6 Reasons You Should Go See Black Panther in The Cinema
I went to see Black Panther on valentine's day and my whole week was made. I was so incredibly impressed that I'm going to see it again this weekend. If you haven't seen it yet, you are officially missing out.
The story is essentially about a black superhero x King, who fights for his country both as a king and as the black panther. As a Nigerian I am incredibly proud of this movie. It is a production by a black director and a predominantly black cast, set in the African Nation of Wakanda. It's revolutionary and I look forward to see it changing the tone of productions from Hollywood. Danai Gurira and Lupita Nyung'o - who I've watched in Shuga before she broke through in Hollywood, - gave an outstanding performance. Our very own Leticia Wright and Daniel Kaluuya had me beaming with pride, These are the faces that we desperately need our brown boys and girls to see, to be educated in the richness of the African culture from the big screen, it reminds me that the doors are open and reaffirms that no dream of mine is too big.
These are 6 reasons why you should include "go see Black Panther" on your to do list this week.
TO SHOW HOLLYWOOD THE BLACK SPENDING POWER.
Let's face it money talks, and the most popular excuse execs in Hollywood hold on to for not supporting black movies is that it won't make money. You and I both know that's wrong. As Africans, Caribbeans, or anything inbetween, there's a responsibility to support stories told from a black perspective. To spark provocative conversations about 'black boy' and 'black girl magic' in circles that would otherwise be blissfully pale.
If we can't tell it ourselves we should definitely be helping spread the positive narrative. Ryan Coogler has started a movement that I hope to see grow beyond the confines of the powers that be. We should be supporting him and the entire cast by spending our coin and keeping the conversation going.
BLACK FEMINISM.
There's a strong female presence in Wakanda, "a post modern metropolis" the women are integral to the movement the story-line. Apart from the obvious fact that their warriors are women. I mean Shuri is a technological genius far more advanced than anyone in the world, *spoiler alert* Nakia's saved everybody's butt with the heart shaped herb. Okoye is not only the nations general, but the best warrior - a warrior that commands respect and obedience from men in war.
Let's face it, women are the backbone of society, but that's not often reflected accurately in movies. 2017/18 has seen the rise of women like Viola Davis, Kerry Washington , Taraji P Henson, Gabriel Union, rising to the forefront in tv series, but it's still not enough, we want and need more black women in movie lead roles too.
IT TACKLES BEAUTY STANDARDS
To see a beautiful dark skinned woman as her authentic self, as a love interest is what made me decide to take my nieces and little cousins to go see this movie again. I want them to understand that their brown skin is beautiful, that it's not a limitation, I want this to be another reason to unapologetic in their blackness.
The women of Wakanda are beautifully popping in the melanin department, with their hair in it's natural state or bald. It challenges the idea that the only type of beauty is light skinned with straight hair her up to the back. It's a solid reminder that beauty is more than skin deep and definitely more than the European standard of beauty.
CULTURAL PRIDE
Black Panther depicts the Africa heritage in such a beautiful and positive way, and there's no better time than now for this. It was something that we needed. Sitting in the cinema surrounded by black men, women and children was an indescribable feeling, I was filled with so much pride, The scene where T'challa is crowned King was nothing short of magnificent.
It's no secret that western films have a history of portraying African nation as impoverished and violent, this is not the case here, Black Panther is all for embracing our blackness, and our African culture,
The fact that the movie highlights some of Africa's culture, medicine, tradition, rituals, hairstyles, clothing, music and language made this A MUST SEE, FEEL GOOD MOVIE
IT'S FUNNY, AND A DARN GOOD MOVIE. Apart from the fact that it's visually compelling, filled with stunning action sequences, I loved the little references to modern life i.e "what are those", "don't scare me like that colonizer". I love how sarcastic Shuri is, and how unexpectedly funny M'baku is, but you have to see it to understand the inside jokes.
EYE CANDY
Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, shirtless. Need I say more.