Film Review: Black Panther

One of the most eagerly awaited superhero movies of all time is finally here – and it was worth the wait.

The hype wasn’t ordinary fan enthusiasm; it was fuelled by the genuinely groundbreaking nature of this Marvel film. Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther is not only the first time a black protagonist has taken centre stage in a superhero blockbuster, it’s also the first mainstream film to imagine a world where black people triumph over the influences of capitalism and colonisation. Think of the amount of films you’ve seen about black suffering. Black Panther is one of the first ever stories about black privilege.

Chadwick Boseman plays T’Challa, the King Of Wakanda, the most advanced nation in the world. To protect the country’s wealth, technology and strong cultural traditions from western imperialism and war-mongering, Wakanda has disguised itself as a poor third-world country – the type of country American presidents are happy to disparage and ignore.

Coogler and cinematographer Rachel Morrison (Oscar nominated for Mudbound) shoot Wakanda as a multi-faceted modern utopia, where sleek high-tech aircrafts fly through skyscraper-filled cityscapes and lush landscapes with cascading waterfalls. Wakanda’s all-female special forces brandish Zulu-style spears, but the beads on their bracelets are modular, holding data, holograms, and weapons. Elders pair Sudanese-inspired lip plates with sharply tailored suits. Ancient ancestral rituals are bathed in celestial light.

And T’Challa’s traditional necklace allows him to transform into Black Panther, a warrior whose vibranium suit absorbs every punch, every blow, every explosion – and shoots it back out at his enemies.

But when someone attempts to overthrow Wakanda, T’Challa must confront the dilemma of his people, a dilemma similar to that of the X-Men: should Wakanda share its resources to empower black people throughout the world, or protect itself? And what should it aim for – racial equality or revenge for racial injustice?

These big questions are contained within a slickly paced, constantly engaging superhero package, brimming with incredible action sequences. There are explosive car chases through South Korea, shoot-outs in packed casinos and battle sequences that combine ritual hand-to-hand combat with hi-tech aircraft and weaponry. The fully-rounded characters, from T’Challa’s smartass scientist sister Shuri (Letitia Wright) to an American black-ops soldier (Michael B. Jordan) are empathetic and engaging, heightening the stakes of every fight.

A masterful, entertaining and brilliantly smart Marvel instalment, Black Panther is the superhero film we need right now. We may not deserve it.