Panther Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.0

Panther Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman November 18, 2022

It may be well nigh impossible to watch certain elements of Panther and not think back to the horrifying calamities of George Floyd first being murdered, but also the violent backlash that then swept over our nation, with out of control riots scarring several major cities in the United States (including my hometown of Portland, which is still showing sad signs of the fracas). Mario Van Peebles' arguably too hagiographic account of the rise and (forced) fall of the Black Panthers isn't shy about making its political points, as is disclosed from the get go with a patently disturbing array of newsreel footage showing the nascent Civil Rights movement and how viscerally intense (and violent) the white reaction to it (at least in the South) was. That at least starts to make the case that, as continues to be evidenced by the whole Floyd tragedy and its aftermath, Black people have been bearing the brunt of oppression and in some cases at least uncalled for responses from "law enforcement" for untold generations. Interestingly in that regard, Van Peebles kind of smartly intercuts quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, as if to suggest there's an increasingly fine line between "nonviolence" and "we're mad as hell and not going to take it anymore". Panther is therefore a film fraught with not just the disruptions of actual history but also a perhaps unnecessary "fictionalizing" that Van Peebles brought to the enterprise. This is a film with obviously noble intentions which will almost certainly connect with some audiences, but which might have benefited from a more strictly factual approach.

The whole aspect of this film kind of presaging the "Floyd incident" is depicted (recurrently) in Panther with white police officer just outright hassling Black people (typically but not always men) for no discernable reason. The film unashamedly elides all sorts of information, more or less offering the creation of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense (which is how the film repeatedly refers to the group) as a veritable (Black) Venus from the half shell, after Bobby Seale (Courtney B. Vance) and Huey P. Newton (Marcus Chong) are in fact mad as hell and ready to start fighting back when they're abused. The "social worker" ethos of the early Black Panthers is emphasized, as new recruits are schooled in proper deportment and their main issue of keeping Black neighborhoods safe, from both internal and external strife.

While a number of actual Black Panthers (including, evidently, Seale himself) have gone on record as saying Panther is not exactly "the facts, and just the facts, ma'am" (so to speak), it's actually hard to argue with this account, since it is in its own way a "rejiggering" of what might be termed a "cultural history" that is at least in some ways very like the way white filmmakers recast the way "intrepid pioneers" took on and vanquished the supposedly villainous "Indians" in countless western films from days of yore. This is a film with a viewpoint, like it or not, and the fact that it's a Black viewpoint has to be afforded a measure of respect, even if some of the detail here can strain credulity.

One of the undeniable assets of this film is its incredibly accomplished cast, which also includes Kadeem Hardison, Angela Bassett, Dick Gregory (!), and Chris Rock. The film probably tries to address the stories of too many characters, all within a "hero mythologizing" context that is perhaps comically reminiscent in intent if not in content of Black Panther. In that regard, it's perhaps appropriate to mention some outright cartoonish depictions of many of the villains of the piece, something which ironically may actually be relatively more "factual" than some of the perceived aggrandizing of the efforts of the good guys. If for nothing else, Panther can still serve as a good "jumping off point" for some to do further research into the real history of the group.

Panther Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Panther is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of MVD Visual's MVD Marquee Collection imprint with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. MVD tends not to include a lot of technical jargon on its releases, but this was culled from the MGM catalog and I was actually pleasantly surprised by the vibrancy of the presentation, especially in terms of a very nicely suffused palette. Van Peebles tends to exploit a lot of close-ups, a strategy which in turn tends to support commendable fine detail levels. Some of his quasi-vérité stylistic flourishes (see screenshots 5 and 7) have kind of baked in quality deficiencies which were obviously intentional. There are recurrent though pretty minor signs of age related wear and tear, with quite a few tiny flecks that eagle eyed viewers may be able to discern. Some of the dimly lit material, especially a few isolated nighttime scenes, are relatively rough looking with slightly chunky grain and less shadow definition than might be hoped for. Otherwise, though, grain is nicely resolved throughout.

Panther Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Panther features a nicely propulsive LPCM 2.0 track that offers a surprising amount of midrange and low end in particular courtesy of a source cue filled soundtrack. A number of "showdown" scenes pitting groups of Blacks against typically white cops can also offer some good, spacious effects. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

Panther Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailers includes Panther (HD; 2:03), along with trailers for other releases from MVD.

Additionally, packaging features a reversible sleeve and slipcover.

Panther Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I was actually rather intrigued by Panther, not just for the "history" it purports to reveal, but at least as much in terms of its stylistic flourishes and its incredible ensemble cast. I've long been on record, courtesy of my deconstruction of Frances, that "fictionalizing" is often not only unnecessary but can actually be harmful, and so a certain caution should probably accompany viewing this film, which, again, I personally utilized as a jumping off point for further research rather than as an encyclopedic account replete with cinematic footnotes (so to speak). Technical merits are generally solid for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.