A tale of an African superhero, most of Black Panther is set in an imaginary African nation and in Busan, South Korea.
Chadwick Boseman (Captain America: Civil War) plays Prince T’challa of Wakanda, a small country which has remained isolated by choice from the rest of the world, existing with a balance of their traditional culture and incredibly advanced technology powered by the precious metal vibranium.
Following on from events in Captain America: Civil War, T’challa becomes king and returns to Wakanda to take his place as heir after the death of his father.
Michael B. Jordan (Adonis Johnson in Creed) plays a decent performance as the villain Erik Killmonger, who plans to take over Wakanda and wage war on the world.
A rogue who meets his demise earlier in the piece is Ulysses Klaue, humorously played by Andy Serkis (War For The Planet Of The Apes).
Much of Black Panther’s laughs are via the endearing performance of Letitia Wright (The Commuter) as Shuri, scientific genius and younger sister of T’challa.
An important facet of Black Panther is the cultural weight it carries. Director Coogler is a person of colour, as are most of the film’s strong characters and the cast playing them. Positive female characters are also in abundance as matriarchs, leaders, scientists, and royal guards.
While it could be a little confusing at times to the uninitiated, Black Panther is ultimately a spectacle of visionary ideas and design. Rife with fantastic scenery and imagery, the film is an impressive showcase for the talents of the hundreds of people responsible for its visuals. Overall, Black Panther is an entertaining addition to the Marvel pantheon.
Readers also enjoyed this review of See You Up There.
