Over the weekend I saw the latest Marvel Cinematic installment, Black Panther. I had been anticipating this film for a long time; my hype growing with each new trailer. But I was wary; worried my excitement meant the film could not live up to my expectations.
This film exceeded them.
-This Review Contains Spoiler-
Black Panther harkens back to the Phase 1 Marvel films. Currently in Phase 3, Marvel films have lost their appeal and drive for me, with humour just shoved in (Guardians of the Galaxy making light of the final battle, and Ragnarok being so disjointed to Branagh’s Thor), gratuitous show of physical strength and ability (Captain America grabbing the helicopter in Civil War), and convenient plot points (Hawkeye coming out of retirement in Civil War).
But Black Panther, directed by Ryan Coogler, has toned back on all that and looked at what made Phase 1 so great; intelligent story telling that explores character and world. I feel that bringing in Coogler and Joe Robert Cole as screenwriters, has allowed Black Panther to break out of the current Marvel formula and explore complicated issues.
Plot
The plot reminds me of Thor; it is almost
Shakesperean. With the setup of one villain, only for another to take his place
once he’s gone. We start with Ulysses Klaue (played by Andy
Serkis), we first met him in Civil War,
but Black Panther quickly re-establish
who he is, and his crimes which make him this film’s villain. Whilst he is set
up as the main villain in the first act, we are also introduced to Erik
Killmonger, who is being shown as a minor-villain/henchman to Klaue.
After The Black Panther captures Klaue, and the latter escaping from custody,
Killmonger turns against Klaue and kills him; using his body as commodity to
enter Wakanda and gain allies instantly.
I really liked this reveal of villain. Whilst the whole “the big bad was this guy all along” has been used before, I enjoyed this film’s reveal because it took place half way through, so they had time to explore the reasoning behind the villain’s motives, and this allows more interesting interaction with the hero and proper reasoning to fight them. Civil War tried to do this, with Helmut Zemo orchestrating the in-fighting, but he didn’t do much (he was essentially redundant as there was already tension in the Avengers with the UN) and was only revealed to the heroes (and his reasoning to us) until the end. But Black Panther’s handling of the villain, allowed T'Challa, and the viewer, to gain sympathy for him and even want him to live and turn his life around.
I really liked this reveal of villain. Whilst the whole “the big bad was this guy all along” has been used before, I enjoyed this film’s reveal because it took place half way through, so they had time to explore the reasoning behind the villain’s motives, and this allows more interesting interaction with the hero and proper reasoning to fight them. Civil War tried to do this, with Helmut Zemo orchestrating the in-fighting, but he didn’t do much (he was essentially redundant as there was already tension in the Avengers with the UN) and was only revealed to the heroes (and his reasoning to us) until the end. But Black Panther’s handling of the villain, allowed T'Challa, and the viewer, to gain sympathy for him and even want him to live and turn his life around.
Alongside the main hero vs villain story, we have the
tale of T'Challa taking on the role of the Black Panther, after his father’s
death in Civil War. And trying to
figure out what he needs to do to be a good king for Wakanda, and what Wakanda’s
relations should be with the rest of the world.
This story worked as a metaphor on many levels; of first world countries helping third world, and of the wealthy (white) people of America helping the poor (black) people. It didn’t create a black and white image either, it brought up the complexities of corruption, and how to help when all the world does is fight. It was refreshing for a Marvel film to not only explore complicated issues, but to also acknowledge how complicated they are; rather than gloss over and made it easy for the story.
This story worked as a metaphor on many levels; of first world countries helping third world, and of the wealthy (white) people of America helping the poor (black) people. It didn’t create a black and white image either, it brought up the complexities of corruption, and how to help when all the world does is fight. It was refreshing for a Marvel film to not only explore complicated issues, but to also acknowledge how complicated they are; rather than gloss over and made it easy for the story.
Character
What pushed the story along were the characters, and Coogler
and Cole have written such strong and fleshed out characters. There were so many
memorable characters in this film, so I will choose my personal top six to
recount.
T'Challa/Black Panther
T'Challa/Black Panther
(Played by Chadwick Boseman)
We were introduced to T’Calla in Civil War, where we got to see him do awesome moves, and had a rough framework of a man who attacks for honour and justice, and admits when he’s made mistakes.
Black Panther, fleshes out his character much more. We join him a week after his father’s death, and he is a man grieving the loss, but being strong for his country. Already we feel he will be a good king, one who listens to those around him and tries to make choices for his country. And Boseman sold this so well, you get a warmth from his performance, but when the Black Panther is called for there is strength and righteous anger. He also has conflicts of loving his father, but feeling betrayed by his choices and decisions on whether to keep those secrets himself.
Nakia
(Played by Lupita Nyong'o)
This film is full of actually strong female characters, and we will look back at Nakia as a revolutionary role model. In any other film she would be just the love interest, a woman who would appear to be given strength (might win a few fights), but would be clad scantily and ultimately injured to make the hero choose between her or civilians.
But Black Panther says fuck that, and just makes her a strong woman. We are introduced to her on a mission, liberating women kidnapped in surrounding African countries. She immediately displays her fighting prowess, but also her love of people by saving a young boy who, though was shooting, had been kidnapped himself. She is a spy, who cannot be tied down to Wakanda when she sees so much suffering in the world, so whilst she and T’Challa have history, she is strong in her denial of his advances because she has work to do. She is also (I believe) the Q'Noma Valley Tribe’s champion warrior, and during battles is never saved (the only exception being Everett K. Ross, but that wasn’t a battle and served the plot).
Shuri
(Played by Letitia Wright)
Another strong female character, but where Nakia has strength in fighting and drive to help those in trouble, Shuri shows strength in intelligence. She is the 16 year old princess of Wakanda, in charge of the Wakandan Design Group, and responsible for Wakanda’s modern technology. She is the Stark of this country, and whilst she is shown as being highly intelligent, she is also written so well as a teenager; quoting memes and getting excited over using her new techs. And while she could have easily fallen into an ‘eccentric inventor stuck in the lab’ trope, Wright balances the character where she creates humour and adds youthful excitement, but doesn’t become overbearing. This is especially apparent where she shows more solemn moments after T’Challa’s fall, and bravery in the final battle.
Okoye
(Played by Danai Gurira)
General Okoye was my favourite character of this film. She is what we all wanted Captain Phasma to be in The Last Jedi; a fleshed out badass female warrior. Not only is she a strong fighter, (seen taking down large groups of armed men, and the leader of the Dora Milaje), but she has personality, we see her making jokes with T’Challa, complaining about having to wear a wig, and have such strong emotional conflict about her allegiance to Wakanda and her love of T’Challa and his family. We also get insight into her life, she is not just a body guard only there to protect the king, she has a love and whilst it does create beautifully written tension it does not stop her from being a warrior. And Gurira played her so well. She is stoic, but has these moments where she shows her personality and warmth to those she trusts. And the conflict scene between her and Nakia, where the former cannot leave to help T’Challa’s family was beautiful. Gurira showed that Okoye was truly torn by having to stay by the throne, her sworn duty, even if an outsider sat upon it, and helping a family she loved.
Erik Killmonger
(Played by Michael B. Jordan)
As I previously said, I really loved the introduction of this character and his working with and then turning against Klaue was great story telling. I also loved Jordan’s portrayal, he plays a man who is so righteous in his own mind and has set one path ahead of himself, that he cannot see other avenues. He knows Wakanda as a miracle land that betrayed his father, he has spent his life training and plotting to over throw, rule Wakanda, and then use their technology (weapons) to save the African people across the globe in a military uprising. He has only seen this path, that he cannot see when T’Challa offers to heal his wounds at the end that he could possibly work with Wakanda, he sees this offer only as chains. He is also a strong advisory for the Black Panther, having the physical ability and planning of a coupe. I also like that he isn’t separate from the story until his introduction. Where in Civil War
Ulysses Klaue
(Played by Andy Serkis)
I enjoyed Serkis’ performance in Infinity War, but it wasn’t until I re-watched The Black Panther motion comic that I connected the dots of who he was. And I enjoy the cinematic version much more. Klaue varies in the original comics, but in the motion comic he’s a typical amazing assassin who got messed up, experimented on, and now wants vengeance. The cinematic Klaue is an arms dealer, who just wants to sell to the highest bidder. Serkis plays him as an eccentric and this causes people to think less of him, but is smart enough to know when to be serious and this shows several times in the film. The most prominent being when Killmonger says he wants to go to Wakanda and Klaue adamantly refuses; knowing what they are capable of. He is a true self-aligned character (I love self-aligned characters), but holds honour in his own way (promises to pay Killmonger and co. as soon as he can sell the stolen vibranium).
Honourable mentions
Because I love too many characters
Everett K. Ross (played by Martin Freeman) – I wasn’t expecting much of him or Freeman, but the character was written well. He performed enough to show his rank was earned, but did not become overbearing and too “America is right” amongst a cast of characters who knew more than he did.
Ramonda (played by Angela Bassett) – I would have loved her to have had more of a role, she was very much a secondary character who occasionally spoke. But Bassett gave her such strength in her performance, even as just a presence you felt the power she was containing and the pull she had at her fingertips. She felt like Frigga the moment before her death, of all that power hidden behind being a ‘proper and silent’ woman (except Ramonda doesn’t die unnecessarily).
Zuri (played by Forest Whitaker) – I probably would have forgotten this character if he wasn’t played so well by Whitaker. Whilst the character isn’t written poorly, he’s simply the role (the ‘uncle’ telling the father’s secret) that I don’t care about too much. But Whitaker fleshed out this character, showing a man desperately trying to protect his king(s) and country, recognizing the hurt he caused, and hurting himself.
M’Baku (played by Winston Duke) – This character shows great strength, a mistrust of Wakanda due to traditions, but also an honour where he saves T’Challa and (eventually) offers military support. He also has some of the better humour moments, where they are not played up (like Guardians of the Galaxy’s dance off) but rather allowed to happen organically and then the conversation moves on.
Costuming
The costumes in this movie are beautiful. From my perspective they blended traditional African cultural clothing and modern day clothing, along with sci-fi, seamlessly. I loved the River Tribe Elder, who would match his suit and lip plate by colour. You believed these costumes were what these people would wear every day, but they still held hints to traditions and histories of Wakanda.
And the armour was useful, especially on the Dora Milaje as they are fully covered (though they did still sport the armour nipple).
It was just so beautiful, and this video shows how costume designer Ruth E. Carter researched different African nations in order to influence the different Wakanda tribes.
The costumes in this movie are beautiful. From my perspective they blended traditional African cultural clothing and modern day clothing, along with sci-fi, seamlessly. I loved the River Tribe Elder, who would match his suit and lip plate by colour. You believed these costumes were what these people would wear every day, but they still held hints to traditions and histories of Wakanda.
And the armour was useful, especially on the Dora Milaje as they are fully covered (though they did still sport the armour nipple).
It was just so beautiful, and this video shows how costume designer Ruth E. Carter researched different African nations in order to influence the different Wakanda tribes.
Colour Grading
The colour of this film reminded me of Thor. It doesn’t sport the same pallet, but it is just so vibrant with rich blacks that make the colour pop out.
Marvel has had a problem lately of being really muted (we even see this in Infinity War trailer where Thanos is so bland and reddish), which Patrick Willems explored in this video.
But Black Panther has gone back to Phase 1. It brings out that beautiful colour, and it really needed to. Coming from a culture full of colour where they are a part of ritual, full of emotions, this film would have been so lacking if it fell into the muted formula.
Cinematography
Whilst the cinematography was not bad in this film, something Marvel has been doing lately (Thanos in Infinity War trailer), it wasn’t amazing. I don’t remember my breath being taken away by any particular shot. I never cringed at any, so it has solid and good cinematography, but it isn’t outstanding.
Though I do love the shot of seeing all the tribes gathered on the waterfall as T’Challa enters for the trial.
The colour of this film reminded me of Thor. It doesn’t sport the same pallet, but it is just so vibrant with rich blacks that make the colour pop out.
Marvel has had a problem lately of being really muted (we even see this in Infinity War trailer where Thanos is so bland and reddish), which Patrick Willems explored in this video.
But Black Panther has gone back to Phase 1. It brings out that beautiful colour, and it really needed to. Coming from a culture full of colour where they are a part of ritual, full of emotions, this film would have been so lacking if it fell into the muted formula.
Cinematography
Whilst the cinematography was not bad in this film, something Marvel has been doing lately (Thanos in Infinity War trailer), it wasn’t amazing. I don’t remember my breath being taken away by any particular shot. I never cringed at any, so it has solid and good cinematography, but it isn’t outstanding.
Though I do love the shot of seeing all the tribes gathered on the waterfall as T’Challa enters for the trial.
Soundtrack
This kind of music is not what I usually listen to, but this soundtrack fits this film so well. The songs tell a story of what is happening, they speak of injustice and strength. And during the film they combine it so well with the classic Marvel score, where one will flow into another seamlessly.
Why is this story important for the Black Community
I feel this isn’t something I am able to speak about,
having not experienced what the black community has. I do feel that this is an important
film, the story and metaphors they have created reflect what the community experiences. And having Ryan Coolger and Joe Robert Cole, both
African American who have created films which deal with these issues, has
allowed them to bring it to the Marvel universe. But as this isn’t something I
can speak about properly, here is a list of articles I feel articulate the
importance of this film for the black community.
-Why Black Panther is a defining moment for black America
-The women of Wakanda: Why Black Panther is so important
-More than a movie, Black Panther is a movement
-Black Panther is going to be an important movie
Conclusion
Black Panther is a stand out Marvel film. It has broken the current Marvel formula and created its own story and path to follow (as much as it can). It features complex and strong characters, portrayed by amazing actors, beautiful costumes and settings, and solid cinematography and music. It is easily my second favourite Marvel film (Thor will always hold a special place in my heart), and it just gives so much more. Definitely recommend you go see it.
-Dezmin Humphryis
-Why Black Panther is a defining moment for black America
-The women of Wakanda: Why Black Panther is so important
-More than a movie, Black Panther is a movement
-Black Panther is going to be an important movie
Conclusion
Black Panther is a stand out Marvel film. It has broken the current Marvel formula and created its own story and path to follow (as much as it can). It features complex and strong characters, portrayed by amazing actors, beautiful costumes and settings, and solid cinematography and music. It is easily my second favourite Marvel film (Thor will always hold a special place in my heart), and it just gives so much more. Definitely recommend you go see it.
-Dezmin Humphryis
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