“Black Panther” (Action/Science-Fiction: 2 hours, 14 minutes)

Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Angela Bassett and Forest Whitaker

Director: Ryan Coogler

Rated: PG-13 (Violence, some strong language and rude gesture)

Movie Review: “Black Panther” marks a major moment in moviedom. An African superhero emerges in a manner that is bold, intelligent and skillfully orchestrated by an African-American director, Ryan Coogler, and stars a primarily black cast.

Chadwick Boseman is convincing as the title character. The action scenes are superior, and the story competently ties to modern themes in a manner relevant but not preachy.

Crown Prince T’Challa (Boseman) returns to lead his people as the King of Wakanda after the death of his father, T’Chaka (John Kani). Wakanda is a technologically advanced African nation. It is the most advanced country on the planet but its people are reclusive and remain isolated from the rest of the world.

As T’Challa prepares to succeed his father, he is challenged for the throne from factions within Wakanda and outside.

Coogler recently directed the superiorly done, should have been Oscar-nominated “Fruitvale Station” (2013) and the well-done “Creed” (2015); both featured Michael B. Jordan. “Black Panther” is his third full-length feature film, and like the previous movies, it is a thought-provoking production and gratifying on many levels.

In “Black Panther,” Coogler is a co-writer with Joe Robert Cole offers plenty of mental floss. The two writers infuse theories on past colonization of secondary world countries with the modern oppression and rights of minorities in countries. It does this skillfully in a manner that is not radical but importantly noted with certain precision.

The predominantly African-American cast is a group of talented people. They each add to this movie without any of them stealing the spotlight from Boseman as the lead. Boseman scores as an actor. He always finds a way to make his role persuasive. Jordan is good as the antagonist Erik Killmonger.

Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Daniel Kaluuya Letitia Wright, the always beautiful and talented Angela Bassett, the incomparable Forest Whitaker, and several others are nice additions to Marvel Universe screenplay.

The major negative is Marvel likes the family betrayal themes. The theme is overdone, that and superfluous computer-generated imagery. This part of the screenplay is commonplace, especially considering the story has such enlightening significance..

A contemplative screenplay about an advanced country remaining isolated while others suffer is groundbreaking for the superhero genre. It raises ethical questions about the selfishness of an advanced culture while other nations dissolve into chaos, hunger, pestilence and war. The premise drives the movie, it is just too bad “Black Panther diverts with action scenes

Otherwise, “Black Panther” is an action-packed movie. It is worth the price and a bag of popcorn, too.

Grade: B (Marvel’s latest superhero is impressive.)

“Early Man” (Animation/Comedy: 1 hour, 29 minutes)

Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Eddie Redmayne and Maisie Williams

Director: Nick Park

Rated: PG (Violence and crude humor)

Movie Review: “Early Man” is impressive stop-motion animation. Aardman Animations’ movies are always fun for the entire family. It has nifty animation and good characters. It is entertaining, but it appears more an advertisement for soccer.

Set after a major asteroid wipes out dinosaurs, Dug (Redmayne) and his clan are some of the last of the cavemen. Their lives change when they meet men of the Bronze Age led by Lord Nooth (Hiddleston). The clash of cultures leads to one of survival as Dug and his people must act to stop the destruction of their valley.

Nick Park dazzled audience as director and producer of “The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” (2005), “Chicken Run” (2000). “Early Man” has endearing characters. Dug, the lead character, is especially easy to like. He has a purpose. Dug’s mission to save his tribe’s home is admirable.

The movie’s mission is not as focused. Although laughs are present as a family film, the movie appears to promote the sport of soccer in a manner that appears out of place in the prehistoric world.

Grade: B- (The man provides enough laughs to make it worthy.)

“Samson” (Action/Drama: 1 hour, 50 minutes)

Starring: Taylor James, Jackson Rathbone and Billy Zane

Directors: Bruce Macdonald, Gabriel Sabloff

Rated: PG-13 (Violence and battle sequences)

Movie Review: Samson is comparable to Hercules. Both men have awesome strength, yet Hercules is more engrossing. This is because the producers of this flick were more interested in the message.

They took one of the most well-read parts of the Bible reduced it to poor acting, cheap special effects and poor makeup.

Samson (James), a Hebrew with an unusual gift of strength, is set to become a judge, a leader, of his people. Jehovah has called on Samson to lead his tribe out of enslavement. To do so, Samson must help defeat the Philistine army of King Balek (Zane) and his ruthless son, Rallah (Rathbone).

Samson’s life changes when a seductive Delilah (Caitlin Leahy) has him tell the secret of his strength.

Taylor James may be the muscle of the movie, but it is Jackson Rathbone who commands attention. Rathbone’s acting is much better than James’ portrayal, but Rathbone overacts his character. They and others are not persuasive.

Samson is a story about how one can overcome obstacles by faith in the Almighty. He prevails over imprisonment and blindness to find a way to save his people. This is a commendable ideal, but “Samson” does it in a cheap manner.

The acting is not compelling, the production value is lacking and character actions to passé material similar to that on the SyFy channel.

Grade: D+ (Not a strong showing.)