The last time I fell for a hyped movie was in 2009, for Avatar. That movie was absolutely great, but Black Panther is better! Where Avatar paints a complete fantasy world, Black Panther paints a lifelike story that alternates everyday life with a futuristic utopia. The story is good, but what makes the movie an absolute standout is the way the past is incorporated into the future and the different layers that the images flawlessly carry with them.
From cutting-edge technology, developed and protected by centuries-old traditions, to African Djembe rhythms complemented by the latest beats of Kendrick Lamar. From the traditional rituals that crown a modern-day king to spears lined with vibranium, a unique indestructible element that protects the traditions, the land and its people.
Wakanda, already a homeland for many who have seen the film, is a wonderfully conceived concept. A perception of what an African country could have been, had the continent been allowed to flourish and not been robbed of its most precious gems and enslaved its 12.5 million people.
The Most Beautiful Place in the World, as co-star Killmonger (masterfully played by Michael B. Jordan) calls it, is not all heaven on earth. Like any nation, it has its own challenges. Fundamental questions, from the safety of its citizens to what its responsibilities are to the rest of the world, are just a few of the challenges facing the new king, T'Challa (played by Chadwick Boseman).
While Killmonger is a terrifying figure with his body covered in markings for every murder he has committed, his motivations are not all that bad. The idea of arming Black people around the world against all forms of injustice is a noble one. However, the attempted takeover through ruthless killing using indestructible weapons made of vibranium is ill-advised to say the least.
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King T'Challa makes his responsibilities clear: he is the king of Wakanda, not the world. It is his job to keep the people of his nation safe, and their warriors will only use force when absolutely necessary.
The Malcolm X vs. Martin Luther King arguments at play in Wakanda are worldly questions, not black-and-white issues with clear-cut answers. As American writer Brooke Obie puts it: “Self-preservation at the expense of all else sets the stage for self-destruction.”
The diversity of women in various leading roles is not only strong and delightfully refreshing, it’s fantastic! From chief warrior Okoye (played brilliantly by Danai Gurira) to the CTO (Chief Technology Officer) and the king’s super funny sister Shuri (played by Letitia Wright), women are equals. There is no battle of the sexes – there is conversation.
When W'kabi (played by Get Out's Daniel Kaluuya) gets down on his knees for his true love, Okoye, it's after he looks around and sees what's at stake. An iconic moment where both choose Wakanda. Wakanda foreva!
The unexpected, deep, sharp humor referring to cultural historical events, lifts the film Black Pather to a class of its own. Some scenes will definitely be a layer too deep for the general public. One of them is the new iconic moment that brings to mind Pam Grier unexpectedly pulling a gun out of her magically fantastic Afro in the early 70s in the Blaxploitation series.
The whole build-up to the scene where Okoye walks into a casino/bar wearing a “ridiculous wig” as she calls it, is funny. But the moment she rips it off her head, in the middle of a tense brawl with clattered vibranium spears and uses the wig as a weapon by throwing it in the face of the enemy, is downright hilarious.
While the audience roared with laughter, the symbolism of this new iconic moment is lost on many. The fact that the entire cast wears afro-textured hairstyles that have neither curling irons nor detanglers is not only unique, it speaks volumes. From the female warriors’ cropped hair to Nakia’s (Lupita N’Yongo) Bantu knot, the show defies outdated beauty standards and stereotypical ideas about afro-textured hair.
Black Panther is not just a movie, like Avatar, it is an experience. The costumes are beautifully colorful, the landscape is overwhelmingly beautiful and the cast is simply great. The images take you to a beautiful, even magical, technically advanced futuristic city, hidden in the mountains of Africa, while real world issues are presented with an illuminating sense of unexpected humor. It is an experience you will not regret.
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