Black Panther

Black Panther is a 2018 Marvel superhero film directed by Ryan Coogler.  The film commences with T'Challa returning to his African home of Wakanda, to take the throne after his father's death.  When there is a rise of a powerful enemy, T'Challa must lead Wakanda to rise up against the challenge.


Black Panther is an entity in itself.  It is well worth seeing on the big screen, merely for the African landscapes.  While it fits into the typical realm of action studded Marvel scenes, it takes on more of a Bond or Batman approach of science and technology based enhancements.  It is, however, one of the more approachable of the comic book movies, and has a lot of what ifs and sociological jabs that most Marvel or comic book movies don't seem to breech.  There was more of a human and almost mythological approach to the movie, I haven't seen in most Marvel type movies.

The movie takes approaches on "what could have been" with Africa, it's a bit of a swirl of throwing the term colonizer out, and Wakanda's hesitation of wanting to open themselves with the rest of the world.  There is a futurism within Wakanda that is enticing.  Their connections with local tribes, but not much further out can be drawn to the country first aspects seen in some of the current countries with the largest colonizing histories (US, Britain) . 

While most comic movies tend to cater more towards a younger and a comic nerd crowd, there are many "onion" layers to Black Panther.  While current politics maybe considered these countries in Africa as "shit hole" you can't be short of amazed of the levels of what Wakanda as a nation achieved despite being more based on much of the traditional approaches, while also embracing the powers of technology. 

The strong build on science and technology is refreshing.  There aren't many films that draw or build on the basis of including science and incorporating technology as domineering and driving force of a nation.  Most films will look at science and technology in terms of medical fields, healing powers, science fiction, and biopics of certain techno hubs, and not as much of the driving force of what is the potential of country and it's next generations.

The movie takes on a tone of black power, without it being overbearing or extreme in presentations.  I was curious about the idea of the title or base of the culture of Black Panthers in the 50's and 60's in the states.  The history itself in the US is a strong group of people looking to be a driving force for their people in their neighborhoods and nation. 

The tour de force of women and their abilities to be the advisers, and the main reasons the society as a whole was able to succeed was an interesting approach and empowering in a different way.  The feel good forces of this Marvel movie were far more deep seeded than your average Spider-Man, Avengers, and the ilk.  While it seems to stay true to the concepts of most comic book approaches and developments, there are much more of a modern take and historical contexts that make this movie far more of approach.  I am looking forward to similar takes on this type of approach, or threads in the series.