This weekend, Marvel released its most recent film "Black Panther" and is breaking the bank with all sorts of different box office records. Earning 361 million dollars just this weekend, the film is earning its place among the superhero tycoons' best movies.
However, money isn't the only way this movie is doing well. People flocked to the theaters for the diversity in its content and cast. With Instagram tags like #wakandastyle featuring various African American fans in traditional garb, and the immense support for the strong female characters in the film, Black Panther could quite easily be the best Marvel film yet.
The film starts off explaining the myth of the Black Panther and giving us more insight into the use of Vibranium (the metal from Cap's Shield) within the country. We then get a small hint of T'Chaka (played by Antandwa Kani) as the Black Panther and what kind of protector he was to Wakanda.
This is followed by taking us back to the present so that we may see that only a week has transpired since the events of Captain America: Civil War and it is time for T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) to rise into the role as king. We then see the rituals involved with becoming the Black Panther as well as becoming king in the fictional African country.
Not to give away too many spoilers, given that the movie did just come out this weekend, the film allows us into a rich culture and world with equal balance of exposition and current action that keeps us interested as well as plenty of breaks from the action to allow us to fall in love with the characters.
An example of this is the younger sister to T'Challa, Shuri (Latita Wright). At just sixteen years old, she is a genius warrior who captures modern sentiments about women and tradition (complaining about her corset for one) while also respecting it. She has the spunk and humor of today's teens as well as a rich cultural background to make her a multifaceted character that many audience members love.
There is also the Dora Milaje, the female guard that protects the royal family at all times. Having been selected from each of the four tribes, they are the best the country has to offer in protecting the king and working alongside the Black Panther. The one we follow the most is Okoye (played by "The Walking Dead's" Danai Gurira). As General and close friend to T'Challa, we see her struggle with her duty and what she believes in.
The final example as to what makes this movie so special is the Michael B. Jordan's Character of Erik Killmonger. As a half Wakandan youth raised outside of the country, we see him follow the struggle of the world (for him specifically African Americans). In doing such he seeks out Wakanda to take over the country and deliver his own justice.
In doing so we are able to see a parallel of Malcolm X (Killmonger) vs. MLK (T'Challa) in a modern light. Though there are much deeper issues at hand, the simplification does do the film justice in allowing for moviegoers to see the differences in the struggle for these people in a society that preaches about it, but maybe doesn't understand it.
In conclusion, the representation of "Black Panther" spans from more than its diverse cast and the use of the one white American character throughout the film (Martin Freeman's Agent Ross). We get strong female characters, a variety of culture mixed with futuristic tech, and relationships that are as complicated as they are dynamic.
Overall, the film was super important to various audience members and has perfected the superhero movie formula. We also gain two post-credit scenes that add to the content of the film and leave us excited for more in May when "Avengers: Infinity War" comes out.
