–as Black Panther opens here to sold-out crowds

STORMING past Justice League’s US$228.6M domestic box office earnings in just four days, the blockbuster film Black Panther is here to cause a major scene, and not many Guyanese were in the mood to be left behind.
Showing up in their numbers, many of them with pre-purchased tickets, since its opening here last Thursday at the Giftland Mall, the hype has caused seats to be sold out throughout the weekend.

It is obvious that Guyanese are excited for three main reasons: First the movie stars are two Guyanese: Letitia Wright playing the role of Shuri, Black Panther’s sister; and Shaunette Renée Wilson, playing a member of Dora Milaje, an elite Wakanda’s all-female, special forces unit.
Second – the film features a top-notch cast of black stars; it has a black director and co-author, Ryan Coogler; and is centered on a black superhero, while portraying black culture in a positive light, something not too prevalent in Hollywood.
And third – who doesn’t love a good action-packed super-hero film?

On Sunday evening, the Guyana Chronicle took to the Giftland Mall to speak with a few patrons who came out to see the film, which doesn’t seem to be slowing down in its record-breaking spree.

We bumped into the Noel family, all decked out in African wear. According to the family matriarch and teacher, Ms. Shevon Noel, she designed the outfits for herself and her family, knowing that they would all turn-out to see the much-talked about film.
“I knew about Black Panther, and seeing that we’re coming as a family and it’s a different movie with how they portray black people, we came all decked out, ready to look and be inspired that black people are being looked at in a different way. We can now highlight and identify that we have a superhero!” Shevon said, adding:
“Most of the times we’re looked at in movies as negative. It was great! I could go back right in there and sit and look at it.”

A COOL DUDE

Shevon said she knew the movie would have a positive influence on her children. According to her youngest, Senovia, her favourite character is Black Panther, “Because he’s cool!”

Cheroma Bholo, too, was all dressed up in an African-patterned skirt, and she said that although she was a bit hesitant at first about what to wear, she was happy in the end that she followed her mind.
“It was nice; it was actually better than I expected. The Black Panther was my favourite character, and his sister was awesome. She totally rocked!” Bholo said, adding:“At first I was reluctant, because I was thinking that people might not dress up, but when I came, I felt very comfortable and I felt good. Most of the persons in there, they had on some African wear.”

Happy to discuss the film outside the theatre was Galethea Prince, who said that she had been preparing her outfit for quite some time, and felt proud to see the Guyanese representation in the blockbuster film.

“It made me feel like the sky is the limit,” she said. “I don’t like to say ‘The sky is the limit.’ The limit is beyond the sky; way beyond! It made me proud!”
As to her mode of dress, Galethea, who was accompanied by close relatives and a friend, said: “I was preparing since forever!”
Asked what she thought of the two Guyanese-born characters in the film, seeing that they now live overseas, Galethea said: “I can call them Guyanese, because when they left here, they were older than five. So, once you’re older than five, at least you got a little bit of our culture in you.
“And she [Letitia] did remember a few of her Guyanese traits.”

THE STAR BOY

Speaking on the other characters, Galethea said: “My favourite actor is the ‘star-boy’ (Chadwick Boseman, who played T’Challa), and my favourite actress is Lupita (Lupita Nyong’o who plays Nakia).
“I mean, yes! I’m all for my Guyanese girl! I’m going to back her 100 per cent, but I’m a die-hard romantic, so, of course, the ‘star-boy’ and Lupita have a romance going on, so those two were my favourite.”

Meanwhile, at a comic and superhero merchandise store at the Giftland Mall, salesman, Alex Mohamed said that many persons who are into the movie have been coming by to purchase canvases, t-shirts and bobble heads.
“It’s probably one of the top-solid ones right now, because the movie [is] just launched and everybody’s excited. So it’s going pretty fast; faster than any other one right now,” Alex said.

Black Panther is a 2018 American superhero film produced by Marvel Studios, and based on the Marvel Comics character.It is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, and is the 18th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).