Black Panther: A Review

1st July, 2018.

You know, you can TELL it’s a Sunday night in, can’t you … ?

Yep.   It’s a Sunday night … 

It’s a Sunday night off … 

And yes: it’s a Sunday night where I’ve cleaned my pants.

Which I think is something I think you’d rather not know, but there you go.

At any rate?

It’s Sunday.

I’ve got Kraftwerk’s Autobahn on in the background.

And I’ve just seen a movie: the 2018 release, Black Panther.

And, yes: I am impressed, thank you!

~≈§≈~

Black Panther with a brief story: of how a meteorite of Vibranium hit the African nation of Wakanda.

Where, many centuries later?

The crown prince, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), is too assume the throne: after the death of his father, and the traditional bout of ritual combat.

He is faced with a crisis, though.  

Not only is lover, Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), in two minds about marrying him, but also Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman) of the CIA, trying to  prevent vibranium from being taken out of Wakanda … 

By smuggler Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis): a man determined to sell weapons to all and sundry … !

~≈§≈~

Now … 

Impressed?



Yes, actually.

I’m not usually one for superhero movies: at least, not the Marvel ones.

There’s just a few too many around, frankly.

But Black Panther has something of an ace up its sleeve.

That simple fact it’s a black-majority cast is … 

I’m trying to be careful, here!

Possibly, not important.

I’m white, I should add: if you hadn’t guessed from the intros.

And quite happy to watch a film whoever’s in it.

I’m ALSO aware I’m a Dr Who fan.   And that — at any of the conventions I’ve been to — only met other white, and usually male, fans.

In fact, I think it’s only in the past few years that I’ve started meeting female fans of the show.

Or gay fans: although the Sisterhood of Karn has been around for a couple of decades.

But I’m very aware these few fans of the show who are of a Black British/Afro-Carribbean background.   I think that’s a loss: both to fan groups, and to the show.

I’m ALSO aware of something Neil Gaiman said in one interview.

That an unnamed, but well known, black British actor was offered the role of Dr Who.



And turned it down.



That’s the show’s loss.



It could literally have been groundbreaking!

As much of a ground breaker as Nichelle Nichols, the original Lieutenant Uhura in Star Trek.

And — I think — as ground breaking as Black Panther.

I really do like SF: even though I’ve not read as much of it as I could or should.

I think the genre needs as many people creating it, in order to survive, as possible.

From as many backgrounds as possible.

I think Hollywood — in creating a film with a black majority cast, and a black director — has gone out looking for a market, found one … 

And hopefully done  science fiction, superheroes and you and me, a huge favour.

Why?

It’s just told us a great story … regardless of colour.

Black Panther.
★★★★