Last year, the heartbreaking death of a delicate actor, Chadwick Boseman, had shocked the whole world. You might not know him, but you may hear the famous superhero movie Black Panther. We cannot see the Black Panther that is portrayed by Boseman on the silver screen anymore. What I am going to tell, the implication of Black Panther is inspiring as Boseman did. Black Panther tells a story of a King from a hidden African high-technology kingdom trying to save his home from the wrong hand. Don’t think it too simple, and there are more meanings behind those fancy computer graphics and stunts.
Like most superhero movies, we always look for surrealism from the stories. In Black Panther, the setting is quite surprising, like it is possible to have a secret kingdom, ‘Wakanda’ that is equipped with advanced technology and rich mineral resources in Africa. It creates a new world view just like the wizarding world in Harry Potter, which is the Utopian dimension of these sci-fi and fantasy movies. Imagining something or someone that never appears in reality with a very fighting and encouraging storyline. I can say all my real problems and frustration can be relieved when I watch the movie.
Then it comes to the crucial part, how do you understand the message in the movie? In Black Panther, it mentioned western powers never colonize Wakanda so she can develop with sophisticated technology and abundant natural resources for decades. It becomes the utopia among the typical third-world image of Africa. Directly, this idea is challenging colonialism, which exploits the colonized and slowing down their development. This movie emphasizes black people's issue to inspire them to make a better world. This movie delivered an obvious message that past colonialism remains its harmful effect in some countries.
There is one more thought-provoking setting in this movie, which is the isolation policy of Wakanda. Although Wakanda is prosperous as she has the world's top technology and resources, she is still under the barrier to make herself invisible. Wakanda did not stand out when other black people outside the country needed their help until T’Challa(Chadwick Boseman) succeeded to the throne. This is also questioning this kind of attitude ‘let things drift if they don’t affect me’. It is too self-serving to ignore things and issues around us. Do you care about things happening in your family, community, and even the world?
Surprisingly, a superhero movie can explore such deep and broad intentions. Most are explicit metaphors that tell the audiences that the world needs to be changed, and every one is involved in the process. I won’t say all, but most superheroes are all about fighting against villains and saving the world from evil. Black Panther is not an exclusion, but with a reflective point of view to motivate people should be supportive when others need assistance. Just like the last scene, T’Challa agreed to share Wakanda’s technology and resources with the whole world. In my opinion, Black Panther is meritorious in balancing visual effects and storytelling. A recommendable superhero movie.
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