Movie: Black Panther
Director: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o
Stars: Four-and-a-half star
City Press review:
Finally. A comic-book superhero blockbuster where the black character is far more than a supporting sidekick or comic relief. Black Panther is a cinematic apology for the hardships the black community has suffered on an international level. In the past, black people have either been portrayed as thugs, drug dealers, slaves or prisoners. In this film, both the men and women are depicted as noble, brave, kind, educated and, most importantly, powerful.
The well-assembled cast that includes Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright, Andy Serkis and Martin Freeman brings a much appreciated intensity to the film. Viewers will be glued to their seats by the breathtaking cinematography, African-inspired wardrobe and fast-paced action glazed over with the humour that has brought Marvel so much success. The movie should be particularly enjoyable for South African audiences as the creatives have used isiXhosa as the native tongue of Wakanda. Black Panther holds the record for the most presold tickets for any superhero movie in history, according to ticket sales website Fandango.
Black Panther cements itself as the 18th and final instalment in the Marvel saga, before the much-anticipated Avengers: Infinity War, expected later in the year. To put it into context within the Marvel cinematic universe:
At the beginning of Captain America: Civil War, the Winter Soldier kills the king of Wakanda T’Chaka, the father of T’Challa. In an act of reconciliation, the new king of Wakanda takes the Winter Soldier back to his home country to undo the effects of intense brainwashing he had suffered at the hands of the forces of Hydra. He does so using Wakanda’s advanced healthcare. Later on, it is speculated that part of the Infinity War will take place on the grasslands of Wakanda, with the fearsome T’Challa and his fierce army of lady warriors paired with a few Avengers ready to protect planet Earth.
(Pictures:Disney/Marvel)