Marvel’s latest movie, “Black Panther,” is a solid film and a fine addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“Black Panther” didn’t feel like a traditional Marvel film. It certainly had its share of action, humor and high-tech hovercrafts, but its focus on the culture of the fictional land of Wakanda sets it apart from the other films. African accents persist throughout the film, serving as a constant reminder that Black Panther and his group of supporting “sidekicks” aren’t your typical white American superheroes.
In this case, the differences between the film and Marvel’s previous movies are part of what of makes Black Panther work so well. The ritual aspects of Wakandan culture play an important role in the film, and things like the dress and music of Wakanda, and Africa as a whole, are present in a way that never lets you start to think of Black Panther as just another superhero.
I found the action scenes to be particularly well done, usually set to rhythmic music and beautifully choreographed. In one early action scene, the film makes extremely good use of a short tracking shot to follow the characters as they fight through a crowded casino. It’s a Marvel movie, so there were of course plenty of special effects, but the hand-to-hand nature of Black Panther’s fighting style made for some great combat scenes.
Thematically, the film advocated for social responsibility, commenting through the isolation of Wakanda and the extremist perspectives of the villain on how we can all help to make the world a better place. The message was clear, but far from over the top. In a film that could easily have used its almost guaranteed popularity to send a stronger, more extreme message, I was glad to see that they didn’t go overboard and drown the story. By the end of the film, I was convinced that the film had just the right amount of thematic message.
Furthermore, the characters were all very strong, with clear motivations. The film did a wonderful job of blurring the line between hard concepts such as good and evil, and the villain’s story, as well as the hero’s, were well explored, providing viewers with an understanding of why the bad guy felt it was necessary to do what he did.
“Black Panther” was excellent in many ways, but truly stands out for its setting and focus on culture. The film took viewers to a place they haven’t been before — to an Africa with a superpower nation in hiding, as well as a superhero. It created a world connected to, yet distinctly separate from, the one the Avengers have been running around saving for the last few years. Somehow, Wakanda seemed farther away from Stark Tower than Asgard did, and I believe that to be one of the film’s strengths. “Black Panther” is its own world, rich in culture, strong in tradition and it is this that sets it apart.
All in all, “Black Panther” is a quality movie. If you haven’t seen it yet, you should.