Black Panther: A movie for the Culture

I told myself that I would not write anything on Black Panther but after seeing the movie twice it’s impossible not to.

Walking out of the movie theater on the first Thursday night Black Panther was out, I’d never had a feeling like the one I had at that moment. A deep pride mixed with stunned amazement, something I didn’t know could be felt after simply watching a film.

What director Ryan Coogler did for this film was something nobody expected. Black Panther, in just a few days of being in theaters, took a sledgehammer to the myths about Black Hollywood and showcased culture in ways that will never be topped. 

This was different than watching Star Wars for the first time, which is a common comparison for those trying to articulate what this movie means.  There was an almost indescribable sense of African-American pride with Black Panther that has never made me or anyone I know feel the way we did. 

That’s true movie magic.

There are so many elements to the movie worth discussing. From the soundtrack to the groundbreaking portrayal of black women on screen, Marvel’s Black Panther is much more than just your run of the mill traditional comic book movie.

The Soundtrack

As most soundtracks go, it came out before the movie and it was pretty solid as most things Kendrick Lamar comes out with normal is. However, upon more listening to the soundtrack and watching the movie. It’s clear that the movie is telling battle between Black Panther and Killmonger and it is tremendous. It may be one of the best song-for-song soundtracks to come around for a while.

The Portrayal of Black Women on Film

For Decades, black women have been viewed in moves and in pop culture as “Mammy” or the helper to their white counterparts or having to be saved by their white counterparts but in recent years, those roles have gone away but in Black Panther, those myths were officially smashed.

We see the ageless Angela Bassett (Ramonda) a queen who is doing her best to transition her son into the Black Panther after her husband’s death.

Then there is Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia) the love interest who helps, Danai Gurira (Okoye) and Letitia Wright (Shuri) with various missions throughout the movie and lead the resistance as Killmonger takes control of Wakanda. 

The movie presents themes and topics of which we tackle today such as gender roles, the kidnapping of girls and young women in Africa (think Boko Harem) and how women are truly leading us to a more progressive society.

It was refreshing to see Coogler recognize this and create true role models and give true representation to women of color. The roles of these strong women portrayed as queens, warriors and scientists who are helping to change the game will make an impact on young ladies of color for years to come.

The complexity of Eric Killmonger

He’s not like most villains, there is a true complexity to Michael B. Jordan who plays the role of Killmonger so impressively. You see parts of his young version at the beginning of the movie but as his impact of the movie goes on, you understand his mission and why he wants to get revenge for his father (N’Jobu) played by the always impressive Sterling K. Brown.

It was highly fascinating to see Michael B. Jordan bringing that American swagger to the world of Wakanda even to the point where in a dramatic moment, we see Killmonger shoutout Romonda with a hilarious “Hey Auntie” when it is revealed that Killmonger’s father and T’Chaka are brothers.

What makes Killmonger sympathetic is that we see someone who wants to help move Wakanda onto the world’s stage and take their technology to the masses and help complete his father’s mission. However, in the typical villainy fashion, he’s hellbent on using the Wakandan resources and getting revenge on everybody who has done Africans and African Americans wrong.

The most profound and most unforgettable moment is in his last moments of life, Killmonger tells T’Challa to “Bury me in the ocean with my ancestors who jumped from ships, cause they knew death was better than bondage.”

Damn.

The world of Wakanda

When you’re being introduced to new worlds, especially in Marvel movies you get to see the beauty and splendor that comes with it. This is so true when you see the world of Wakanda. One thing I appreciated about Ryan Coogler and the crew is that even before you got into the movie, you got a crash course on the history of this “third world country”.

When you get a peek inside it is this colorful world that hid from the colonization that Europe feasted on as much as 500 years ago. From Warrior Falls to the gorgeous sunsets, it was a dreamscape that you just can’t get enough of.

It was clear from the Infinity War teaser trailer that Wakanda would play a vital part but I would say that everybody’s expectations are or will be exceeded since they hold the world’s source of Vibranium.

Thanos vs. The Avengers in Wakanda?

My body is ready.

Black Panther: The journey of a king

Although he is supposed to be the hero, he’s not the false narrative of a superhero like you see with Superman where there really no true human conflict and he always saves the day. We see a young man who is trying to find his place in the world while at the same time inherit a kingdom that he may not have been prepared for.

We see how his leadership and questions of being the rightful inheritor to the throne are challenged after he fails to get Ulysses Klaue, a known enemy of Wakanda.

He then comes to grips that Killmonger’s thinking and the realization that Black Panther’s father, T’Chaka actually did leave he (Killmonger) along with African Americans behind may have some merit. Even challenges his father when T’Chaka attempts to bring him to the ancestral plane with those who have also passed on. It is one of the best storytelling efforts of a superhero since Christian Bale’s Batman.

Then there are the fight scenes, after seeing it in IMAX and IMAX 3D, it was some of the best fight sequences I’ve ever seen. Nonstop action and you see that with not just T’Challa but with the women as well. However, it’s the coolness of Black Panther that makes him not like the rest.

A movie for the culture

For someone who has been on earth almost 29 years, I can’t think of a movie that truly captured the attention of African Americans like Black Panther has. From little kids to adults who were once segregated from movie theaters due to their skin color, seeing the reaction on social media and at the theaters on both days was amazing.

This is a movie we can truly call our own and having Ryan Coogler direct another movie that taps into the pulse of African American society was amazing. In some instances, the movie felt like a black superhero movie and not a Marvel movie. It was one of the most enjoyable experiences I think I’ve ever had in a movie.

Being black in America is one of the more empowering things you can be when you realize the power and influence that comes with it. However, that influence and impact has been hijacked or blatantly looked over. That all changed when Stan Lee created the character in July of 1966, Ryan Coogler created the movie and Chadwick Boseman brought the character to life on the big screen in 2018.

Next: Oscars 2015: 30 Best Picture Losers That Should've Won

Having already smashed its $200 Million dollar budget with close to $400 Million dollars worldwide, Wakanda will truly indeed, reign forever.