By Bill Friedell
Ten years and eighteen movies into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios released Black Panther (Ryan Coogler, 2018). Following not long after Captain America: Civil War (Joe and Anthony Russo, 2016), T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) returns to his home nation of Wakanda, a technologically advanced African nation that was never touched by western colonization, to be crowned king after the recent passing of his father, T’Chaka (John Kani), after succeeding in a ritual rite of passage. At the same time, Erik “Killmonger” Stevens (Michael B. Jordan), with the help of Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis), sets out to find the nation of Wakanda and take control of the country and it's vast resources.
Black Panther is easily Marvel’s most thematically rich and substantive movies. It follows very much in the vein of the Captain America movies in terms of their tone and how it looks at political themes. It explores the ideas of what it means to have power, identity, and isolationism. Director Ryan Coogler brings in real issues like the African diaspora, through the story of its villain, Eric Killmonger and dealing with the idea of isolationism and what the duties of a country in a privileged position should do when faced with helping others beyond its borders. Where Captain America: Winter Soldier (Joe and Anthony Russo, 2014) looks at themes of security verses freedom and Captain America: Civil War deals with the limits that should be set on those who protect us, Black Panther looks at what it means to do the right thing when it comes to dealing with injustice, particularly in terms of racial injustice. The way it does this is through the world of Wakanda and the various views of the characters who inhabit it. Characters such as Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o) who thinks that Wakanda should be giving relief to other countries, while the leaders of the tribes that make up Wakanda want T’Challa should focus on being a king and tending to his own people, rather than be a warrior and pursue Klaue. The dilemma for T’Challa, as well as being the main question of the film is, what is the best way to rules? How can T’Challa do what is necessary to be a good king and remain a good man?
Black Panther is easily Marvel’s most thematically rich and substantive movies. It follows very much in the vein of the Captain America movies in terms of their tone and how it looks at political themes. It explores the ideas of what it means to have power, identity, and isolationism. Director Ryan Coogler brings in real issues like the African diaspora, through the story of its villain, Eric Killmonger and dealing with the idea of isolationism and what the duties of a country in a privileged position should do when faced with helping others beyond its borders. Where Captain America: Winter Soldier (Joe and Anthony Russo, 2014) looks at themes of security verses freedom and Captain America: Civil War deals with the limits that should be set on those who protect us, Black Panther looks at what it means to do the right thing when it comes to dealing with injustice, particularly in terms of racial injustice. The way it does this is through the world of Wakanda and the various views of the characters who inhabit it. Characters such as Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o) who thinks that Wakanda should be giving relief to other countries, while the leaders of the tribes that make up Wakanda want T’Challa should focus on being a king and tending to his own people, rather than be a warrior and pursue Klaue. The dilemma for T’Challa, as well as being the main question of the film is, what is the best way to rules? How can T’Challa do what is necessary to be a good king and remain a good man?
Wakanda
The world of Wakanda is a beautifully portrayed, filled with its own traditions, technology, economy, and government. The opening of the film gives us the history of Wakanda through a unique sequence like Wonder Woman (Patty Jenkins 2017) similar to telling the history of the amazons, while still being unique and beautiful. Jenkins nods back to classical paintings, whereas Coogler forms his sequence out of a world made of shifting sand. Coogler’s third outing as director is just as stellar as ever. Anyone who has seen Creed (Ryan Coogler, 2015) will love the use of single takes in two particular action sequences. Probably the most aesthetically beautiful sequences are in the spiritual plane where T’Challa’s ancestors reside. The use of color, particularly purple was dazzling and tranquil. The score and soundtrack also impress, mixing hip hop, rap and African music combined with orchestration, helping to sell the world and identity, while also celebrating black culture.
Left: Eric Killmonger (Michael B. Jordon). Right: T'Challa/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman).
In terms of performances, there are many standouts. Everyone in the cast shines. Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger is probably the standout among a whole cast of memorable characters and performances. Killmonger is easily on of the MCU’s best, if not very best villain they’ve ever had. You understand and sympathies with his motives and in some ways can even agree with him to an extent. However, you still see the faults that make him a villain, much like Magneto from the X-Men movies. Jordan's introduction scene has you glued to his character from the get-go. Serkis is also a lot of fun, but Jordan is the most substantive and interesting. Serkis may get more laughs and has the bigger personality, but Jordan grabs you the minute he enters, instantly drawing you in, making you want to follow his story, whereas other marvel films see the villains as necessary plot points or roadblocks for the hero. Instead of being another world ender for reasons that don’t have any bearing on the themes or journey of the hero, Killmonger causes change in T’Challa and Wakanda. He isn’t just a bad guy to beat up and continue the norm. The hero is changed for the better because of the arrival and challenge of this villain.
Left: Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), Center: Shuri (Letitia Wright), Right: Okoye (Danai Gurira)
Two other stand outs are Danai Gurira as Okoye, leader of the royal guard of female warriors and Letitia Wright as Shuri, T’Challa’s genius sister. These two were scene stealers both in action and in conversation. Everyone turns in great performances. So much so, that Chadwick Boseman can be overshadowed at times, considering the more subdued, more serious nature of his character. But Bozeman grounds the world and works well off each and every character, balancing the cast and giving it a center.
While there are familiar elements in Black Panther, fighting a villain with a costume and powerset that perfectly matches the hero, and a big climax, the movie makes it all its own and finds twists and spins to make it it’s own. Its voice is all its own, which is something that Marvel has been improving with as well as being cohesive with the other films, especially last year. With unique directors telling different kinds of stories with the superhero genre like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 (James Gunn, 2017) and Thor Ragnarok (Taika Waititi). Coogler brings his own story and style stunningly in Black Panther. It works as a stand alone film and shows us that there is still new types of characters, worlds, and conflicts when it comes to the superhero genre that can be explored.
Works Cited
Coogler, Ryan, director. Black Panther. Walt Disney, 2018.
Coogler, Ryan, director. Creed. MGM and Warner Brothers.
Gunn, James, director. Guardians of the Galaxy. Disney, 2017.
Jenkins, Patty, director. Wonder Woman. Warner Brothers, 2017.
Russo, Anthony and Joe Russo, directors. Captain America Winter Soldier. Walt Disney.
Russo, Anthony and Joe Russo, directors. Captain America Civil War. Walt Disney, 2016.
Waititi, Taika, director. Thor Ragnarok. Walt Disney, 2017.
While there are familiar elements in Black Panther, fighting a villain with a costume and powerset that perfectly matches the hero, and a big climax, the movie makes it all its own and finds twists and spins to make it it’s own. Its voice is all its own, which is something that Marvel has been improving with as well as being cohesive with the other films, especially last year. With unique directors telling different kinds of stories with the superhero genre like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 (James Gunn, 2017) and Thor Ragnarok (Taika Waititi). Coogler brings his own story and style stunningly in Black Panther. It works as a stand alone film and shows us that there is still new types of characters, worlds, and conflicts when it comes to the superhero genre that can be explored.
Works Cited
Coogler, Ryan, director. Black Panther. Walt Disney, 2018.
Coogler, Ryan, director. Creed. MGM and Warner Brothers.
Gunn, James, director. Guardians of the Galaxy. Disney, 2017.
Jenkins, Patty, director. Wonder Woman. Warner Brothers, 2017.
Russo, Anthony and Joe Russo, directors. Captain America Winter Soldier. Walt Disney.
Russo, Anthony and Joe Russo, directors. Captain America Civil War. Walt Disney, 2016.
Waititi, Taika, director. Thor Ragnarok. Walt Disney, 2017.
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