African beauty

Johnson Thomas

Africa becomes the fantasy realm for Marvel’s latest, its 18th film, ‘Black Panther’ and it’s a totally different, more exotic yet modern realm than we’ve seen in the Avengers/Individual series so far. Black Panther resides in the fantastical world of Wakanda, an African nation that is mostly beclouded from the rest of the world. It’s also a small nation posing as the poorest in Africa, so most countries ignore its existence.

Vibranium, the hardest and most magical metal, is the source of all it’s ‘shrouded-in-mystique’ technological advancements and it also becomes a bane for the country’s newly crowned King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) - who finds that there are far more mystery-takers for the precious metal than he ever imagined.

Woven into the exotica and mystique of a colourful and naturally abundant African rhythm is the plot, which has interlopers making savage forays into the closely guarded country in order to feed their greed for money and power on the Vibranium that only a precious few know exists. There’s wonder and flair to be had here and co-writer/director Ryan Coogler’s special affinity for all things African must be commended.

Stan Lee And Jack Kirby created the Black Panther in 1966 and it’s taken quite a long time for a more than justified cinematic attempt to come our way. It’s also not just another jaded version of a superhero flick. This one opens up in the past and hurtles back into the present where the turmoil is all so real.

Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) an underworld arms dealer with a weaponised arm, and a cohort, Erik Killmonger (Mr Jordan), who has his own revenge to take, make for interesting villains with a cause. The Wakandan backdrop, the mixed action that includes tribal, western and modern, lend interest to the action sequences.  Coogler’s directing strengths include making choices that lesser directors would have ignored.

Serkis is the villain that whets the appetite while Killmonger steps in with a whole African problem to neutralise. A large part of the movie’s pleasure is its ethos, which is blended and dispensed through visuals of Wakanda - urban and rural, futuristic and traditional, technological and mystical. The performers are charismatic too.