Since Doctor Strange, released in 2016, Marvel has been on an impressive roll. The studio's next three films -- Guardians Of The Galaxy 2, Spiderman: Homecoming and Thor: Ragnarok -- were all critically acclaimed successes, praised for their creativity and refreshing tweaks to the usual superhero formula. The films were a much-needed second wind to the ever-bloated Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), proving to audiences that even after more than 15 films, there is still room for us to be wowed by the studio's colourful and bombastic superhero shenanigans.
In the same vein, Black Panther -- the 18th film to be featured in Marvel's film continuity -- provides yet another unique twist to the Marvel feature. While the plot itself is actually quite formulaic in many ways, the film elevates above its rather mundane roots thanks to its breathtaking setting of Wakanda, the fictional African country where much of the film is set. Coupled with some outstanding performances and a truly profound message, Black Panther is the most balanced, well-rounded Marvel film to date, and is undoubtedly among the more interesting features in the studio's portfolio.
The film opens with an animated exposition sequence, wherein King T'Chaka tells a young T'Challa about the origins of their fictional nation. Located deep in the mountainous jungles of Africa, the entire country of Wakanda sits on the world's single deposit of Vibranium, the indestructible alien metal used to make Captain America's shield. Far from being merely the strongest metal on earth, it turns out Vibranium also has unique electromagnetic properties that has allowed the Wakandans to develop and power technological marvels way beyond anything the world around it can even imagine. Wary of the destructive consequences that could arise if the world ever found out about their technology, the Wakandans decide to completely isolate themselves from the outside world, observing quietly as the world around them descends into slavery, conflict and war.
In the present day, T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) returns home after the events of Avengers: Civil War, in which his father was killed in a terrorist attack. After emerging victorious in ritual combat, T'Challa is crowned king, a burden he accepts despite his own uncertainty as to what the task entails. While more aware than ever of the plights of those outside his country, T'Challa is still hesitant to share his Wakanda's prosperity with others, for fear of what they would do with the technology. This puts him in conflict with ex-American black-ops soldier Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), an American-born Wakandan who wants to use Vibranium to bring about a worldwide uprising for oppressed black people.
There is certainly a unique quality -- at least in the context of the MCU thus far -- to Black Panther's admittedly by-the-numbers plot.
While the dynastic power struggle and Greek hero's-journey quality of the story remain rather formulaic at their core, everything is imbued with such spirit and vibrancy that the film manages to overcome its own flaws and present something that still feels fresh. This may be partly due to Black Panther's rather thin connection to anything else going on in the MCU, which makes its world feel like its own distinct entity. Despite their technological advances, there is still a very strong tribal and mystical component to everything they do, which gives the setting a unique, paradoxical atmosphere. Futuristic skyscrapers are roofed with thatched leaves. Spaceships are floored with wood and made to resemble African tribal masks. Warriors fight with swords and carry spears made of Vibranium, while wearing robes capable of emitting force-fields and riding armoured rhinos into battle. This juxtaposition between Wakanda's futuristic and ritualistic nature makes it almost feel like a different planet altogether, despite it being very much on Earth.
The sparse connection to other Marvel entities ends up being advantageous, as it only gives us more time to discover all the various aspects of Wakanda. Vibranium techno-sorcery aside, Wakanda is an African country that has managed to avoid slavery and conquest altogether, thriving within its own cultural bubble. This gives its people a vastly different attitude when it comes to world history, as well as the Western influences spread through globalisation, as they've never been exposed to the centuries of struggle and discrimination that has defined life for so many black people around the world.
The clash between what life is like for Africans today and what they could be without Western powers robbing them of their lives and resources forms the crux of the conflict between T'Challa and Killmonger. Michael B. Jordan brings his A-game to his role of Killmonger, imbuing the character with a painful rage that is distantly sympathetic despite its extremity. At his core, Killmonger is fighting for an ideal, not personal glory, which makes his motivations more believable than those of most Marvel heroes.
While perhaps a tad more serious than its predecessors when it comes to messaging, Black Panther is one of the most enjoyable films in the Marvel franchise. While the plot isn't exactly a vast departure from Marvel's other offerings, it is enhanced beyond the sum of its parts by its stellar thematic direction, which is kept consistent and believable despite the wildly conflicting elements of its own setting.
