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Black Panther is one of Marvel's best. Annihilation is a calm terror.

THV11 Movie critic Jonathan Nettles talks about Black Panther and other movies at the box office this weekend

Black Panther has been out for a week and has broken a ton of box office records. I’m sure most of you have seen it or are planning to see it but I’ve been asked about it a lot this week. So, I want to touch base on it. I’ve seen it twice and it’s just as good the second time. Personally, I think it was a little overhyped but it’s still one of the Marvel universes best films. I really like Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa, King of Wakanda and the Black Panther. I really like the villain, Killmonger, played by Michael B. Jordan. Marvel has had a villain problem in most of its’ movies. Meaning that most of the villains have been villains for the sake of being villains and their motive has been to take over the world or galaxy. Killmonger is given a good, meaningful and relatable backstory and becomes a sympathetic villain. The supporting characters in this world of Wakanda are just as well-developed, particularly the characters Nakia, Okoye, W’Kabi, Shuri, and M’Baku (played by Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, and Winston Duke respectively). Ryan Coogler has given us a rich texture in this film with lots of history and culture.

The most exciting thing to me about Black Panther has been the excitement leading up to it – all the fundraisers to send kids to go see it that wouldn’t otherwise be able to go and all the conversations about culture and diversity that it has inspired.

If you haven’t seen it, go see it. If you have seen it, go see it again with someone who hasn’t.

While Black Panther will probably continue to annihilate the competition at the box office, the ironically titled Annihilation hopes to make a dent in T’Challa’s Vibranium suit.

Annihilation stars Natalie Portman as Lena, a biologist a former soldier who joins a mission to uncover what happened to her husband inside Area X – a sinister and mysterious phenomenon that is expanding across the Eastern coastline. Inside she discovers a world of mutated plants and animals that is just as dangerous as it is beautiful threatening their lives and sanity.

If you like Science Fictions that is ambiguous then this movie is for you. Most movies answer these basic questions:

What is happening? Why is it happening? How do we stop? Do the good guys win?

Annihilation leaves most of those unanswered. It gives you enough information to ponder and figure it out for yourself but it doesn’t give you a direct answer which makes it an interesting film. Science Fiction, much like science itself, doesn’t give always give you the answers you want.

There are scenes that are terrifying, scenes that are creepy, and scenes that are heartbreaking. There’s a feeling of calm terror inside Area X. Calm because of its’ beauty but terror because you feel like anything could kill anyone at any time. It is a strange, yet amazing feeling.

Also new in theaters this week…

Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams star in Game Night as Max and Annie, whose weekly couples game night gets kicked up a notch when Max's charismatic brother arranges a murder mystery party, complete with fake thugs and faux federal agents. So, when Brooks gets kidnapped, it's all part of the game - right? But as the six uber-competitive gamers set out to solve the case and win, they begin to discover that neither this game - nor Brooks - are what they seem to be. Over the course of one chaotic night, the friends find themselves increasingly in over their heads as each twist leads to another unexpected turn. With no rules, no points, and no idea who all the players are, this could turn out to be the most fun they've ever had... or game over.

Based on David Levithan's acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Every Day tells the story of Rhiannon (Angourie Rice), a 16-year old girl who falls in love with a mysterious soul named "A" who inhabits a different body every day. Feeling an unmatched connection, Rhiannon and A work each day to find each other, not knowing what or who the next day will bring. The more the two fall in love, the more the realities of loving someone who is a different person every 24 hours takes a toll, leaving Rhiannon and A to face the hardest decision either has ever had to make.

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