Rating of
3/4
"Black Panther" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 02/14/19
The newly crowned king of a highly technologically advanced but secretive African country inherits the mantle of “The Black Panther” but discovers a secret that threatens not only his rule, but the entire world.
The hype surrounding the latest Marvel Studios venture was inescapable which makes objective criticism rather difficult. It is extremely successful in creating a believable world with its own technology and culture and the set design, costumes, production design and even the accents sported by the uniformly excellent cast make the proud, unconquered state of Wakanda feel like a real and unique place. It’s also easy to see why it would resonate with black communities everywhere to have an African state that stands shoulder to shoulder with the world’s superpowers and its treatment of the female characters is refreshingly free of sexualisation and condescension. But ultimately, all of this is window dressing for a story that inevitably comes down to two men in tights hitting each other surrounded by a sea of CGI. The first half of the story is Iron Man does James Bond, complete with a sassier, female version of Q and Martin Freeman as the resident Felix Leiter. The second struck me as a terrestrial version of Flash Gordon – I was almost waiting for Winston Duke to sprout plastic wings and bellow “T’CHALLA’S ALIIIIIVE?!!”. And despite the best of intentions, some clumsy direction and dialogue made some scenes skirt uncomfortably close to The Lion King territory.
Anyone expecting high art from Black Panther will be sorely disappointed. It’s a nicely designed, well played and intelligently themed superhero film; but it’s still just a superhero film.
