Why You Need to See Black Panther More Than Once

There is a risk with watching a movie on a premiere night, especially one like Marvel's Black Panther whose marketing ships set sail months before its release. From the time the release date was announced in June 2017 to the first trailer, I knew this film was going to be epic. From the majority black cast, to the actors themselves ̶ Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Angela Bassett and Forest Whitaker to mention but a few (can you imagine if Viola and Denzel were in this too, that would have been heaven). This was turning into a cultural event not only in the USA but in Zambia too, the early reviews were impressive and so were pre-ticket sales. The risk is that when you enter the cinema on a premiere night, there is this euphoria that sweeps everyone up and the wave carries you throughout the movie only to drop you when the credits roll.

 

Black Panther poster

If you have not yet watched Black Panther, this is the point you stop reading. SPOILERS AHEAD! When I walked into the theatre in my red dashiki print shirt (it seemed to be Dashiki Day), popcorn and drink in hand, I was ready for this movie to show as was the rest of the battalion in the auditorium. From the moment Okoye tells T’Challa, “Don’t freeze.” And he responds, “I never freeze.” Then drops from that plane, space ship machine, the audience roared and clapped. The atmosphere was infectious, and everyone joined in unison. This was only the beginning, in almost every other scene there was something happening among the characters of Killmonger, Okoye, Shuri, or T’Challa that whipped the audience into a frenzy.  When T’Challa appears on the battle front to face Killmonger, some people rose up to raucous applause. Under normal circumstances, this stadium like atmosphere would infuriate me while watching any other movie, but Black Panther is not just any other movie. It is a statement. This is a reference; it is the movie by which all other black movies will be judged by regardless of the genre. So, I went along for the Wakanda ride as I watched the African culture and pride shine through the screen.

Sometimes trailers can be false advertising; they can be like a bag of potato crisps full but once popped you realise the fullness was all air. As I walked out of the cinema I felt like going to join the queue to buy another ticket for the next showing. I replayed the movie in my head scene by scene but because of all the clapping, jeering, cheering, standing up and snickering comments some scenes come back vague. Later I discovered there was not only one post credit scene but two. I did the most logical thing of course, I went back to the cinema for my encore.

This time the experience was different; the claps were more reserved, the screaming to the characters non-existent and no one dared to stand up after any fight scene. What was striking with my encore viewing was I was still impressed with the visuals but this time I heard the dialogue word-for-word. My goodness the wisdom and truths in Black Panther, I wasn't ready. For instance, when Killmonger speaks to the lady in the museum, and she says the artefact is not for sale. His response is, “How you think your ancestors got it? You think they paid a fair price?” or when T’Chaka says this about Killmonger to T’Challa, “He was the truth I chose to omit.” And then the mother of all quotes drumroll please. Killmonger’s final words are, “Bury me in the ocean with my ancestors that jumped from the ships. Because they knew that death was better than bondage.”

Black Panther has a lot of stunning visuals from the melanin, to the colours, landscape, and culture that the first time you watch it is difficult not to be awed. There is a chance you can miss the subtle and subliminal messages that underline the movie, which if picked up takes the movie to a whole other level. Trust me this Black Panther will continue to be dissected and stripped apart until the very last word on the credits because it is the type of movie that allows that to happen. At this stage the probability of a third viewing is high. #WakandaForever