Black Panther
28/02/18 Filed in: Cinema
After the tranquility and true-to-life realism of the last couple of French films I've reviewed, a quantum leap into the world of the Black Panther. I've previously expressed my opinion regarding the saturation of the Marvel franchise, with the film studios appearing to offer up one film after another for what they obviously see as an inexhaustible appetite for this type of adventure. I fear, however, that we may be getting to the point where it's too much of a good thing. Peak Marvel!
Black Panther, however, does offer something different, in that the majority of the cast is Black, which is a refreshing milestone for a big-budget superhero film such as this. They snuck in Martin Freeman as a white CIA agent, but this was hardly to satisfy the need for a 'big' star, since there is plenty of talent and star quality on show from the rest of the cast. I didn't see Captain America: Civil War, so this was my first introduction to King T'Challa, or as the title says, the Black Panther. We're introduced to the reclusive African Nation of Wakanda, where an ancient meteor strike deposited huge quantities of vibranium, a mineral that has allowed the inhabitants to develop advanced technology and keep it and themselves largely hidden from the rest of the world. The vibranium affected the plant life, and one particular plant is used to bestow upon King T'Challa super powers, which he employs in the guise of the Black Panther.
Wakanda and its people are a strange mix of ancient tribal customs and super-advanced technology, no doubt intentional if somewhat unbelievable. I know! It's a Marvel fantasy. One such custom is the ritual whereby the king can be challenged for his throne, and we are treated to this spectacle when the leader of another tribe appears somewhat late in the proceedings to upset what was intended to be an unchallenged fait à complet. Before the challenge the king must drink a potion that removes his special Panther powers.
But the story proper revolves around an event that occurred years before, when one of the tribe, who was working undercover in California, was found to have facilitated the theft of some vibranium. T'Challa's father uncovered this deceit and in the resulting confrontation killed the warrior concerned, an event that left an orphaned son, Erik, who now has a score to settle. In cahoots with an arms dealer, Erik helps with the theft of a Wakandan vibranium artefact from a museum. The intention is to sell it, the buyer being a CIA agent, whom T'Challa knows. An attempted intervention by T'Challa and some of his best warriors, all female I would add, doesn't quite go according to plan, but it does make T'Challa realise that, in Erik, they have an adversary who has a connection with Wakanda. You will probably have already guessed that we are now heading for a face-off between T'Challa and Erik, at which point both possess the powers of the Black Panther - all will become clear when you see the film!
I came away from this film with mixed feelings. Yes, it is different, yes it gives voice to Africa and its people, yes it has plenty of strong female characters, and yes it's a well-put-together spectacle. But the advanced technology just seems so at odds with the conventional tribal context. I thought Wonder Woman had a better balance between fantasy and reality, although she did have some Godly help. And, of course, here we end up with the now indispensable CGI mayhem sequences, which for me are becoming just a bit too predictable in this sort of film. However, reviews have been extremely positive, although on Rotten Tomatoes the critics rating was somewhat higher than that of audiences.
Perhaps I should stick with my French true-to-life dramas!
But the story proper revolves around an event that occurred years before, when one of the tribe, who was working undercover in California, was found to have facilitated the theft of some vibranium. T'Challa's father uncovered this deceit and in the resulting confrontation killed the warrior concerned, an event that left an orphaned son, Erik, who now has a score to settle. In cahoots with an arms dealer, Erik helps with the theft of a Wakandan vibranium artefact from a museum. The intention is to sell it, the buyer being a CIA agent, whom T'Challa knows. An attempted intervention by T'Challa and some of his best warriors, all female I would add, doesn't quite go according to plan, but it does make T'Challa realise that, in Erik, they have an adversary who has a connection with Wakanda. You will probably have already guessed that we are now heading for a face-off between T'Challa and Erik, at which point both possess the powers of the Black Panther - all will become clear when you see the film!
I came away from this film with mixed feelings. Yes, it is different, yes it gives voice to Africa and its people, yes it has plenty of strong female characters, and yes it's a well-put-together spectacle. But the advanced technology just seems so at odds with the conventional tribal context. I thought Wonder Woman had a better balance between fantasy and reality, although she did have some Godly help. And, of course, here we end up with the now indispensable CGI mayhem sequences, which for me are becoming just a bit too predictable in this sort of film. However, reviews have been extremely positive, although on Rotten Tomatoes the critics rating was somewhat higher than that of audiences.
Perhaps I should stick with my French true-to-life dramas!