Whilst we're still reeling from the death of Chadwick Boseman at the age of 43, we're determined to honour his legacy. To that end, we're re-releasing Marvel's Black Panther in Cineworld, the movie that cemented him as a comic book icon and a symbol of black power the world over.
The film is back on the big screen from 4th September, so here's a reminder of just some of the scenes you need to experience again in the cinema.
1. Wakanda is revealed
When Stan Lee and Jack Kirby conceived Black Panther back in 1966, they broke down a remarkable number of boundaries. The original comic was the first depiction of an African superhero, and this taboo-busting approach feeds into the depiction of Wakanda. The lush, verdant landscape might, to outside eyes, live up to superficial expectations of an African environment. But cloaked behind a forcefield is an extraordinary metropolis of pioneering technology, one that uses vibranium (used for Captain America's shield) to power itself.
Director Ryan Coogler gracefully captures this sense of wonder with the initial Wakandan reveal, Ludwig Goransson's score soaring as T'Challa/Black Panther's (Boseman) home is revealed for the first time. Of course, the kingdom's isolationist approach is what also throws it into turmoil later on, fuelling the gripping second act.
2. Busan car chase
At the heart of Black Panther's narrative is the inter-connectivity between T'Challa and his sister Shuri (Letitia Wright). In a glib sense, she's the Q to T'Challa's 007, equipping him with everything that he needs to stay safe in the field. That said, Shuri's role is empowering in its own right, particularly when she uses virtual reality to assist her brother during a South Korean car chase with arms dealer Ulysees Klaw (Andy Serkis).
Like many other aspects of Black Panther, the story grabs hold of something ordinary-seeming and conventional, and turns it inside out courtesy of pacy direction and engaging performances.
3. Killmonger's challenge
It's often said that a Marvel movie is made by its villain. And Black Panther scores a doozy in the form of Eric Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), whose insurgent plan only comes fully into view around the halfway mark. Having disposed of Klaw, he then zeroes in on the kingdom of Wakanda itself where he has a legitimate right to the throne.
Like The Dark Knight before it, Black Panther is a rare example of a comic book movie where the villain has an understandable axe to grind. Of course, Killmonger goes about this in completely the wrong way, eventually advocating violence and chaos. Nevertheless, he's a damn sight more compelling than your typical world-conquering maniac.
4. T'Challa returns from the dead
In light of Boseman's passing, Black Panther's focus on the Wakandan afterlife now takes on a greater poignancy. In a shocking twist, Killmonger is able to kill T'Challa in trial by combat, temporarily taking over the kingdom and bending it to his will. Of course, we know that our hero will eventually come back and vanquish his foe, but the manner in which he does so is particularly powerful for a Marvel movie.
There are echoes of The Lion King as the iridescent ancestral plane forms the backdrop to the confrontation between T'Challa and his late father T'Chaka (John Kani), who died in Captain America: Civil War. The notion of the next beyond is used as a wake-up call for our central character, as he realises that Killmonger's villainy stemmed from being denied his birthright. The entire philosophy of Wakanda is challenged and undermined, with the otherworldly environment mirroring the spiritual turbulence in our hero.
5. A king's sunset
Black Panther has the decency to afford its villain a sense of dignity in death. Baaba Maal's vocals soar as Killmonger prepares to return to his ancestors, cementing the social and political undercurrents of the storyline. Of course, this is another scene that now seems even more unbearably sad in hindsight, with Boseman having stepped into his own sunset. Nevertheless he, like the past rulers of Wakanda, leaves behind a formidable legacy that we will always cherish.
Click here to book your tickets for Black Panther, re-released in Cineworld cinemas from 4th September. Tweet us your favourite scenes from the movie @Cineworld.
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