I want to preface this review with two admissions: 1. I know almost nothing about the Black Panther comic books and 2. I loathe Marvel films. In fact, many of my complaints actually apply to the entire Marvel franchise, so bear with me.
Truly, the most important aspect of this film is that African American children finally have a superhero. It is absurd to the point of obscene that it has taken Hollywood this long to produce a superhero movie with a predominately black cast and black heroes. Yet, finally Black Panther is here. I have been touched by all of the images on the Internet of young black children doing the Wakanda Forever pose, and I am glad this source of inspiration exists. Chadwick Boseman (representing SOUTH CAROLINA!) is well cast as the titular character, T'Challa, and and the supporting actors, particularly the women, were equally well-suited to their roles. In fact, one of the thrills of watching this film is its terrific principle black cast: Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Sterling K. Brown, Danai Gurira, Daniel Kaluuya, and more. The only main white actors are Andy Serkis (who was almost impossible to understand through his manly grumbling) and Martin Freeman. Seeing so much talent involved was exciting, and I hope that Hollywood realizes people want to see more casts like this.
The problems with this film, however, are far beyond the issues of casting. Ryan Coogler is one of my favorite emerging directors, but it was clear that Disney was in complete control and smothered whatever creativity he wanted to bring to the film. The greed that has infected Disney, while in addition to being an abomination of everything Walt Disney stood for, is also their greatest liability. It's as if there is a checklist of elements each Marvel film is required to include--a formula, if you will--and this formula truly tainted what could have been an interesting and impactful film.
There were a few sequences in which Coogler clearly was allowed to infuse the film with his own style, but those sequences are fleeting at best. The action sequences in Marvel films are usually filmed before a director has even been hired, and it shows in this movie. I felt profound disappointment in the action after seeing what Coogler achieved in Creed, which had some of the best boxing choreography in the entire Rocky franchise. Here, the action is messy and almost impossible to see. The CGI looks spongy and hurried, as if one is watching a cheap video game.
One aspect I wholeheartedly condemn is how grossly sanitized the production is, both regarding the violence and the sex.
This film is incredibly violent: people shot in the head, impaled with spears and swords, stabbings, throats cut, bombs--you name it. Yet, there is not one drop of blood. I realize the movie was made with children in mind, but to portray violence as bloodless--as clean--is not only dishonest, but a dangerous message for children (and adults). It shows that violence is passive, without consequences, and even fun. I've come to view Marvel films in general as methods of indoctrination, all of them aiming to teach children that violence is the ultimate clean fun. As Chris Pine pointed out, the concept of an infinity war is disturbing and sadly much in line with our country's current values. Considering the target audience is kids who either are too young to remember 9/11 or weren't born yet, this portrayal of violence and war should give us all pause.
The sexuality in Black Panther was even more sanitized--to the point where it was non-existent. Curiously, there are a number of sequences in which we see T'Challa and Killmonger (yes, that is the villain's name in another example of subtlety) shirtless, which made me think about the portrayal of black bodies in American film. Hollywood almost never portrays black people as sexual, and at first I found Black Panther's depiction of Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan as sex symbols to be refreshing. Yet, there is nothing sexual about their characters. I wasn't even aware that Lupita Nyong'o's character was the girlfriend until late in the movie--not because of subtlety, but because of this prudish, sanitized portrayal of sex and desire. There isn't even any sexual tension. Am I arguing for explicit sex scenes in a children's movie? Of course not. As with "clean" violence, though, this clean sex is not at all honest. Let's face it: most children's movies have some kind of sexual chemistry--even 101 Dalmatians. But to portray sexual tension as something that is too prurient for children while bombings, shootings, stabbings, and hand-to-hand combat are not is yet another creepy form of indoctrination: get kids comfortable with clean violence and sexless sex. What could possibly go wrong?
I did enjoy some of the side characters, the little sister especially. Yet, there is no character development. In fact, none of them even feel like real characters with flaws, quirks, or motives. To be fair, though, most comic book movies are like this, so this is (again) more of a critique of Marvel movies in general.
The one character I actually found interesting was the villain, Erik Killmonger. Michael B. Jordan is a fine actor, and his was actually the best performance in the movie. His character, ironically, has the purest motives, and he is the only one with sincere passion or any actual inner conflict. I did appreciate the film's brief comment on the differences between African and African American, and was impressed to see Coogler bringing the racial violence of Oakland in 1992 into the story. Yet, this was a missed opportunity. This movie is about as subtle as a sonic boom and as nuanced as a video game. I would have liked to see these themes developed more, as Coogler has demonstrated he can clearly do, but this is a Marvel film....
All in all, Black Panther felt like yet another cheeseburger on the Marvel McDonald's assembly line, which saddens me. I appreciated the things Disney allowed Coogler to do, but I wish he had been allowed to make his own movie without Marvel Studios and a deranged and greedy Mickey Mouse hyperventilating down his neck.
Grade: B-
