Not a Superhero movie... a movie about HEROES

Rating: 9/10 (8 March 2018)

For every glowing milestone of excellence, for every new step towards a brighter, more peaceful future, there will be an *******, standing nearby, waiting to whip out his **** and **** all over it, trying desperately to keep a grip on the world that he knows: hateful, angry, belligerent-and completely beyond his grasp of understanding.
I saw BLACK PANTHER, expecting to see another superhero movie, only with a black man as the hero. I expected to see comic book canon that I would not understand, as I have never read a comic book with the Black Panther in it, nor even heard that such a character existed before I went to see the movie. I expected to see the tragic good man, suffer at first, only to gradually rise to the top, and become the hero that he was meant to be, as a shining example for all to look up to.
That kind of happened. Then again, that kind of didn't.
The trick, as I've come to understand it, is that the movie is not what we think it is. What we think, is that it's a superhero movie. But like THE DARK KNIGHT, there's more to it than that. To simply call it a superhero movie, to me, feels like an injustice, only because the label seems to minimize its impact, and its importance.
THE DARK KNIGHT is less about comic book heroes and villains coming to life, and more about philosophy, criminality, society as a whole. The Joker doesn't just kill people, and he doesn't just terrorize-he shakes Gotham City to its core, and forces everyone involved in its keeping to take hard, long looks at themselves, making them realize that good and bad are not crystal clear subjects, no matter who you are and what you are doing.
This film does something similar... it brings up subjects referring to racism and society not just in terms of America, but in terms of humanity as a whole. Should Wakanda broaden its horizons? Or should it remain a pure beacon of hope, as it is brilliantly portrayed, and keep its light from being threatened by the rest of the world and its hatred and greed? Should it share its technology with others, or be fearful of the lunatics that will use it to cause more terror and destruction?
Not easy questions to answer, and so the meat of the story is there, hiding behind the brilliant action sequences and humor. It's not easy to see which answer is best, and it is made worse by the arrival of the real villain, and his ties to Wakanda.
Wihout spoiling anything, I'll simply leave my commentary on what I think BLACK PANTHER is, and why it is so special. BLACK PANTHER is not a superhero movie at all, from my point of view. It is a hero movie, where those that try to do what is best for the land they love struggle against odds to do what they can, with no clear answer as to who is right or wrong, or why. The Black Panther is the leader, the King, but he is not the only hero, and does not outshine those that love and support him. He is surrounded by heroes, of various kinds and creeds, and each shows their honor and nobility in different ways throughout the film.
I was thoroughly impressed with BLACK PANTHER, and look forward to seeing it again. If I had a recommendation for anyone wanting to know if they should go and see this film, it is this: Leave your expectations at the door, try to keep and open mind, and above all else... remember that this is fiction, friends. Above all else, it is not real.
Which is a shame. Because I for one wish that Wakanda was real, and that people like this really existed.