There are many aspects about the movie Black Panther that I can rave about. The casting was perfect, the costumes were amazing, and seeing an African nation with advanced technology that was not westernized was a breath of fresh air.
I want to focus on one aspect of the movie that I found incredibly compelling and honest.
The Motive of the main villain.
I want to focus on one aspect of the movie that I found incredibly compelling and honest.
The Motive of the main villain.
Spoilers Ahead
Actor Michael B Jordan plays Erik Killmonger who is the son of a Prince of Wakanda. He was living in the California while his father was murdered, and left to live alone going through the system, then the military, and eventually became a criminal. He knew Wakanda existed and was hiding extreme wealth and advanced technology from the world. As a black man struggling to survive and be treated equally it would be infuriating to know that the people you came from were choosing not to help those in need. You would call them selfish and maybe begin a revenge quest to take the thrown and send their advanced weapons, technology, or wealth to the struggling minorities around the globe. His motive is sound. When someone gains success and it leads them out of the ghetto there is a similar backlash from their people. Did he take it too far? Yes. Is killing bad? Of Course. But the one time I cried while watching Black Panther was at the end when Killmonger dies. In the arms of his cousin looking out at a beautiful city that was never his. A place that abandoned him as a child. A place that could have been home. An advantage that was withheld from him.
The Marvel universe has so many super heroes to choose from (over 7,000) and they are finally breaking out from the standard leading rolls. If they continue to put this much thought into the character development of future villains, then we are in for a treat. Michael B Jordan did a great job making the audience feel just the right amount of empathy. Bravo!