granted he got a video)

Okoye, “Koko”, former member of Milaje Trois, A&R Rep for BP Music Group

Okoye confessional: Hi, I’m O’koye, Head of A&R for BP Music Group. I’ve represented T’Challa for over five years and I represent other artists such as Shuri and Bucky. I try to keep everything professional and I put up with nonsense, which can be hard as hell working with Shuri because she always has something up her sleeve. I’m married to W’Kabi, he just got out of prison for embezzlement. I don’t want to talk about, just know this dude is thin ice with me. I mean thin.

W’Kabi: Babe, you hungry?

O’Koye: Yeah we can eat after I finish this session. (Points to Shuri whose showing her the new lyrics to her song)

W’Kabi: I’m hungry now. (He shrugs) she can wait. Can’t you wait?

O’Koye: (eyes widen and slams down her phone) Hey, what did I say

O’Koye confessional: I mean he doesn’t understand I’m the bread in this relationship which means I steer the boat. He’s. (Pinches the bridge of her nose) Whatever, like I said… this damn ice.

- Plans on leaving BP Music Group one day and opening a management firm

- Best friends with T’Challa makes him weary of making life decisions he hasn’t thought out yet, like marrying Nakia.

- Saves her money,

- Does not fraternize at work

- Would rather be single sometimes when she thinks about the bad image W’Kabi brings

- Does not like Erik, but is proud of him for forming his own record label.

- Best friends with Ayo, does not support her relationship with Erik

Erik, Golden Jag Music CEO, Producer

Erik Confessional: Yo, what’s going on people. I’m Erik, the sole owner of Golden Jag Muzik. I’ve had several hits including: Arch that Shit, Bottom Out and Throw it Back. I left BP Music Group about five years ago, because his shit got wack, and now I manage artists and get sold out shows and shit. Right now, I got this new artists named Chiron, he young I’m teaching him the ropes and shit. I have no woman, and no kids, that I know of. (Pauses) Call me the pullout champ. (winks at camera) I fuck with this one chick heavy but she just cool. Tryna get her rap game off the ground. Following my golden Rule: Secure the Bag then Secure the Ass. It’s all about the dollar.

Ayo: Did you book me for the Women Festival? Ayo sits in Erik’s lap planting kisses down his neck.

Erik: I mean what you gone give me in return, you know the strings I’m gonna have to pull to get you there? (touches her face)

Ayo: Just do it, E.

Erik: I’ll see what I can do after I see what you can do

Ayo: You fuck Chiron before you book his tours

Erik: Hell nah.

Erik Confessional: I really like her, though. I think that she can go far in the game and I plan on taking her there. And Chiron too.

- Claims to be single but gets mad if Ayo talks to anyone else

- Fucks with other girls won’t let Ayo know though

- Doesn’t like T’Challa and usually ignores his calls

- All his classic hits are still big in the club scene but he can’t sell a new record for nothing

- Mentors Chiron,

- Gets all his info from Media Takeout and TMZ and gossip bloggers

- Best Friends with W’Kabi but constantly calls him a bitch

M’Baku, CEO of Jabari Markets

M’Baku: I’m M’Baku. I don’t sing. I don’t dance. I run a marketing company that advertises the hottest artist in Wakanda. I pair with both BP Music and Golden Jag. Their artists use me for promotions and booking. I just like to make money. Jabari Markets is something that took time and we don’t allow people to bullshit us, catch these hands if that’s the case. There is no lucky lady currently. I just like to work, get this money and travel. Nothing better than not having the strings these other two got.

T’Challa flips his phone over.

M’Baku: Man will you just answer the damn phone? (sips his Hennessey.)

T’Challa: It’s Nakia.

Erik: (phone vibrates) Now she calling me. Why she won’t call you?

M’Baku: I blocked her number. I ain’t got time for that shit.

M’Baku Confessional: Like I said, I keep to myself and I handle This business. I’m not like the rest. My business is first.

- born and raised in Wakanda, lives on estate in the mountains to stay away from drama

- thinking about recruiting small femal staff

- likes Erik okay, doesn’t trust w’Kabi

-friends with T’Challa for over fifteen years, marketed his tours free of charge

- does not take kindly to threats, will beat ass if disrespected

Tagging: @wakanda-inspired @misspooh @valynsia @vanitykocaine @harleycativy @jecourt @virgosapphire79 @eriknutinthispoosy @sparklemichele @theunsweetenedtruth @ahhhhkeya @iamrheaspeaks @thiccdaddy-mbaku @muse-of-mbaku @myboyfriendgiriboy @someareblindtoitsbeauty @brittyevans @almostpurelysmut @yaachtynoboat711 @readsalot73 @ivarsshieldmadien @slimmiyagi @cinnabearice @bidibidibombaclaat @royallyprincesslilly @hutchj @igetcarriedawaywithyou @madamslayyy @bartierbakarimobisson @killmongersaidheyauntie @hdkween

#black panther imagine #black panther headcanon #laketa j imagines #laketa j writes #erik killmonger #tchalla udaku #nakia #okoye #mbaku #wkabi

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briangroth27 · 6 years

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Black Panther Review

I absolutely loved Black Panther! The film felt like it belonged in the MCU while successfully carving out its own corner of the universe, making it feel like a world unto itself. Even with its fantastical technological wonders, Wakanda felt real and the incorporation of various African cultures gave the fictional nation a history and texture that made it feel fully-formed and granted a powerful sense of depth to the proceedings. The cast was excellent across the board, supported by writing (from Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole) that gave everyone moments to shine and stellar direction from Coogler to match.

Full Spoilers...

I didn’t know much about Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) going in, having only seen him in Civil War, Fantastic Four and Avengers cartoons, and an appearance here and there in the comics. Civil War got me interested in the character and Black Panther cemented me as a fan; he’s hands down one of the most engaging characters in the Marvel Universe! Chadwick Boseman is effortlessly cool as T’Challa, a down-to-Earth king, badass superhero, and charming romantic lead. In an unexpected and very welcome twist, none of T’Challa’s inner circle are afraid to call him out or have a bit of fun at his expense (depending on the character), which made them feel like a family and gave him a much more grounded sensibility than I was expecting. I liked seeing T’Challa as a more measured and mature man here, growing nicely from the vengeance-obsessed version we saw previously; his first steps toward ruling Wakanda and deciding what kind of king he wanted to be—and what sort of country he’d like to rule—were great to see. That T’Challa was willing to listen to wisdom from all sides—including his enemies—made him an even more compelling and unique hero. T’Challa is bar none the most likable and relatable royal the MCU has given us, with none of the pompous, somewhat bloodthirsty bravado of Thor or the labor camp-minded royal family on Inhumans. That went a long way to making me sympathize with a monarchy instead of yearning to see it overthrown; T’Challa actually does care about the people under his rule. I do wish we’d gotten to see how T’Challa interacted with and was seen by the common people of Wakanda instead of just his inner circle and the other tribal leaders, but this was a very small nitpick that can easily be remedied in the inevitable Black Panther 2 or even Infinity War.

It was awesome to see such a diverse cast in this film and I’m equally pleased we got to see so many strong women showcased here (I can’t imagine how much more important this film must be for African American and female audiences who are finally getting representation like this onscreen). Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) was awesome from the get-go as a Wakandan spy living in the outside world, working to help those in need. I loved her insistence that she couldn’t settle down as a queen knowing there were people outside Wakanda who could benefit from her skills and Wakanda’s influence. It was refreshing to see a hero’s love interest not only have an important life of her own completely separate from the lead’s arc, but to see her unwilling to sacrifice that life to please her guy. Nyong’O brought an engaging, likable, and determined energy to Nakia and I hope we get to see much more of her as the MCU evolves in a post-Infinity Wars universe. Letitia Wright’s Shuri was another standout, stealing every scene she’s in with an infectious, upbeat energy, and I loved her sister/brother relationship with T’Challa. They felt totally natural as siblings, with her needling him from time to time but still clearly sharing a relaxed, loving bond with him. Shuri is very likely the smartest person we’ve met in the MCU so far, and that’s awesome! Like others have suggested online, I cannot wait to see her become best friends with Peter Parker and outsmart Tony Stark at every turn. I loved that she loved showing off and trying out all the gadgets she made, and it was so cool that this princess got to be the Q to T’Challa’s James Bond. At first I thought it would’ve been better had Shuri remote-piloted the aircraft to shoot down Killmonger’s (Michael B. Jordan) forces instead of Ross (Martin Freeman)—she had the experience with the tech to do it, after all—but my friend pointed out that putting her on the front lines instead was a chance for her to directly stand up and fight for what she believed in instead of repeating what she’d done earlier in the movie, which gave her a bit more range. Plus, her panther blaster gauntlets were cool! I’m really interested to see how running the outreach center in Oakland with Nakia changes Shuri.

Danai Gurira gave an excellent performance as Okoye, leader of Wakanda’s elite Dora Milaje, who became torn between duty to Wakanda—and whatever king ruled it—and loyalty to T’Challa. I went in expecting a stoic warrior, but while Okoye was definitely effortlessly badass, I loved that she was able to have a sense of humor about T’Challa freezing when he saw Nakia (and able to jovially inform Shuri of this fact); it was clear they were more than just king and royal guard, they felt like old friends. Okoye and her Dora Milaje were an awesome facet of Wakandan society and I can’t wait to learn more about them in the future. I think Okoye’s relationship with W’Kabi (Daniel Kaluuya) was perhaps a little too vague—amounting to the two of them referring to each other as “my love” without an explanation of what exactly that entailed—but it didn’t hurt the movie or either character for me. Instead, it added a bit more drama to W’Kabi’s decision to follow Killmonger while Okoye ultimately sided with T’Challa. I still would’ve liked to know more about the details of that relationship, though. Also regarding her relationships, it’s a shame a scene hinting at her being attracted to women was cut, but hopefully that will be fixed in a sequel.

W’Kabi’s insistence that the Wakandans take action to capture Klaue (Andy Serkis) and forcibly help the oppressed around the world was a great contrast to both Nakia’s stealthy attempts at helping outsiders and T’Challa’s initial belief that they should keep Wakanda separate. I loved that he was able to convince T’Challa to hunt down Klaue instead of leaving him to the CIA and that he spoke for a contingent of Wakandans who wanted to take action but not go totally public (at least at first). The fact that someone had to argue for capturing a criminal who’d attacked Wakanda was a great display of how intensely isolated the nation was and W’Kabi’s opinions added to the complexity of Wakandan views on the outside world. It was brilliant (and much more realistic) of the writers not to limit Wakandans to two clearly defined viewpoints. Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) was perfect as T’Challa’s regal mother and I loved what we saw of her relationship with him and Shuri. I also liked that she was genuinely willing to make peace with M’Baku (Winston Duke) to stop Killmonger despite him having earlier challenged T’Challa for leadership of Wakanda. It would’ve been easy to make her stuck in her ways and refuse to go to someone like M’Baku, but while it was a concern that he could become a problem, I liked that she had the faith to offer him the heart-shaped herb to give him the power of the Black Panther. I’m definitely interested in how Ramonda will react to the new era T’Challa is ushering in.

M’Baku was another great character I’m excited to know more about in future sequels. Like I’ve seen pointed out elsewhere, the idea that he and the Jabari tribe could peacefully exist separately from the rest of Wakanda—despite worshipping a different god and speaking a different language—was a refreshing surprise. I was definitely fooled into thinking that M’Baku would want power if Ramonda gave him the heart-shaped herb, so giving her the injured T’Challa instead was a great twist. M’Baku screwing with Ross’ expectations of what “tribal” behaviors were was funny and I’m glad the film smartly didn’t refer to M’Baku by his comics alter-ego, “Man-Ape.” How M’Baku and King T’Challa interact going forward is absolutely something I’m eager to see. Will M’Baku’s help in taking Wakanda back from Killmonger bring them closer together or show him that even with supernatural powers, T’Challa needs help holding his country and is potentially weaker than he seems? Forrest Whitaker’s Zuri was a perfect connection to the history of Wakanda, its treasured ceremonies, and its supernatural aspects, balancing Shuri’s high-tech modernity excellently. It’s impressive how easily the film weaved together supernatural and sci-fi aspects, and the extrapolation of those things into the characters was masterful.

N’Jobu was only in the movie briefly, but I enjoyed his reaction to the world outside Wakanda. Sterling K. Brown’s performance absolutely sold me on his passion and the impact he’d have on his son, despite his short screentime. John Kani’s T’Chaka was very welcome and it was cool that he got to converse with T’Challa in the afterlife, another supernatural flourish that served to broaden the Black Panther mythos rather than muddle them with too many different sources of weirdness. I liked that T’Chaka’s past sins not only made T’Challa realize he was not perfect, but tied into T’Challa’s decision about whether to reveal Wakanda or not and gave Killmonger another reason to hate Wakanda. I was especially surprised and pleased that this hatred complimented Killmonger’s bigger goal of helping people rise up against their oppressors: his argument with Wakanda was that it stood by while people were enslaved, not solely that T’Challa’s dad killed his. That gave him so much more dimension than just being a revenge-minded villain.

As pointed out elsewhere, the film expertly weaves the mystical, science fiction, space, and superhero aspects of the Marvel Universe together. It also includes an added layer of social relevance in Killmonger’s concern about the state of African-Americans and others whose ancestors were sold as slaves around the world and are still oppressed today. All of this is tied into the film’s MacGuffin, vibranium, but Coogler wisely doesn’t frame the plot around some cliché MCU villain like an evil businessman or government agent seeking to plunder Wakanda’s vibranium (which probably would’ve been the most obvious place to go). Instead, Erik “Killmonger” Stevens has a legitimate point and that makes him the best MCU villain yet. Enemies who are out to burn everything down for no reason can be threatening—at least in terms of power—and corrupt businessmen and governments often make for obvious real-world villain parallels, but I would definitely like the MCU to start putting more effort into giving their villains honorable impulses taken to horrible, destructive extremes. That’s far more interesting and complex: it gives the heroes something to fight beyond a set of cool powers (and gives the audience something to reckon with in the real world and within ourselves). Killmonger being suspiciously watched while viewing a display of his own stolen culture is a perfect example of the simultaneous scrutiny and dismissal of African-American youth in present-day America, instantly giving him a relatable, realistic connection to the audience. Not only does that scene touch on this problem with our society, but it also masterfully ties into the plot. That Erik was able to so thoroughly affect T’Challa, essentially pushing him toward revealing Wakanda to the world so that it could do the most good, was a great twist. While the film does play into the MCU’s formula of a hero and villain with identical powers facing off, Erik’s position as king of Wakanda (a development I didn’t see coming at all; I was sure T’Challa would beat him in the challenge and he’d start an uprising) made the “mirror image” plot point feel much more natural. Their opposing views on how to best run Wakanda also gave them a great argument to fuel their physical battle, and that’s something every superhero movie needs to aim for (I’m more than a little wary about Thanos’ goal of killing half of everything resonating with the Avengers anywhere near as closely as Killmonger and Vulture related to their heroes). Killmonger’s final lines, about wanting to die a free man instead of going back into a cage, were absolutely powerful and affecting.

Ulysses S. Klaue was fun as an entirely different sort of villain. Serkis was clearly having a blast playing the cartoonish supervillain archetype and I loved it. I’m always up for some classic villainy and this script gave us just the right amount. I didn’t expect Klaue to die, given his status as one of Black Panther’s greatest villains, but I don’t think they were going to do much more with him than what we got. A solid chase/fight with T’Challa with an argument about the Wakandans being hypocritical, an introduction for Killmonger, and a connection to Ross were all we needed from him, and we got just that. I definitely don’t want Everett K. Ross to become the new Agent Coulson, uniting the next generation of Avengers or something; I think the heroes should unite themselves (as a king, T’Challa could certainly lead that charge if Steve Rogers is no longer around). That said, I liked what the movie gave us of Ross and he was played with just the right amount of wonder at Wakandan technology. While I’ve seen criticisms online about him playing such a big role in the climax, like a claim that they still needed a middle-aged white guy to stop the bad guy, I disagree. He had piloting skills and needed Shuri’s tech to get the job done (she even configured the holographic projection to mimic a plane he was familiar with), so it’s not like he was successful just because he was a white guy. This also isn’t a Batman Begins situation, where Batman’s actions on the train with Ras Al Ghul were irrelevant to the finale because Gordon blew up the train tracks. Had T’Challa not defeated Killmonger, Eric still could’ve rallied his supporters and Wakanda would likely be in a civil war. I think Ross helped as much as was needed to be useful, but I don’t think he overshadowed anyone.

The complexities that must arise from five tribes living in such close proximity to each other, coupled with fun aspects like war rhinos, the mystical veldt afterlife, Shuri’s technological wonders, made this a world I want to visit many, many more times! Wakandan society seems like it’s brimming with interesting social structures, so I hope the sequel really digs into how T’Challa and his people relate to one another. I doubt everyone will be happy he revealed their paradise to the world and I wonder how quickly the needs of the international community will start to weigh on the Wakandans. How they balance their own needs with those of the world will be very interesting to see. I also absolutely love that African society here is portrayed as advanced, rather than what we often see in Hollywood films, and I was impressed by how easily a place as fantastical as Wakanda was rendered as a real, breathing community. I think it’s cool how much of Africa was represented here without Wakanda feeling like a generic and homogenous “Africa” (at least to my eyes; someone with African heritage might see that aspect very differently). While pulling aspects of several different African cultures to create the fictional Wakandan culture may be problematic for some (as I’ve seen online), I think the script has enough leeway to say people from those cultures were the ones who founded Wakanda in the first place.

Bucky’s (Sebastian Stan) brief cameo was cool and I would much rather see him find peace and purpose as a figure with the Wakandan War Dogs—if the White Wolf title is a hint he’s supposed to be the MCU version of Hunter, comics’ T’Challa’s adopted brother—than see him take over the Captain America mantle. If he took over as Cap, I have a hard time seeing how he’d be different from Rogers in the role besides being less upstanding and more angsty, neither of which I want to see (if the mantle must be passed, Sam Wilson seems like a chance to explore what today’s Captain needs to be/represent and adding flight to the shield would make for entirely new fight dynamics). In Wakanda, it feels like Bucky can forge an identity for himself.

At this point, I’m far more excited for Black Panther 2 than I am for Infinity War. I want much more of this world and these characters, and I’m excited to see how they interact with the rest of the world now that Wakanda’s no longer a secret. It would be a huge misstep if Wakanda is destroyed in Infinity War, so I hope that film doesn’t go that direction, since it feels like it would derail everything that’s been set up here. Instead, I’m hoping Wakanda is at the forefront of rebuilding the world after Thanos is dealt with.

Black Panther is still in theaters, commanding the box office for an astonishing fifth weekend in a row and it certainly deserves it. If you haven’t seen it yet, what are you waiting for? A trip to Wakanda is definitely worth a trip to the theater!

Check out more of my reviews, opinions, and original short stories here!

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thisselflovecamebacktome · 6 years

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So I went to see Black Panther today and it was really good. Like I was worried going in because it was like two and a half hours and typically that’s far too long for a movie to not feel dragged out in my opinion, but Black Panther somehow manages to actually feel appropriately timed. Anyway, onto my spoilery thoughts:

- All up this movie was brilliant and felt like a breath of fresh air in comparison to other movies, and specifically Marvel movies. The fact that it doesn’t add drama for the sake of drama was greatly appreciated.

- Likewise, I’m glad that the story didn’t revolve around romance nor the drama of Nakia wanting to remain a spy over being a queen. However, if I’m totally honest, I feel like Nakia’s role as a love interest felt unneeded. Like I feel they could have done away with the romance and made her a sister/friend to T’Challa or given her role to Shuri and it would have been the same story.

- I also felt like two challenges were unneeded. Personally I would have found some other way to show M’Baku’s contempt for the leadership. It especially doesn’t make sense that M’Baku talks about keeping things traditional when he challenges T’Challa, but then is all like “Lol idc” when T’Challa and the group tell him about a leader who is even less traditional taking over. Like I know he comes around in the end, but that whole Jabari tribe plot seemed underdeveloped and illogical at times. In fact, despite me feeling like it was a main theme, the traditionalism vs modernism theme felt underdeveloped and I hope in future movies they go back to that.

- Erik seemed like a bit of an Edgelord tbh. Like all that talk about how he’s going to outsmart everyone in power at the moment? Sounds a lot like Littlefinger to me... and we all know how that turned out. Like really, he was just an angry young adult who thought he knew better than everyone else. Also, he knows how greed and corruption made the race issue the world has even bigger and yet he doesn’t consider that will happen again with this technology? And in some ways, it’s a shame, because while violence is always wrong and so on, the idea that he brings to the table about helping those less fortunate to fight back is obviously a good one, even if his methods aren’t. They also mirror yet contrast Nakia’s goals so well that it would have been nice to have some interaction between the two. Finally, it felt a little weird that Erik seemed to be talking about a long term plan for Wakanda and yet burned all ways to give the next black panther their power? Like I know he was doing it so he couldn’t be challenged, but what happens when he has kids? Would he not want the assurance of their power to make sure his kids keep the throne? Regardless of all this though, Michael played the role really well and was extremely attractive doing it ;)

- I personally really liked the writing for Okoye. In many ways, while it gave Varys vibes, I liked the writing for her a lot more. Like it felt less like a “Who’s/What’s the least bad for the land?” situation and more an actual “Who will help the land?” one. And I know people will probably be like “But she sided with Erik!” but literally there was no other choice at that point. M’Baku lost to T’Challa, lets be real, he wasn’t going to win to Erik, especially considering I doubt Erik would have allowed the loss of the black panther powers beforehand. Likewise, starting a revolution would have 1) just lead to mass death and 2) even if they won, there was no one left to take over which would have lead to more fighting/killing until they figured it out. So as bad as Erik was, with nearly everyone thinking that T’Challa was dead, backing Erik was what was best for Wakanda until another opportunity came about.

- Shuri was the best character to be honest. I really hope she doesn’t get swept aside in future movies.

- I’m actually super surprised that the soundtrack didn’t play a bigger role in the movie. Like when I heard it the other day, it really felt like it was going to perfectly fit in. I mean I don’t think it’s a bad thing it didn’t play a bigger role, just not what I was expecting.

- Finally, I’m glad the shorts at the end gave us that linking bridge between this and Infinity War because to be honest, I was a little confused at how they were going to get from the “official” ending to the part in the Infinity War trailer where Steve is there.

All up, it was just a really brilliant movie, and while I think Infinity War is going to be a mess, I’m really hoping the future Black Panther movies will stand up to the standard this one has put in place, because frankly, it could make it one of the best movie, and especially superhero movie franchises of all time.

#black panther

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junker-town · 6 years

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The Bucks’ Game 7 loss ends a season choke full of missed opportunities

Milwaukee could have and should have been better this season, and simply weren’t.

The Milwaukee Bucks are a Chick-Fil-A combo missing the waffle fries, or a new Drake banger missing the drumbeat. There’s something essential that’s missing about them when they otherwise should be great.

If you were to predict the league’s best player in 2021, Giannis Antetokounmpo might top the list. The 23-year-old is sensational right now, a superstar whose game doesn’t quite resemble anyone we’ve ever seen, and he’s only getting better. He improved in several categories this season, although though his very early buzz to be the MVP favorite quickly palpitated, he’ll still surely finish in the top-five voting.

Antetokounmpo isn’t on an island, or it doesn’t seem to be: the 26-year-old Khris Middleton is one of the league’s most underrated players; Malcolm Brogdon was an unusual Rookie of the Year last season but a promising young prospect all the same; Jabari Parker returned in the season’s second half; and the team even traded for Eric Bledsoe early in the year to add even more depth.

So why did this Milwaukee team finish just 44-38, secure only the No. 7 seed, and lose in the first round to a Boston Celtics team missing Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, and for most of Game 7, Jaylen Brown?

That’s exactly what happened in the win-or-go-home matchup on Saturday, a 112-96 blowout that was never particularly close. Milwaukee hemorrhaged points during a hideous first quarter stretch that featured Matthew Dellavedova and Tyler Zeller playing together, and they treaded water at best the rest of the game. Even their blossoming star, Antetokounmpo, struggled mightily while scoring 22 points on 7-of-16 shooting.

Against this Boston team — undermanned and thus much less talented — that was simply unacceptable.

Why were the Bucks so disappointing?

The easy and partially accurate answer is the coaching. Jason Kidd was fired midseason, a late January move that briefly sparked the team only for them to trail back down to earth yet again. His stubborn refusal to stick with an overly aggressive defensive approach sunk him, and there was reportedly drama happening behind the scenes that influenced him being ousted, too.

The interim replacement, Joe Prunty, never appeared to leave his mark on the team, which isn’t totally unexpected. Prunty didn’t clean up the offense, and he didn’t markedly change the defense. Milwaukee still allowed too many open three-pointers and layups while failing to generate those shots consistently on the other end. The Celtics series certainly exposed the large coaching disparity between the teams.

Milwaukee has team-building issues, too, though. They were brought together with an extreme emphasis on length and wingspan, and a better coach should be able to harness those skills in a more capable defense. But they also need a better bench — that Shabazz Muhammad was able to be signed late in the season and then play heavy postseason minutes for them is inexcusable. As mentioned above, the one early stretch that truly sunk Milwaukee in Game 7 was a terrible bench lineup that failed to do much of anything.

The Bucks have two problems: that their extremely talented players weren’t properly used, and that they also had to rely on players that just weren’t talented enough. The twofold problem is their biggest offseason priority, and for Antetokounmpo’s sake, we hope they can fix it.

Good riddance to this year’s team, though.

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dulcedemon · 5 years

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Current Attractions...

Thieves Like Us(1974): This prison...sponsored by Coca-Cola. This prison break...sponsored by Coca-Cola. This bank heist...sponsored by Coca-Cola. This awkward romance while on the lam...sponsored by Coca-Cola. Watch the movie, then watch it again with the director's commentary. It's worth it just to have the Coca-Cola thing explained. The setting is dank, moisture saturated Mississippi in the 1930s. Robert Altman talks about having to avoid active flood zones during filming in the commentary. Shelley Duvall and Keith Carradine are total naturals in their acting. They are fantastic together. Louise Fletcher is powerful in her role as Mattie. Keith Carradine's dog plays a small role, too. Old radio serials used as part of the soundtrack really enhance the mood. While watching the movie, I jokingly made a prediction about a certain prop. I was sorry to be right.

Gold Diggers of 1935: Good story with Marx Brothers style comedy, only without the Marx Brothers. In just two years, most of the cast of the 1933 version had moved on to bigger and better things, or faded into obscurity, except for Dick Powell, who stars here. Frank McHugh just about upstages everyone with his comedic performance. The dancing pianos are quite a novelty. Also, I never loved and hated Lullaby of Broadway so much. That is some cold ass shit, Busby Berkeley.

Black Panther(2018): My standard superhero movie "review" applies: Lots of stuff gets broken, glass gets shattered, asses get kicked, things get really bad until they get better again. This one is exceptionally pretty while it does those things. The locations, costumes, and special effects are terrific. I really like that being the Black Panther is something that has to be earned, and defended. It can be inherited. It can be challenged for in ritual combat. It can be transferred, which is a great concept. Whoever designed the Jabari throne room deserves an award.

Stink!(2015): It does a lot to educate the general public, many of whom use multiple fragranced, chemical laden products in their daily routines. It also touches on extreme chemical sensitivity, and how difficult, if not impossible, product manufacturers and chemical companies make it for consumers to find out exactly what chemical ingredients are being used. People(like me) who have fragrance allergies, and other chemical sensitivities will find themselves nodding along. The people who need to see this the most are the ones walking around in their own personal synthetic stink cloud. One thing I've learned the hard way(after a few itchy rashes), always wash new clothes before wearing them. Always. Even if the items don't smell foul to you --ALWAYS! A lot of dyes used in clothing are highly caustic; any residue left in the fabric after the manufacturing process can irritate skin. Also, the darker the color, the nastier the chemicals used to make the dye. I don't know why this is so, but it is. I favor black as the color of choice in my wardrobe; I'm speaking from experience. There is one pair of black pants that I had bought a few years ago, which I gave up trying to get the chemical stink out of after about ten washes. I relegated them to gardening/home improvement project use, and even then I wear another pair of pants under them to avoid getting a rash. I'm too frugal to throw them out, and too embarrassed to give them to a charity clothing drive, because of how bad they reek. Thankfully, many personal care and household products offer unscented versions. I use these, because I have no choice, and neither does anyone who chooses to live under the same roof as I. Whenever I discuss this topic, I can't help but think of The Incredible Shrinking Woman.

Elle(2016): This is the only one on the list that I didn't like. It's really too bad, because it's also an incidental Christmas movie, which I get a kick out of. It seems their budget would only afford them one song. The song: Lust For Life[Iggy Pop] is a poor fit. The first time that it gets played, the characters joke about how no one likes it except for one guy. It works in that one scene, but using it more than once was a mistake. There is an indecisiveness in the overall tone. Is it supposed to be a dark comedy? If so, it's not funny. Is it supposed to be a hard hitting drama? If that's the case, its punches miss the mark by a mile. I love watching Isabelle Huppert, but her character here is thoroughly despicable beyond the reach of audience sympathy. The first time I saw her on screen was during my senior year of high school, when my English teacher had the class watch Madame Bovary(1991). It was our reward for finishing the book.

#movies #documentary

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buddyrabrahams · 6 years

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10 NBA coaches on the hot seat this season

The NBA is a “get wins or get out” enterprise. The business can be callous at times, spurning head coaches who have seemingly earned job security — a lesson Dwane Casey learned the hard way in May. It’s still hard to imagine Casey on the Pistons’ sideline.

It may seem ridiculous to already be speculating about which coaches could be fired this season, but the 2018-19 season is practically upon us, and before we know it, some team will be searching for a new leader. With the preseason already underway, here are 10 coaches on the hot seat.

10. Alvin Gentry, Pelicans

You could argue Anthony Davis’ impressive late-season surge saved Gentry’s job last season. The Pelicans won their first playoff series in the Davis era — an encouraging sign — but the Warriors quickly vanquished New Orleans’ momentum. This seems to be a pivotal moment for the franchise. The Pelicans didn’t have much spending money this summer, as the squad had already dished out hefty contracts to players like E’Twaun Moore, Alexis Ajinca, and Omer Asik. The team allowed DeMarcus Cousins to bolt and signed bargain-basement assets Jahlil Okafor and Elfrid Payton, in addition to Julius Randle. The Pelicans are reliant on Davis sustaining MVP-level production; if he and Jrue Holiday crash back to earth early this season, however, GM Dell Demps — left with little flexibility to add another impact player — may opt to make a coaching change.

9. Tyronn Lue, Cavaliers

It seems the pressure should finally be off of Lue now that LeBron James has joined a new team, right? We disagree. It’s no secret that King James was highly influential in Lue replacing David Blatt midway through the 2015-16 season. Though Cleveland reached the Finals in each year under Lue, the Cavs’ success was always served with a hefty side of drama. With his ties to LeBron now irrelevant, Lue’s job security appears precarious. The Cavs’ talent level is suddenly average — if you’re looking at it optimistically — and the team this summer doubled down on Kevin Love, giving him a four-year extension. That indicates the team will presumably build around the 30-year-old Love. With Cleveland’s finances in disarray and no real prospect of competing for a title in the near future, the Cavs appear headed downhill fast, and Lue could lose his job as a result of a bad season.

8. Mike Malone, Nuggets

In April, Denver GM Tim Connelly said Malone’s job was safe. “I guess [questioning Malone’s job status is] the unfortunate narrative of professional basketball, but Mo’s done a fantastic job,” Connelly told the Denver Post. The Nuggets narrowly missed out on the postseason. With a roster that’s brimming with young talent, you have to wonder whether Malone’s job will indeed be safe if the Nuggets limp out of the gate. With a young core centered on Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic, and Gary Harris, expectations are high. Malone’s contract is up after 2018-19, so it wouldn’t be a big surprise for Denver to part ways with the former Kings head coach. To hold onto his job, Malone will need his team’s defense to improve; last season, the Nuggets had the fifth-worst defensive rating in the league.

7. Luke Walton, Lakers

With great (star) power comes great responsibility. As Lue noted, having LeBron on the roster generates “outside tension,” which puts “added pressure immediately on the coaches.” Walton now has arguably the toughest role in the league: coaching LeBron. Walton’s job already seemed in jeopardy last season, when LaVar Ball was calling out the young coach. The Lakers have improved in each season under Walton, but expectations are at a new level this season. In Cleveland, Lue got a bit of a break because fans — and management — recognized LeBron had little talent surrounding him. In L.A., however, the situation is different. The Lakers are flush with promising young pieces, and they shelled out cap space to acquire veteran role players like Rajon Rondo and Lance Stephenson this summer. Though the Lakers’ long-term prospects are encouraging, the situation this season has all the makings of something that could go wrong out of the gate. The team lacks shooters and a reliable second scoring option. If the early season goes poorly, the 38-year-old Walton could be the fall guy.

6. Doc Rivers, Clippers

The Clippers have officially moved on from Lob City — Chris Paul was traded to the Rockets, Blake Griffin was traded to the Pistons, and DeAndre Jordan signed with the Mavericks. With that era in the past, the team may also look to move on from Rivers, who’s been with L.A. since 2013. He’s no longer heading up the front office, and when he shifted to focusing exclusively on coaching last season, the results were surprisingly good. Despite the roster lacking noticeable talent, the Clippers — led by surprise star Lou Williams — hung around in the West playoff race and finished with a winning record (42-40). Given the team’s performance last season, Rivers’ job isn’t in major jeopardy, but it’s also not entirely secure. L.A. could retool with two max-contract players in 2019, and if the team wants to usher in an entirely new chapter, it may change its leadership as well.

5. Terry Stotts, Blazers

Stotts is the leading candidate to replicate Casey’s fate this season. He’s done a tremendous job in Portland, but his team hasn’t found success in the postseason. Shortly after Portland fell to New Orleans in Game 4 of their first-round series, completing the Pelicans’ sweep, Marc Stein tweeted that “murmurs have already started in coaching circles that 10 consecutive playoff defeats will cost Terry Stotts his job.” GM Neil Olshey elected to keep Stotts around — for now. Rumors have also indicated the Blazers are open to shopping C.J. McCollum or Damian Lillard, but it’s tough to imagine the team breaking up the electrifying young backcourt. Portland also this summer re-signed big man Jusuf Nurkic, doubling down on its current roster. With Stotts owning an uninspiring 12-28 career postseason record, he could be the scapegoat if this team falls short yet again, or falls behind in the competitive playoff race by the All-Star break.

4. Fred Hoiberg, Bulls

Who knows what’s going to happen with the Chicago Bulls this season? That team looks entirely unpredictable. Hoiberg was successful at Iowa State, and he was considered one of the hottest young coaching commodities in hoops circles — but his move to the NBA, like Billy Donovan’s, has not been ideal. His Bulls teams haven’t escaped the first round since he took over, and his win total has declined every year. Chicago has an enticing group of young players — Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. are particularly promising — but it isn’t clear who will bear the Bulls’ primary scoring burden. Zach Lavine? Jabari Parker? Is having one of those players as your primary option even remotely encouraging? Hoiberg’s system has not translated well to the NBA; the 45-year-old may not make it through year four of his five-year deal.

3. Dave Joerger, Kings

Seemingly everyone was baffled when the Grizzlies didn’t bring back Joerger. The Kings were thrilled to sign the emerging young coach, who had pushed Golden State to six games and had led Memphis to 55 regular-season wins. But his time in Sacramento has been a letdown. In Joerger’s first season (2016-17), Sacramento won 32 games; last season, the Kings won 27. If their win total declines yet again — which many expect it will given the proliferation of talent in the West — the Kings may allow Joerger’s contract to expire. The wrinkle in this situation: Sacramento has embraced a rebuild and is focused on developing its young talent. If De’Aaron Fox, Marvin Bagley III, or Harry Giles seem to be blossoming into a star, the Kings may hesitate to switch coaches, fearful of stunting the young player’s development.

2. Tom Thibodeau, Timberwolves

Minnesota made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2003-04, but Thibs is in serious trouble. Despite the playoff berth, last season was a letdown. With Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins, and Karl-Anthony Towns in tow, pundits expected the Wolves to challenge the top teams in the West. Instead, they limped into the playoffs and barely challenged Houston in the first round. Now, Butler — who also played for Thibs in Chicago — wants a trade to a major-market team with space to sign him to a max deal. Butler’s camp can try to spin this a different way, but there’s no denying the dynamics in Minnesota’s locker room were off. The three stars just didn’t play well together, and personalities seemed to clash. Some responsibility for that funky dynamic has to fall on the coach. Thibs’ coaching approach may have worked with the hard-nosed Bulls, led by Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, but he hasn’t replicated his success in Minnesota. This situation looks poised to blow up.

1. Billy Donovan, Thunder

You have to wonder whether Donovan regrets leaving Florida. In his first season, the Thunder took a 3-1 lead on the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals — but, of course, they blew that series (and have not escaped the first round since that point). Then another blow: OKC lost Kevin Durant to Golden State. Then Russell Westbrook turned into a one-man wrecking crew, driving basketball purists mad. Last season featured the awkward Carmelo Anthony Experiment, and the season ended in disappointing fashion with a hasty exit at the hands of the Jazz. OKC brought back Paul George this summer, and GM Sam Presti said “continuity is (Donovan’s) best friend going forward.” With George back, Anthony gone, and Dennis Schroder added to the rotation, OKC is starting to gain some title buzz — they could challenge Houston as the West’s No. 2 team, people are saying. Fans are expecting a contender. Donovan inherited a tough gig with high expectations, and this appears to be his final chance. If his team doesn’t escape the first round yet again this year, he’ll all but certainly be looking for a new job (perhaps back in the NCAA ranks).

Aaron Mansfield is a freelance sports writer. His work has appeared in Complex, USA Today, and the New York Times. You can reach him via email at [email protected].

from Larry Brown Sports https://ift.tt/2RkdCpE

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