Film diary.

(Seen in theaters; separate from the monthly challenge). 

- Black Panther (2017, dir. Ryan Coogler). Wakanda; an African nation blessed by a heavenly gift —a meteorite that provided its’ people with Vibranium, a unique metal that catapulted their technological progress to such a point that they have become nothing less than a marvel in present times. Their newly appointed king, T’challa, doubles as Wakanda’s guardian, the legendary Black Panther. But just as he attempts to track down one of the few persons who ever managed to steal Wakandan technology, he comes crashing into a harsh truth: In order to keep Wakanda a secret from the world a large, so many sacrifices have been made, sometimes of innocents. Now T’challa must prove himself worth of both titles even as the world moves into a whole new era. 

The latest film of the infamous “Marvel Cinematic Universe” is a notable, successful film by itself. It is a very well-made superhero film, or a very well made sci-fi / adventure romp; but even more than that, it’s a movie very, very much about both African and African-descended cultures around the world. From visual design to intentional references, it’s a movie where the spectacle on display isn’t mere entertainment, it’s also a reflection of the many possibilities that exist outside of the US/Eurocentric perspective that so many Hollywood productions are entrenched in (and without resorting to that groan-inducing Exoticism that is itself a very pervasive aspect of those productions, and beyond). Even the ideological motivations of our assorted characters stem from different postures about Post-Colonialism and it’s consequences. From Isolationism to outright Imperialism, a lot of philosophies are presented and analyzed, something quite rare for this kind of movie. 

All that aside, the spectacle itself is truly glorious, with grandiose landscapes and costumes on display, not to mention nifty sci-fi gadgets. All grounded thanks to solid performances from an excellent cast. 

All in all, a very notable movie. And, speaking only for myself, one of the very few MCU entries that I have genuinely liked.