The
Marvel Cinematic Universe’s latest release is ‘Black Panther,’ right in time
for Black History Month. To be honest, I
was a bit concerned that BP would splutter at the box office not because of the
character’s skin color but because, let’s face it, BP just isn’t one of
Marvel’s better known superheroes. It
turns out that my fears are unfounded since BP has raked in over $700 million worldwide
($354 million domestic) after just two weekends, breaking not only the color
barrier but also setting all kinds of box office records. Part of the reason for this is that the film has
drawn moviegoers who don’t typically go to superhero movies. Why do I think that? Because at the showing I went to most of the people
left the auditorium before the final credits have rolled, missing out on
the mid- and post-credit sequences.
Chadwick
Boseman first appeared as BP in ‘Captain America: Civil War’ on the right side as
part of Team Captain America against Iron Man’s crew. As you’ll recall his father (then king of
Wakanda) perished in a terrorist attack in that movie. BP picks up where CA:CW left off as Boseman’s
T’Challa picked up his father T’Chaka’s mantle as the new King of Wakanda after
proving himself in ritual combat. However,
his authority is further challenged by none other than N’Jadaka aka Erik
Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan, after a brief stint as the FF’s Human Torch),
who wants to use Wakanda’s heretofore hidden advanced technology to empower
oppressed colored people around the world in an armed uprising a la’ Malcolm X
to oppose T’Challa’s MLK.
Timely
and socially relevant, BP is not just another typical superhero tent-pole
movie, even though it has all the markings of one. Anchored by the charismatic Boseman and
Michael B. Jordan and helmed by one of Hollywood’s finest young directors, Ryan
Coogler (‘Fruitvale Station,’ ‘Creed’), BP proved once again that Disney and
Marvel can make tons of money on movies about almost anybody even if they
safely tread familiar territory.
Grade: A-
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