Black Panther

I admit I am a fan of Marvel movies. As a kid, I enjoyed the comics, and I find the movies usually entertaining, with wit and usually a bit of wisdom.

Black Panther did not disappoint.

For action fans there was a lot of… action. The drama of the car chase scene was done very well, with our hero crouching on the car in his best panther pose. And as is usual with Marvel films, there were complicated and entertaining interactions between the various characters. Both the heroes and the villains were complex and interesting.

As also often happens in Marvel movies, Black Panther did not avoid looking at philosophical topics: questions of cultural “looting”, and the moral question of if you have the power to help people, but your primary goal is to preserve your own people: what balance do you strike? Should you hide from the world, or help them? And what “help” should you give: no help, measured help, or using violence to compensate for past violence, real or alleged? If I have a criticism of this aspect of the film, it is that the philosophical issues were addressed, yes: but often in a fairly perfunctory and shallow manner. But this is the era of the Millennials: I think we’re lucky to get any philosophical meat, so I won’t be too critical that it is Ethics Lite (nibble while multitasking on Twitter! #philosophylite).

Perhaps they tried too hard to be “inclusive”: too hard to have everyone black; bald, female and macho; or both. But T’Challenging (see what I did there? <groan>) expectations and stereotypes is a valid function of art. I have even been known to do it in my own novels.

Like any movie it had its weaknesses, but overall it was a good mix of adventure, action, excitement, romance, and issues to think about, wrapped up in an enjoyable whole. I recommend it.

One final hint: as is usually the case with Marvel movies, stay through the credits for the “epilogue” they like to include.