Black Panther 2018
Even for a Marvel movie, Black Panther has gotten a lot of hype. Unlike the newer Star Wars movies where I was able to get tickets the opening weekend, I waited until Sunday afternoon of the second weekend and this movie was still sold out for the next six showings. So I waited until Saturday night of the third weekend, but it was still sold out for the next two showings. I wound up waiting around an hour for the next 3D showing just so I wouldn’t have to try again another time.
Even with all of the hype, I tried to stay unspoiled and keep an open mind, keeping my expectations low so I wouldn’t be disappointed. The Black Panther character isn’t (wasn’t) one of the better known Marvel superheroes. His introduction in Captain America: Civil War seemed piled onto a story already bursting at the seams with superheroes, but it was still a significant part of the story. Honestly the character seems like a little bit of equal opportunity pandering to try to get black kids to buy comic books. Leave it to Disney and Marvel to take pandering to the next level, with a mostly black cast, black director, and even black writers. Yes, the character was created by a couple of white guys, but this movie isn’t pandering: it is a legitimate black movie exploring themes about Africa and the African-American experience without exploitation. The movie dips its toe into some pretty complex politics and doesn’t come to simple conclusions, instead presenting us with an empathetic villain and flawed heroes. Meanwhile there are strong acting performances and enough action scenes and fights to keep the attention of Marvel diehards. By barely addressing the rest of the Marvel universe, they can focus more on these characters and this story, which in my opinion is what the whole series of movies should have been doing all along, with only the faintest arc of a unified story. It won’t last long: in a couple of months Infinity Wars will absorb the events of this movie and all of the others into a giant 4-hour 2-part action sequence.
The origin story for a character always seems a little easier, but also tends to be more rewarding, so I will go ahead and give this one an A. Maybe a few things are too simple and you can pick apart some of the pieces of the movie, but everything works with good action, characters, performances, backstories, etc. It isn’t an intellectual movie, but it is more legitimately intellectual than most or maybe all previous Marvel movies (which may not be saying much), dealing with some real world issues instead of the usual mad scientists and corrupt politicians. It isn’t Hamlet, but it isn’t that far off either. The one thing it lacks is a strong sense of humor, but I think the movie is strong enough without that.
Written: 04 Mar 2018
Owned on: Blu-ray, Digital