Dose of black magic
BLACK PANTHER
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Letitia Wright, Andy Serkis Lashing out powerfully, with claws and effect BLACK Panther, the first Marvel movie blockbuster to put a superhero of colour at the epicentre of the action, is a must-see.
Much fuss will be made of the significant blows Black Panther strikes so emphatically.
Not just in the interests of racial diversity on screen (the raucous, yet respectful embrace of black culture and history is a breakthrough Hollywood moment), but also gender equality (the females are no passengers in this fastmoving tale).
Black Panther begins in the wake of the scenes in Captain America: Civil War where we were introduced to Prince T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) and his secret superhero guise of Black Panther.
Upon the death of his father, T’Challa ventures home to the kingdom of Wakanda, where it is assumed he will take the throne.
The rest of the world assumes Wakanda is another typically impoverished African nation. Which is just the way the Wakandans like it.
Pretending to be a primitive country is a brilliant cover for Wakanda, an advanced, almost utopian society where the understanding, design and deployment of technology is light years ahead of the socalled “civilised” world.
The secret to Wakanda’s leap forward is rare vibranium, a metallic ore with energytransferring properties that can be manipulated and controlled in sophisticated ways.
Arms dealer Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) has got his paws on vibranium, and intends to sell it to the highest bidder.
Aiding and abetting this ploy is Erik Killmonger (a beyond-charismatic Michael B. Jordan of Creed), an ex-US military agent who knows more than he lets on about the Wakandan way of life.
Once he gets his head around the Klaue-Killmonger alliance, T’Challa must assemble the best fighting force to extinguish the threat.
A high proportion of T’Challa’s most trusted warriors are female. The most dynamic is Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), whose commitment to social outreach often puts her at loggerheads with Wakanda’s insular instinct.
Just as important to the feminine fury coursing through Black Panther is the remarkable Shuri, played by breakout star Letitia Wright (recently in Black Mirror’s Black Museum episode).
As for the rest of the stellar support cast (including Daniel Kaluuya from Get Out, Sterling K. Brown, Angela Bassett and Forest Whitaker), they all bring what Black Panther needs in short, sharp and shrewd doses.