Directed by: Ryan Coogler
Written by: Ryan Coogler & Jay Robert Cole
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o
My thoughts on Black Panther parallel with my thoughts on Wonder Woman last year. I had a lot of fun watching them both. Black Panther especially for being over 2 hours and yet it wrapped up before I knew it. The wider cultural love of these films escapes my personal experience and I think that has to do with representation. I'm so used to seeing white male characters have these sorts of exciting well made adventures, so having a woman or a black man in the role for that adventure doesn't come off as special to me. I do realise though that it's all those who haven't seen such personal representation on the screen that have caused both movies to become cultural touchstones. Black Panther more than Wonder Woman. Maybe it's just the strength of the Marvel Cinematic Universe compared to DC's output.
I think the reason it felt so well paced was that Killmonger taking over Wakanda felt like the midpoint of the movie. This is when everything changes, and T'Challa has to claw his way back onto the throne (I couldn't resist). This scene is actually the transition into Act 3. I think the midpoint is when Killmonger kills Klaue. I had no idea that was Andy Serkis until the end credits. He hams it up in every scene. It's glorious. Act 3 contains a cluster of a final battle, with multiple characters squaring off against each other for what they believe in. The future of Wakanda is at stake, and what vision of that future is going to win? This ends with the fight on the train tracks between T'Challa and Killmonger. As the fight was happening (with sanctioned breaks as they test each others philosophy of what Wakanda needs to be), I wondered how T'Challa was actually going to win. Killmonger is a better fighter and feels more righteous in his cause. He also handily won their first fight. T'Challa dies and comes back, but the only change is that he condemns his father for the actions that created Killmonger in the first place. It feels like T'Challa won the second fight through a lucky opportunity that he was able to take advantage of. Not from his change of heart regarding tradition.
Of course I might not be remembering correctly. Usually I try and write about the movies I see the morning after. It's now been a couple of days. I don't know why it's been so difficult to write about this movie compared to all the others I've covered. Part of it may be with how beloved it is, and how I just found it entertaining. Maybe I didn't understand the ending and why T'Challa won, so I feel foolish for criticising it. Heh, I just remembered how all of T'challa's closest friends are women, and his sister Shuri acts as the film's Q, at least before the Korean mission. I also remember how T'challa's ruling style struck me as a way to conduct yourself in life, in how to be a leader. To surround yourself with people you trust and to be able to listen to them. To be able to take conflicting points of view and explain why you think what you settle on is the right way forward. Very different to the scene in the throne room with Killmonger. He sets forth his agenda. He disregards the questioning of his orders and commands they be carried out. Perhaps that's what I've been missing. T'challa was too bound to tradition, and Killmonger on the opposite end succeeded completely by himself. T'challa learns to buckle tradition when needed, and Killmonger never sees his need to allow others in. The way Killmonger was defeated still puzzles me thematically, but I think I understand the film a little more after writing this.
Personal Enjoyment: ★★★★
