It’s about time. It is just about freaking time. One of the true injustices in 21st century filmdom is the realization that while black people purchase a disproportionately high amount of movie tickets per capita, proportional black representation on the screen itself has been, in a word, pitiful. Often the modern age has conceded the entire African American point-of-view to the amateurish filmmaking and dubious morality of Tyler Perry. To me, this is like forcing every basketball fan in the country to root year-in year-out for the Los Angeles Clippers. Or, to put that in white people terms – forcing every hockey fan in North America to root for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ugh. Last year, women got true mainstream major studio superhero representation. This year, finally, black people see some demographic love in the superhero genre.
Yes, yes. I hear you. “A hero is a hero is a hero. Black people can choose to love Batman, Ant-man, or Bartman.” And many do. All of that, however, is so much easier to say when your demographic is represented on the big screen. When it’s not, well, hmmmm, how shall I put this? Suppose for the sake of argument every superhero was, say, German, all else being equal (where possible, of course). Why there’s Ubermensch, Vonder Voman, Achtleggenwebbenhero, etc. And sure, you dig it when Achtleggenwebbenhero defeats the evil Grünmonsterpumpkinmeister, but after a while you might start wondering, “When are we going to get some damn Americans on the screen? We make all the movies, don’t we?” For me, this is a no brainer and I hope it opens the door for more ethnic superheroes. Justice is justice no matter what skin you’re in.
Wakanda, to quote What’s Up, Tiger Lily?, is “a non-existent, but real sounding country.” In case you were Wankandering, this West African nation holds a few secrets. From the outside, it looks like the cover of a Sally Struthers ad pleading you to part with 70 cents a day. This is a façade. A deeper look reveals the most technologically advanced nation on Earth thanks to a unique, gods-given, and endless abundance of the indestructible vibranium. Don’t recognize this element? Why, just check out any old periodic table in between gymnasium and pandemonium. The vibranium has advanced Wakandan engineering far beyond any other science on the planet. These guys have spaceships and super Kevlar while we still don’t have flying cars. Pfft.
The other big Wakandan secret is that the chieftain and leader of the five Wankandan tribes gets to be Black Panther, a superhuman warrior. All ya gotta do is be royalty, challenge all comers, and then drink the magic berry juice that turns Joe Africa into Captain Wakanda. Now, since the challenge is not “fight to the death,” I’m wondering why this isn’t like a deli counter during challenge season. I imagine dudes lining up like the passengers in Airplane! trying to “calm” the hysterical woman.
The king formerly known as prince T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) takes the throne following his father’s death. However, there’s trouble in the world – a trove of vibranium has found foreign hands. And Andy Serkis is involved; that’s never a good thing. Teaming with Gollum is Erik “Killmonger” Stevens (Michael B. Jordan). Don’t let the Kill-moniker fool you; he really is a monster. Does he have designs on the Wakandan throne? Is he royalty? When did this movie start paralleling The Lion King?
Black Panther seems just a tad too indestructible for my tastes. Seems like if you can just master the combat rite of passage, you get to be superman. I’m not sure that’s quite right. Aside from that, however, the action is fairly exciting (especially a South Korean street chase where we get a good idea of the extent of Panther power). In addition, there are few films more feminist in nature without having females in either of the two leads. King T’Challa’s armed vanguard is entirely female, as are his head scientist and advisors. I’m not saying the Bechdel people are giving Black Panther a shiny medal or anything, but this is about as close as one came come to a feminist film while championing a single dude at the same time.
The plot here is an intriguing study of morality – T’Challa’s rival wants to take the Wankandan plight to the world instead of keeping it hidden. His reasoning is why
shouldn’t the most advanced race on Earth strike back against colonists? Say, why did Wakanda allow slavery to happen in the first place? The Black Panther has existed for hundreds of years, no? I think Killmonger has a point. What do you do when you’re the strongest by leaps and bounds? Do you lead, instruct, enslave, or ignore? And isn’t there a degree of wrong in any of these options?
I wanted to love this film. I really did. How could I not? A superhero film that begins and ends in Oakland … MY Oakland!?! And it’s not that I didn’t. I enjoyed Black Panther. However, where I am, Black Panther is the most hyped film this century. That includes any Star Wars. It opened on a Friday, and the 11:45 a.m. showing the following Tuesday (a school day/work day) was sold out. No film can endure that kind of hype without suffering, and Black Panther is far from a perfect film. To me, the most enlighting facet here was the global battle taking place entirely in a civil war format. If good wins, the rest of us Earth dwellers will never know. As usual, the black man doesn’t get credit for anything.
A mystical substance, vibranium
More value than enriched uranium
You can use it for stealth
And enhance your wealth
Or sell it all and make it rain-ium
Rated PG-13, 134 Minutes
Director: Ryan Coogler
Writer: Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole
Genre: Black is powerful
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Long patient movie goers of color
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: White supremacists
