Black Panther is Steeped in Racial Conflicts and P. Review on Black Panther

Think of a blockbuster based on comic books, where the king of an empire pulls a rhino by its horns while waging battles with his own race. Black Panther, based on the popular character in Marvel Comics, is mighty and has grandeur. It's also a thoughtful film that tells a compelling story of King T'Challa, the protector of Wakanda.

T'Challa's African native set in Atlanta is disguised to the outside world as a third world country. Except the fictional universe has no real problems that tends to plague third world countries such as povery, backward economy and medicine. Wakanda is an utopia that can exist only in comic books and fantasies.

It has a huge repository of Vibranium, the secret mineral deposits that is behind all of Wakanda's technological advancements. Flying cars, medicines that raises people back from the dead, a train that runs solely on mineral power. Wakanda is also home to an indegenous women's tribe, most of whom has major stakes in the empire.

T'Challa/ Black Panther is the heir of the throne. He is an ideal, the kind of man who would do all things for the Wakandans and to protect the heritage. Wakanda selects its Kings by pitting the heir apparent to a challenger to the throne, who gets to fight to earn the title. Everything runs smoothly following his coronation, but when a challenger comes in the form of Killmonger T'Challa must protect his fellowmen and steer clear its secrets from the outside world.

Black Panther is the first superhero movie to have a diverse cast, featuring mostly African-Americans, playing the main characters. Chadwick Boseman is heart and soul of the film, bringing the vulnerability of T'Challa and the charisma of Black Panther to the fore. He is equally supported by Michael B. Jordan, the breakout star of Fruitvale Station, playing Erik Killmonger who is both T'Challa's cousin and challenger to the throne.

The film is a clash of ideologies between these two characters. While T'Challa believes the empire must protect its heritage, Killmonger favors trading the Vibranium to help blacks overcome oppression in countries elsewhere. While T'Challa won't reason with Killmonger's plea to trade Wakanda's heritage, the latter uses brawns to ouster him from the throne.

The movie is full of marvellous special effects, which comes organic as part of a larger narrative. It's worldview on politics is as fascinating as the take on racial conflicts. The director Ryan Coogler never shies away from addressing the fact that African Americans has been subject to oppression even in Hollywood movies. After all, why would he select white Americans for small roles in Black Panther? For years, the people of color has been playing similar roles in Hollywood. Black Panther first appeared in a cameo role in Captain America: Civil War.