Black Panther (2018)

In assessing Black Panther, we have to consider that this movie is a product of Ryan Coogler, but also of the Marvel People, and the Disney people, who have to sign off on it...

In assessing Black Panther, we have to consider that this movie is a product of Ryan Coogler, but also of the Marvel People, and the Disney people, who have to sign off on it too. After Deadpool and The Force Awakens, it could be the most anticipated movie that I've ever seen, which means that even before it was released it was already a box office success. And it has already experienced huge success, less than a week after its release.

But Black Panther is not above criticism. In short, my issues with Black Panther are more or less the same as my issues with very much of black focused cinema that arrives in the mainstream; we as black people are too quick to look past the flaws of films, in our haste to celebrate the fact that we finally have our own movies to celebrate. I remember watching Dope, Girls Trip and Chiraq - three black movies with clear, clear problems - receive praise just for being black movies which reached the big screen.

By Tomatometer and other metrics, black Panther is already the best superhero film ever. Woah. Just slow down a minute buddy! Unfortunately, it isn't even a top tier Marvel film. If we're really honest, Black Panther would come somewhere after the first Iron Man, Civil War, The Winter Soldier, Sam Raimi's first 2 Spider Man films, Logan, and potentially Doctor Strange/Thor Ragnarok/Guardians of the Galaxy 1. Which isn't to say Black Panther is a horrible movie; it's definitely superior to the likes of Ant Man, Spiderman Homecoming, the first 2 Thor's, that mess of a Hulk film, that other mess of a Hulk film, Iron Man 3, and the Fantastic 4 disaster.

One thing that saves Black Panther from relegation to that bottom tier of forgettability is the presentation of of Wakanda and Wakandan culture. Wakandan clothes are bright and varied has advanced mag-lev transportation

There's far too much cringe in Black Panther for it to be worthy of top tier status. From the fact that about a third of the lines here are over delivered: that overdelivery includes but is not limited to the "show him who you are!" "I am prince T'challa, son of king T'choka!!" moment, which galvanises him to win the ensuing fight. Highly original. The cringe continues with the fake 'Museum of Great Britain' which is cringey because there is a real 'British Museum' already which could have been used instead, and this fake 'Museum of Great Britain' in the film doesn't serve any purpose that the real one could not. If we want to talk about great films, details like this start to matter.

And if we're talking about cringe, why has Martin Freeman, a British actor best known for playing Bilbo Baggins and the bumbling sidekick to Sherlock Holmes been cast as a CIA agent here? Are you kidding me. Whose idea was this?

The Black Panther had been crowned king for barely 24 hours, and he's already jumping headfirst into dangerous missions to South Korea, bringing his ex girlfriend with him no less. Even worse, we get the usual bar brawl that looks like it could have been lifted straight from Rush Hour 2 or something (golden spear aside). Then its a contrived car chase that we've seen in almost every other movie ever. And after all of that Mr Black Panther decides to let the bad guy live anyway. Yaaaawwnnn. I know its a criticism of Marvel in general, but why does it go for these same tired formulas? They've always done well when they've departed (at least a little) from these formulas like in Logan and to an extent Dr Strange also.

If you love Daniel Kaluuya as much as I do, you'll agree that he's seriously wasted in this movie. Daniel has what, maybe 6 speaking lines in the whole movie. I was excited to see the cast for the film, and yes it also acts as a celebration of black actors, but you also have to use them correctly for the film to be a success. I can just about live with Forest Whittaker, and Angela Bassett's slightly cheesy characters who feel like they could have been lifted directly from Coming to America. But Daniel doesn't get much juice here for such a capable actor. I actually think he could have played Killmonger.

And by the way that isn't to say I think Micheal B Jordan is no good as Killmonger, because he's obviously the exact opposite. I'm still not sure whether he's so fantastic because the character is well acted or well written or both, but Michael B Jordan is just so so good as Killmonger, the swaggering villain, snatching exhibits from museums not because its necessary for the plot, but just because 'he's feeling it'. It's so refreshing to see a young black man be a villain in a big picture, bringing an energy that nobody else can really bring.

Which isn't to say that he doesn't have any help, because the ever masterful Andy Serkis is the perfect foil for him as Klaw, shooting arm cannons at Wakandans, and cackling away about it in that abrasive South African accent. Amazing. These two characters are probably the best thing about Black Panther.

I did find it strange though, that Killmonger is never confronted with the fact that his father was a traitor of his country, which is actually a big plot hole, because the acceptance of that fact would likely change Killmonger's behaviour, or alternatively reveal him as truly malignant. It's also strange I think, for Killmonger to openly admit to taking life from his own "brothers and sisters right here on this continent" when his overarching motivation is supposed to be that of global liberation of black people from oppressors.

But that aside, there isn't very much worldbuilding going on, which is annoying when all you get is stupid chases in Korea to make up for it. I'd want to know much more about Wakandan society, both political and social. What do Wakandans eat? Is there any Wakandan sport? Nakia wants to provide more foreign aid, how much popular support does she have and why? What are the pressing issues facing Wakandan society?

The 'Ancestral Realm' elements were well handled, and I appreciated the reference to Hanuman by M'Baku (although the Indian Central Board of Film Certification didn't love it so much). I didn't appreciate the depiction of the Jabari tribe as barking man apes. I know that this is based on the source material, but at one stage, M'Baku literally barks 13 times in a row and his tribesmen join in, creating this cacophony of barking, and I sit there thinking 'wtf, this is supposed to be positive representation of black people'. We don't need any more parallels between black people and apes thank you very much.

A moment later, M'Baku is explaining how his tribe is actually vegetarian, which is only funny, because the depiction of the tribe up until that point has been of savage animals (incessant barking, living secluded in the mountains, only turn up in the film for violent reasons etc). But what will audiences remember, the Jabari tribe of vegetarians, or the mountain tribe that just barked a lot?

It's also important to remember too, that another reason the vegetarian thing doesn't flow very well, is because the Jabari are actually depicted wearing animal fur. I roll my eyes at that kind of inconsistency. If you want to present the Jabari Tribe as vegetarian, then there are better ways to do it than in some throwaway joke for cheap laughs. Do it properly or don't do it at all.

We were also treated to a very predictable will he/won't he (the hero) come back, is he really dead cliffhanger, until the returns a few minutes later. As if we couldn't guess that was going to happen, oh Mr coogler, you tease.

Also Why does T'challa's ship crash prior to that arrival at the finale? Why does Martin Freeman know how to deactivate his hologram to see that he's being attacked, but has to be asked to be put back in a moment later? Scratch that, why is he in the film at all?

So you get the gist, I don't want to sit here nitpicking at things which irritate me without reference to the wider picture. Although there was too much obvious green screen for my liking, it was nice seeing a mix of Black cultures represented on the screen that was rich and which makes the film interesting.

It's culturally significant yes, but before we hail Black Panther as a benchmark of black filmmaking, let's remember the words of Martin Freeman himself, who in an interview pointed out that there is nothing too dissimilar between Black Panther and every other Marvel film, only that there are more black faces involved this time. And I think that's how Black Panther should be remembered: as 'the black Marvel film' not as the apex of black cinema, which is where some of us are kind of heading.

If we were going to talk about those lofty moments of black cinema we should first be looking at films like Moonlight which yes is flawed, but is at least excellently executed.