A film review: Black Panther (2018)
Black Panther is an interesting, thrilling and thought-provoking film about a fictitious African homeland called Wakanda.
Wakanda is blessed with an abundance of a the hardest metal on earth, vibranium, that has bestowed special powers on it’s leaders and allowed it to surge ahead of the world with amazing technology. Fearful that others would steal their precious resource and conquer them they made themselves invisible to the outside world, instead projecting the illusion that Wakanda is a poor and underdeveloped country, like most of the rest of Africa.
Ulysses Klaue, played brilliantly by the talented Andy Serkis, tracks down vibranium that has leaked to the outside world in artifacts etc. It is remarkably valuable. He’s assisted by the ridiculously named Erik Killmonger. A very angry young man, for good reason as it turns out, played well by Michael B. Jordan, better known for the Creed boxing films with Sylvester Stallone. But there’s more to Erik than meets the eye.
It’s a Marvel film, so yes, much banging and crashing, with over the top CGI and lots and lots and lots of fist fights, explosions and car chases. But there’s also an interesting plot that revolves around the haves, and the have-nots. And whether the have’s should do more to share what they have with the have-nots who haven’t. The film is basically an inversion on the modern world, with Wakanda the haves and the West the have-nots.
Playing the lead—Prince T’Challa,—Chadwick Boseman is excellent. His character is sensitive; full of self-doubt; open to criticism, but decisive in action; and confused in love. The acting could easily have tipped over into twee, but Chadwick holds the line well. Such a sad loss. He died of colon cancer at 43. A brave man that kept the cancer a secret to the outside world, even whilst producing this film.
I’m not a fan of Marvel style films, but this is a good one. Just try to ignore Martin Freeman, a CIA agent, attempting an American accent!
Worth a watch.
——————
Like it? Share it.
No Comments