By Kelsey Rogers, Assistant Living & Arts Editor
Desperate to see the newest and possibly greatest Marvel production the screen has ever seen, the editors of The Quill went to see “Black Panther” and it is safe to say that none of us were disappointed.
The film grossed over $242 million in the United States and $427 million worldwide over the course of the fourday weekend. It had the fifthhighest opening for a film, only slightly surpassed by Marvel’s first installment of “The Avengers” in 2012.
With how astonished I was by the film, I’m not even surprised by its success. Director Ryan Coogler has created an amazing visualization of heroism fueled by technology and devotion to what is “right” placed in a futuristic society tied into our modern age.
Starring Chadwick Boseman as the titular character, Prince T’Challa returns to his African nation of Wakanda after the death of his father to receive his coronation. The nation of Wakanda is perceived as a struggling third-world country but is actually years ahead of the rest of the world in terms of technological advancement. Their rapid growth is due to vibranium, a fictional element in the Marvel universe.
T’Challa is also about to become the Black Panther, in which he receives super strength and is the sole protector of the people of Wakanda. His transition into royalty is not smooth, however, as T’Challa is challenged by a Wakandan outsider who believes that he can save the rest of the world by supplying it with the nation’s vibranium.
Completely action-packed from start to finish with intricate fight scenes, the movie has an intense cast that will blow audiences away. “Black Panther” has something that most movies seem to lack: female leads that are more than capable of saving themselves.
It’s very common in films for women to only be represented as symbols of beauty. Even if they possess strength, speed or wit they always seem to be the character that needs to be rescued by the heroic male protagonist. “Black Panther” dares to challenge the norm and instead show women that were smarter, stronger and better at combat than the men before them that were supposed to be mightier. These were women that fought their own battle and didn’t need to be swept off their feet by a man.
The film also did a perfect job at crafting a villain. Erik Killmonger, the outsider who challenged T’Challa for the throne, is almost too perfect to despise. His attractiveness and style quickly wooed audience members (and this editor). His arrogant demeanor makes you want to hate him, but it’s so difficult when he quickly flashes a blinding smile the next second.
Stunning looks aside, the depth of Killmonger’s character was astounding. Typical superhero films show the villain reaching a point of realization. He didn’t. Killmonger truly died a villain, empowered solely by revenge. When he realized he would never be able to properly avenge his father’s death and “save” the world in the way he intended, he didn’t want pity. He accepted death and pulled the spear out of his own chest, preferring to die on his own terms rather than be ruled under a world he didn’t view as just.
This nearly all-black cast was perfect in every way describable. This representation was needed in the film industry for a long time and I personally believe that “Black Panther” will be the beginning of black actors having more prominent roles in film.
I’ve never been one to attempt to throw a movie in someone’s face, but I am right now. See this movie. Even if you are not into superheroes or have no knowledge of the Marvel universe, see this movie. You will be moved in ways you did not know were possible and on the edge of your seat for most of the time. You will also be dying to book a ticket to Wakanda. This movie receives five stars. I would provide extra ones if I could
