Black Panther (2018)

Marvel Studios post ten years is off to a banger! Family - Loyalty – Honour…the essence of African culture.

Being from a small island off the Southeast coast of the African continent, it was almost surreal to see the representation that was on display from the costumes (from all corners of the continent) to the various accents we associate with Africa.

The scene for the film is initially set up during Captain America: Civil War (2016), where T’Challa/ Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) makes his first appearance in the Marvel universe as well as the King of Wakanda (John Kani). A side note - I would just like to say that the concept of an alternate universe filled with super heroes is awesome!

Anyway, following on from the death of the King (as shown in Civil War), we are plunged into the world of Wakanda, an environment brimming with life, greenery, mountains….and just so much more but I do not want to bore you, just know its visually stunning. As we arrive, we are reintroduced to T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) as well as the other characters from the other tribes of Wakanda. As this is the first instalment of Black Panther, there are a lot of introductions and we are almost immediately introduced to a practically utopian society, where its people are happy, safe and advanced in technologies while in sync with their past and tradition. However, all that is put on the balance as the film progresses, we start to see cracks appearing into what we initially believed was the ideal world…

As this was a Marvel Superhero film, it is safe to say that the chase scenes were incredible! Black Panther suit looked incredible! And fight scenes were…you guessed it…INCREDIBLE! The film maintained that level of excitement throughout and humorous jokes along the way will have you giggling and chuckling to yourself.

An excellently chosen cast that portrayed Wakanda proudly (even if it is a fictitious country). Whether it was Michael B. Jordan (portraying Erik ‘Killmonger’ Stevens) or Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia), it was good to see a cast true to the original comic.

The CGI effects and scenes offered realism, authentic costumes were pleasing to the eyes and a brilliant storyline and narrative that admirably touched on colonialism and racism.

“My Ancestors knew death was better than bondage” - this line stuck with me, this is enough make others reflect on the atrocities of colonial history for the last couple hundreds of years.

Black Panther is a contender to becoming one of Marvel Studios biggest franchises, so I hope the next instalments offer the same of this, I cannot wait!

WAKANDA FOREVER!

9/10