<Review by: Sailesh Ghelani>

Directed by Ryan Coogler. Starring Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Forest Whitaker, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Andy Serkis, Sterling K Brown, John Kani

Running time: 2 hours 15 minutes

While there’s a lot of hype around the movie, it rises above the other Marvel films because it focuses on a solid origin story and actually has a plot.

I was thinking about why it’s called Black Panther considering panthers are usually black. Then I went to whether it has to do with the guy I the suit being black. But Green Lantern isn’t green… Anyway, this is indeed a film that tackles issues of race, gender and prejudice. It’s an inspirational movie for black kids everywhere and for girls who don’t have to see themselves as just princesses or mothers. They can be warriors and scientists as well.

There are way too many actors and characters to get into them all in one review unless I proceed to tell you the whole story and what everyone does in it. Of course there are battles and car chases and bullets – I wish Marvel would find another way to introduce violence rather than using guns for a change – and everything you’ll see in most other Marvel movies. But Black Panther is infused with the culture of Africa and its tribes. It has a distinct black flavour to it right from the humour and accents to the rituals and relationships. And this is what makes it interesting and intriguing. You’re not going to watch Black Panther for the action, as impressive as it may be. You watch it for the story of a royal family that lives in a country hidden away from the world, with a lot more than just farming going on in the land.

Black Panther tackles issues of isolation and globalisation, of building bridges and not barriers (a pointed scene at the UN General Assembly that will make you nod and smile), of realising that women are far stronger than men and of a world that needs to reach out and help more than it needs to focus on seclusion.

What is great is that this relatively unknown Marvel superhero isn’t joined by any of the Avengers to boost the film’s ‘star’ presence. The beefy boys and sinewy girls have more than enough talent and presence to hold your attention. And since there’s an intricate story it also gives you something to think about. The cast are sharp as claws.

PS: There’s a mid end credit scene as well as an end credit scene right at the end so stick around.