Written by Tasya
Marvel movies are always making the most-anticipated releases every year, but this year, Black Panther is generating a different kind of buzz other than it being a Marvel movie. In the midst of all the racism and inequality news currently surrounding us, Black Panther has become a respite with an almost all black cast, along with some seriously fierce women.
For those of you who expect an action-packed movie à la Captain America: The Winter Soldier or a lighter one, such as Guardians of the Galaxy, you will be disappointing. Black Panther is entirely its own with it standing out far beyond other Marvel movies in terms of humour and action. Yes, those elements are present in the movie, but this movie focuses primarily on the nation of Wakanda itself, its ideology and culture, rather than the running around saving the country itself.
If you are curious about Wakanda, you will be delighted with what you learn in the film. Black Panther does take its time exploring Wakanda, but we learn of its history, tribes, technology, and most interestingly, its cultures and traditions. It’s really fun seeing such a technologically advanced nation such as Wakanda still holding on firmly to their traditions, such as ritual fight, and it shows they truly refuse to forget their roots. It’s also interesting to see how women are treated in Wakanda, of some of the most important position are held by women, such as the Dora Milaje and Shuri, which oversee the technology development in Wakanda.
Killmonger is a strong and fully developed villain and we could easily understand where his hatred and his bitterness has come from. Along with his character, this brought forward how race is present within the film by showing us how black people are treated and how no one is helping them, even Wakanda let their own struggle for themselves. It has a strong message and a familiarity in regards to colonisation, and the effect it has on black people, past and future. To me, Killmonger is reminiscent of Zemo from Civil War, however, Killmonger is more developed resulting in his villainy taking on a different level. Killmonger’s last line really gave me the chills because of the spirit it embodies.
I love the plot with it exploring afrofuturism yet also delving into the past of T’chaka and acting upon it, instead of brushing it aside like what happened in Thor: Ragnarok. The pacing suffers a bit due to the time it took to explore Wakanda, but it makes the overall movie plot progress smoothly. The soundtrack is also incredibly enjoyable with it combining the modern with traditional African music, which truly reflects the two sides of Wakanda. Some of the CGI were somewhat subpar but overall, this movie is a delight to watch.
Whether or not you plan to see Black Panther, you can’t deny the hype it has received and the cultural significance of the movie. It is more than your average Marvel or superhero movie; not only does it explore the good and bad, heroes versus villains, some hypothetical situations on the damage of AI to the world, but it also explores the history and its implications towards black people. It is delves deep into the culture and backstory of Wakanda, the impact of their choices, and definitely a thought-provoking movie.
Black Panthers stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan (Creed), Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years A Slave), Danai Gurira (The Walking Dead), Martin Freeman (The Hobbit), and Angela Basset (American Horror Story).
