[Review] Black Panther: Marvel's Most Soulful Film Yet!

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) entered its 10th year in 2018, and its first release of the year, Black Panther, recently opened in Hong Kong. The film premiered in the U.S. two weeks prior and was already hailed by some local critics as Marvel's best work to date. After watching it, I also believe this film is Marvel's most soulful creation yet!

Marvel Studios launched its first production, Iron Man, in 2008, and in 10 years, it has released 18 films, becoming the most popular movie franchise. In recent years, Marvel's competitor, DC, launched the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), rapidly catching up, but its quality has consistently drawn criticism, sparking a fan war between the two camps. A major point of contention from DC fans is that Marvel films are formulaic, lacking depth and soul, and merely superficial Hollywood blockbusters. Now, with Black Panther, Marvel not only delivers a strong rebuttal to this criticism but also has the potential to fundamentally change the landscape of similar films.

Black Panther, as the first MCU film to feature a Black superhero protagonist, with a Black director and writer, and an almost entirely Black cast, already generated significant buzz. But after watching the film, I found that these Black elements were not just a gimmick; the film tells its story entirely from a Black perspective, deeply connecting with every Black person. The film primarily takes place in the mysterious, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda. It has consistently disguised itself as an ordinary Third World African country, but in reality, it is a powerful and prosperous nation far more advanced than any other, resembling a futuristic city. Wakanda's appearance and high technology have been major selling points for the film, fully demonstrating the production team's creativity. However, this is not just a superficial setting; it is tightly linked to the film's themes: the harm of colonialism and isolationism.

The image of African nations as backward and impoverished Third World countries has long been deeply ingrained. Have you ever wondered why this is the case? Is it a geographical issue? An environmental issue? Or a lack of capability and wisdom among African people? Black Panther attempts to answer this question through the fictional nation of Wakanda. In the film, Wakanda's advanced and wealthy image directly contrasts our perception of African nations, surpassing all expectations. The reason for its development is simple: it was never colonized by Western powers, consistently adopting isolationism to protect its national resources and people. Centuries ago, European colonial powers embarked on centuries of colonization in Africa and Asia, plundering local resources, establishing governments under their control, enslaving indigenous populations, and exporting these Black slaves. All of these factors caused African nations to lose resources and opportunities for development, while also creating a situation of discrimination and oppression against Black people. Even as these nations gradually gained independence, they were unable to develop and struggled to keep pace with other countries. In the film, Wakanda was never colonized by Western powers, maintaining its own customs and developing in an African style, becoming a utopia. Although this is a fictional nation, we don't know if it could be possible in reality, but I believe it is highly encouraging for the people of African nations and Black people living in different countries, and it expresses a strong indictment against colonialism.

Beyond the setting of Wakanda, the film also expresses its indictment of colonizers through its characters and dialogue. The film features two important white characters: the black market arms dealer and terrorist Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis), who appeared in Avengers: Age of Ultron, and CIA agent Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman). Both of these individuals approach Wakanda from a typical Western white perspective. Ulysses Klaue describes them as savages; Everett K. Ross, unaware of Wakanda's true nature, assumes it is merely a backward Third World country. Both symbolize the contempt of Western white people for African nations and their people, because in the values established by Westerners, African culture and society are uncivilized, backward, and inferior. Conversely, in the film, several main Wakandan characters, such as Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o) and Shuri (Letitia Wright), consistently display their hostility towards Western white people, which I believe also reflects the attitude of many indigenous Africans towards Western colonizers.

Even though colonialism has declined in the last century, Western countries' suppression of former colonies persists. During the colonial period, they plundered a vast amount of cultural artifacts and resources from various countries, which are now exhibited in their museums and have not been returned. In the film's opening, in the scene where Erik "Killmonger" Stevens (Michael B. Jordan) appears, he reclaims Wakandan artifacts from the British Museum. However, this vibranium is then still traded between powerful Western nations like Ulysses Klaue and Everett K. Ross, also reflecting that in the real world, poorer African nations simply do not have the ability to repossess their artifacts. As the film develops, the fates of these two white characters are also highly ironic: Ulysses Klaue is killed by Erik Stevens, a descendant of the Wakandan people; Everett K. Ross is saved by the technology developed by Wakanda, a nation he originally viewed as backward.

Beyond colonialism, the film also touches on the actions of Western nations in Middle Eastern and African countries over recent decades. The character of Erik Stevens grew up in the United States, trained by the military and the CIA, and is familiar with how the U.S. constantly foments internal divisions, revolutions, and arms sales in African and Middle Eastern countries to prop up regimes under its control and increase its influence. Upon his return to Wakanda, he uses similar tactics to incite internal strife among the people, allowing himself to become king. In fact, his actions are no different from those of Western powers towards African nations, and thus the film also conveys themes of national unity through the internal conflicts and reconciliation of different tribes in the ending. I believe this is a strong reminder for the current situations in the Middle East and Africa.

Black Panther itself takes place in Wakanda, so I always assumed the film wouldn't have much to do with the United States, but I was surprised that the film's core focus was on African Americans. The film's director, Ryan Coogler, previously directed two excellent films, Fruitvale Station and Creed, both of which touched upon the struggles of Black people in the U.S. In contrast, Black Panther doesn't directly depict how Black Americans are discriminated against or oppressed, but the film addresses this theme through the character of Erik Stevens. In the film, Wakanda has consistently adopted isolationism, avoiding external interaction and keeping its true nature hidden from the outside world. Therefore, even though Wakanda's previous king and Black Panther, T'Challa's (Chadwick Boseman) father, was aware of the plight of Black Americans, they consistently stood by and offered no assistance. In contrast, his brother (Sterling K. Brown) had lived in the U.S. for a long time and deeply understood that pain, thus betraying Wakanda in hopes of changing the situation for Black Americans. As a result, he was killed by the previous king, leaving his son Erik Stevens to grow up alone in the U.S. Erik Stevens grew up in such an environment, deeply understanding their struggles, and hoped that after reclaiming the throne, he could help them by exporting Wakandan technology.

Beyond this setting, the film's opening scene, depicting the death of the king's brother in Oakland, California in 1992, is surely of special significance. In 1992, a Los Angeles court jury acquitted four police officers accused of using excessive force against a Black man, leading to a series of riots, resulting in over fifty deaths and thousands of injuries. Therefore, 1992 holds special meaning for Black Americans, and later, the famous O. J. Simpson murder trial also occurred in 1994, allowing audiences to understand the environment in which Erik Stevens grew up. Erik Stevens also states on his deathbed that he, like other Black people, would rather die than live in chains, a sentiment many Black viewers would likely share. Perhaps audiences outside the U.S. may not have a strong connection to these characters and events, but I believe most American audiences, especially Black audiences, will resonate strongly with this film. Marvel films have historically relied on humor and special effects as their main selling points, rarely delving into social issues. Therefore, I believe Black Panther is Marvel's most soulful film to date, directly connecting with history and people, and it may change future works.

In addition to the year 1992, the film's choice to film in South Korea is also very meaningful. During the 1992 Los Angeles riots, the local Korean community was severely affected, with one Korean American woman killing a 15-year-old Black female during the conflict, sparking anti-Korean sentiment among Black Americans. In Black Panther, Black Panther and others pursue Ulysses Klaue in Busan, South Korea, causing considerable damage. Later, after Black Panther captures Ulysses Klaue, he intends to kill him on the spot but realizes that many South Koreans are filming him. If Black Panther were to kill Ulysses Klaue on the spot, it would only increase the misunderstanding and fear among Koreans, and even the world, towards Wakandans and Black people, affecting their relationship. Therefore, the characters and events in the film are tightly linked to and echo the 1992 Los Angeles riots and Black Americans.

In the film, Black Panther T'Challa, as the new king, must not only preserve the nation's and people's traditions but also confront the changes brought about by globalization. In the film, the people of Wakanda witness how globalization blurs existing national borders and become more aware of the suffering of other peoples abroad, thus hoping T'Challa will change the past isolationist policy and export technology to foreign countries. This policy is not just for Black people but for all people on Earth, thus also bringing out the theme of universal harmony and great love. "With great power comes great responsibility" has always been a common theme in superhero films. This time, Black Panther carries the same meaning, but by integrating this theme with issues of race, it feels very fresh.

In the film's ending, T'Challa and his sister Shuri visit Oakland, California, the neighborhood where Erik Stevens grew up, and decide to establish Wakanda's first outreach center there. This demonstrates that Erik Stevens successfully changed T'Challa's mind and Wakanda's policy, which is likely to improve the living conditions of Black Americans and other peoples. In the final scene, T'Challa meets a young boy played by Moonlight child actor Alex Hibbert, who asks him a question: "Who are you?" This question illustrates that Black Panther, like many films about Black people (including Moonlight), is also a film about identity. In Black Panther, T'Challa is the King of Wakanda, prepared to lead his people in change; he is also a Black man, sharing the same skin color as Black people in the U.S. and elsewhere.

In the first post-credits scene, T'Challa announces at the United Nations that they will change their past isolationist policy and export technology to foreign countries. Afterward, a Western white politician questions how Wakanda, being a Third World country, has the ability to help others. This once again highlights Western countries' prejudice against African nations, and also echoes Wakanda's disguise at the beginning of the film, making the entire film more complete and emphasizing the change in Wakanda and T'Challa. A major theme of Black Panther is the history of Black Americans and Africa, and it presents an optimistic, brilliant future.

Marvel films have always relied on action special effects as their main selling point, but this time, I felt the dramatic scenes were even better, and I even thought fewer action scenes would have improved it. Among them, when I saw Erik's conversation with his father in a vision, I was truly moved to tears. This scene articulates the hardship faced by Black Americans, and combined with the acting of "This is Us" Emmy winner Sterling K. Brown and Michael B. Jordan, it is truly incredibly moving. After the film's U.S. premiere, many people called Erik Stevens the best-written villain in the MCU to date, and I feel he is truly deserving of that praise. The film thoroughly explains his motivations, thoughts, and upbringing, making him as important as the protagonist, Black Panther, and the character's background and Michael B. Jordan's natural performance likely make many viewers sympathize with his plight. Even though he is Black Panther's enemy, and his actions may be brutal, we can still immerse ourselves in his story and clearly understand why he acts the way he does. In contrast, previous villains in this series often seemed like cartoon characters, lacking proper character development.

Compared to previous Marvel films, the scale of Black Panther's action scenes seems smaller, and the fight choreography has been a point of contention for some audiences. In my opinion, the film takes place in an African nation and speaks to African culture and customs, so the crew's approach to filming fights truly captures the essence of primitive African combat. The final battle scene also has a strong flavor of African tribal conflict and wild environments. On the other hand, in the first half of the film, Black Panther's first appearance and the vibranium storyline genuinely feel like a spy film, no wonder the production team compared it to films like 007 and Mission: Impossible. In some scenes in the South Korean casino, the film also used long takes, which were dynamic and conveyed the tension of the scene to the audience.

In terms of art design, costumes, and dance, the film also presents the diverse flavors of indigenous African tribes and satisfies the audience's curiosity about Africa's mysterious culture and customs. Although there isn't much plot introduction for the different tribal settings, the film still manages to immerse the audience in this worldview and appreciate the crew's various designs. Among them, Black Panther's suit not only has a high-tech feel, but its protective function, and its ability to store and release kinetic energy, also seem to echo the film's theme. In the United States, Black people are often attacked. If they could have such a "suit" that protects them from harm and allows them to convert others' attacks into their own power, it would surely greatly improve their lives. This also reminds me of Marvel's series Luke Cage from the year before last, which also featured an invulnerable Black superhero. As for the music, the film heavily uses a drum-focused score, which has a strong primitive feel, and also incorporates some American Black hip-hop music, staying very true to the story's background related to Black Americans.

Following last year's Luke Cage, Marvel has once again delivered another excellent Black superhero work. Black Panther's story, themes, and characters are unique, so I find it hard to imagine future Marvel films reaching such a high standard. Next year, they will release their first female superhero film, Captain Marvel. I wonder if it will be as fresh, deep, and soulful as this one?