Black Panther is a rarity: a mainstream blockbuster movie with a diverse cast and a multitude of talented black actors. The movie is on track to shatter box-office records and is proving that representation matters in mainstream filmmaking. I can’t help but feel there are going to be kids who really connect to a superhero that looks like they do.
One of the biggest obstacles faced by Black Panther since its development is that it’s the 18th movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which, despite some exceptions, has come to feel very formulaic and corporate. Many Marvel movies have been criticized for trying to sell the audience on the next film and not telling a complete story. Black Panther subverts these tropes by telling a story that is incredibly thought-provoking.
Black Panther follows T’Challa, a prince from the fictional country Wakanda, who is set to take up the mantle of king. Wakanda, which is the most prosperous country in the world, disguises itself as a third-world country to preserve its history and resources. Wakanda’s role as a world power comes under question from the ideologies of many different characters, some of whom want to continue Wakanda’s isolation and others who think Wakanda should do more to help struggling countries.
A third perspective emerges when Erik Killmonger comes onto the scene. Killmonger believes that as king of Wakanda, he can use the country’s wealth to forcibly shape the rest of the world in Wakanda’s image. To combat his radical views, T’Challa suits up as Black Panther to defend the throne.
Black Panther treats its story with respect and reverence. Chadwick Boseman anchors the film as T’Challa, and his struggle to fill the void left by his father and decide which direction to steer his isolationist nation is at the forefront of the narrative. Big ideas such as the role of a country in the outside world, tradition vs innovation and race are dealt with in incredibly smart ways that are rarely seen in a comic book movie. It’s easy to forget that Wakanda is a fictional country because the script gives real weight to the conflicts that impact the nation, making viewers feel that the wrong decision may have disastrous consequences.
Most of these ideas are expanded upon through Michael B. Jordan’s portrayal of Killmonger, who without a doubt is one of the best villains that Marvel has ever put in a movie. Unlike T’Challa, who grew up in the Afro-futuristic utopia of Wakanda, Killmonger grew up in America at the height of race riots during the Rodney King era. He knows what it’s like to be beaten down by racism and to have family and friends killed with no justice. While his ideas are radical and dangerous (such as starting a revolution that will kill millions), his motivations are clear and understandable. What Killmonger wants is noble at its core, but like all great villains, he pushes his noble idea to its very extreme.
Beyond the great character writing, the art, costume and set design are fantastic. The fusing of futuristic technology with traditional African culture could have easily seemed like a gimmick and not much else, but the attention to detail has shifted it into a fully realized concept. The costumes are colorful and give the impression that these tribes have been carrying history for generations.
Black Panther, despite its many strengths, suffers from very poor pacing. The movie starts with a voiceover that explains the history of Wakanda before cutting to a flashback, which doesn’t make sense until much later in the movie. The voiceover is unnecessary, as all the information is provided naturally over the course of the movie. It was so unnecessary, in fact, that I actually forgot it was in the movie until I started penning this review.
As a result of the poor pacing, the movie doesn’t kick into gear until around half-way through when Killmonger is introduced into the main plot. Until then, the audience follows T’Challa as he chases down Ulysses Klaue, a crazed South African arms dealer with a prosthetic hand that turns into a gun.
To be fair, Andy Serkis, who is usually relegated to motion capture work, is incredibly entertaining as Klaue and as a character brings some interesting ideology to the table. However, the plot goes nowhere as a result. There are lots of interesting discussions, but nothing is really happening. Once things actually get put into motion, the stakes are raised significantly and the film becomes much more engrossing.
Ultimately, Black Panther is an enjoyable experience with a lot of great ideas that’s bogged down by some technical and storytelling issues. I think it’s fair to say that people will remember less of Black Panther’s story in the future, and more how the movie made them feel, the experience of being in line for tickets and the packed theatres that buzzed with excitement.
I hope that Black Panther isn’t just a flash in the pan, and that in the future more movies will embrace diversity and give talented actors of color substantial roles in film. Hopefully, when Black Panther 2 inevitably comes out in a few years, diverse films like it will be so commonplace that we won’t even notice its premiere.
