Black Panther (2018)

☆ ☆ ☆ ½

Black Panther (2018) – R. Coogler

The mythos is strong with this superhero fable, most likely because it connects itself to the music and culture of Africa rather than simply some artificial Marvel universe.  Yet, it is a “wish fulfillment” version of Africa, where a Shangri-la-like country (Wakanda) with advanced technology (due to vast stores of a powerful but fictional metal) has managed to hide away from the rest of the world.  These Africans have power and riches (and weaponry) beyond what most Black people in the rest of the world have, yet they have kept it to themselves.  This fact is the basic driver of the plot, which finds an alienated Wakandan returning to challenge the King for the throne in order to force Wakanda to open up to the outside world.  The King (Chadwick Boseman) is also granted superhuman powers in the guise of Black Panther (with a very high-tech skin-tight suit as well).  His army of women is led by General Okoye (Danai Gurira).  He is assisted by his ex, Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o) and his sister (Letitia Wright).  They must combat Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) when he comes to steal the throne (along with defector Daniel Kaluuya, so great in Get Out, 2017, but with little to do here).  Fortunately, the King (B. P.) is wise and strong and he has the counsel of elders (Forest Whitaker and Angela Bassett in cameos).  But it is a difficult challenge.  For a while, the combination of mythologizing, African heritage, and superhero action felt vital and exciting but slowly slowly the necessity of action sequences started to grind me down.  The awkward presence of Martin Freeman as an American CIA agent who helps the King was like a fly in the ointment – it would have been better just to stick with an all-Black cast methinks (or retained only Andy Serkis in the grinning bad guy role). Overall, it’s an uplifting affair, looking great on the screen (CGI has certainly blossomed into something more palatable), and not bad for a superhero flick (but this may be the last one for me for awhile!).