So when I first heard they were making a Black Panther movie, I honestly was expecting it to be just okay. After seeing the initial reactions and reviews, I was expecting a Marvel masterpiece. After seeing it last night, I must say for me it was somewhere in between. I thought the movie, in and of itself, was really good and enjoyed it. For me, it just didn't have those little moments. I dunno.... anyway...
But beyond the movie itself, I certainly can appreciate what it means. I was struck by the comments of fans who expressed the joy of seeing a superhero that they can say "looks like me." As a white male, it is something I've really never had to experience much. And as I initially thought, "Hey, what about Falcon and War Machine?" I came to realize that despite the fact that they are terrific characters themselves (MCU Falcon is one of my favorites), they are still sidekicks to white heroes and often part of a pair on the latter end of the "and." War Machine's armor was build by
Tony. Sam would still be working at the community center if not for
Cap bringing him into the fold. They are the Black Best Friend often
used misused in movies to make their white friend look more enlightened and inclusive.
T'Challa is a hero and a king. He is a dutiful son, brother, and ruler of his people, and I found myself struck by the humanity of the character, especially as wonderfully portrayed by Boseman. He needs neither the approval nor the assistance of American heroes. He is that rare hero that, if you get on the wrong end of a confrontation with him, will use one hand to beat the crap outta you and then extend that same hand to help you up off the ground.
I guess my only significant disagreement with most people is concerning the villain.