Coastal View News
“Black Panther” is all the rage. It first gained everyone’s
attention for non-cinematic reasons—for its nearly all black cast, which is
super rare, if not unique, in a superhero movie. But it has also gotten rave
reviews as a movie—as a story about a group of people from southeast Africa who
long dodged the ills of the world, but who increasingly grapple with how to
deal with their broader responsibilities to the oppressed.
Within the royal family of Wakanda, there are two major
factions. One side is peace-loving, conciliatory, and isolationist. The other
side is more, let’s say, proactive. They think that oppressed people should be
armed and dangerous, and that Wakanda should do that arming.
And Wakanda could do that, if it wanted, because Wakanda
is a special place. Millions of years ago a meteor carrying a seemingly
inexhaustible supply of vibranium—the strongest metal in the universe—homed right
in on Wakanda. So, once people came on to the scene, they found themselves with
a treasure trove of the element.
And it turns out vibranium is more than just super
strong. It can do almost anything—it makes for impenetrable armor, especially
potent weapons, a whole complex magnetic energy grid, and all sorts of other whiz-bang,
sci-fi technology. Oh, also, it has healing powers.
But a while back Wakanda decided to sit tight with their
vibranium. Not only did they set aside any imperialist ambitions, they even
found a way to hide their thriving metropolis from the outside world, so that,
to the more power hungry and resource-grabby countries out there (cough cough),
Wakanda would look like one of the poorest places in the world. Which is sort
of brilliant, because being poor really is the best way to get ignored.
This isolationist tradition is passed down from
generation to generation through the hereditary monarchy led by their king, the
Black Panther, who has special powers of bad-assery. The Black Panther will go
out every now and then on good-will missions, often disguised as an ordinary
dude, but mostly his job is to keep a low profile and minister to the people of
Wakanda.
That is, until the aptly named Erik Killmonger (Michael
B. Jordan) decides to challenge the even-keel, kindly, righteous, and current
Black Panther, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), for the throne. Though long an
outsider, Killmonger does, as it turns out, have some claim to the throne. And
he’s ready to be done with this mind-your-own-business style of leadership. He
wants to fight, kill, and otherwise brutalized his (and others’) oppressors.
The question, I suppose, is whether Wakanda is ready for
that, or willing for it to happen, or willing to stand up to one of their own,
or able to find some kind of middle ground while also trying to understand
their own history and place in the world around them. Outrage is easy. But,
then again, so is compliance.
As I said, the fact that “Black Panther” exists is
important in all sorts of extra-cinematic ways. But I don’t feel particularly
well equipped to add much to that discussion. If you’re interested, you might
check out Carvell Wallace’s “Why ‘Black Panther’ Is a Defining Moment for Black
America” in The New York Times or
Adam Serwer’s “The Tragedy of Erik Killmonger” in The Atlantic.
But as for the movie itself—qua Marvel superhero movie—“Black Panther” isn’t quite as ground-breaking.
It does less to break the mold. It’s your standard Marvel movie, with fairly
standard plot points, action sequences, humor, and archetypes.
Which isn’t to say “Black Panther” is bad qua movie. It’s
actually pretty good as far as these things go. It’s beautifully shot, well
acted, action packed, entertaining, etc. If I didn’t have such a bad case of superhero
fatigue, I might be all about it.
At any rate, the main significance of “Black Panther”
clearly goes beyond its merits as movie about a superhero. And if you go into it
with that context in mind, all sorts of thought provoking symbols, metaphors,
and other elements will emerge. “Black Panther” will give you plenty to ponder
if you let it.
If you let it. Otherwise it will just be another Marvel
superhero movie. Not a bad one. But one among many. Maybe, for you, that
amounts to a rave review all on its own. Still, if you’re going to go, might as
appreciate its other virtues as well.
