 |
| images courtesy Marvel Studios/Disney |
From the ocean comes an unknown threat that wants to vanquish their civilization by waging full on head to head combat that may spell final doom for Wakanda and its war weary inhabitants. In an endearing tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, this new Black Panther film properly respects his legacy and builds a new foundation for what's to come. Despite a heavy sense of loss and grief that's felt all across this latest Marvel entry, Wakanda Forever establishes a threatening enemy and adds loads of world building to a long running line of comic book films that were beginning to become old hat.
Ryan Coogler's second foray into comic book movies is a creatively successful effort that adds plenty layers upon layers to the established culture of Wakanda. We see more of the inner workings of their society and class systems as a new hero arises from the tragedy of King T'Challa's off-screen death. Shuri, played by Letitia Wright carries the film with dynamic effort and dramatic strength, only letting up with some heartfelt scenes about her deceased brother, T'Challa. Backed by the always amazing Angela Bassett, the Black Panther sequel has an emotional oomph that was truly needed after the last couple Marvel cinematic entries. These characters are hurting and you can feel their inner turmoil.
Despite a bloated run time and some overly messy writing, Wakanda Forever recaptures the spirit of the first film and expands on the mythology surrounding the Black Panther's tale. Even at a run time of nearly three hours, Coogler steers this movie in the right direction, only faltering due to some underdeveloped plot points and script writing. Infusing some positive balance to the overall feature is an excellent score and soundtrack that helps drive the narrative forward. And the choice to not replace Boseman works here and fits the script in every way possible. The death of T'Challa is wholly at the core of Wakanda Forever, adding an impassioned depth that was definitely required to advance this franchise forward. After the over the top humor of Thor: Love and Thunder, this is a welcomed change.
The true highlight of this show is Tenoch Huerta as the underwater antagonist, Namor. Ever since the destruction of Thanos, the MCU has had very few threatening villains with purpose. Namor states his case and pushes for war with Wakanda. Huerta never lets up in his portrayal of the mutant fish man with a score to settle. His take on the character adds some actual stakes to a movie that could have just fallen into the straight Marvel formula. He's manipulative, hyper intelligent, and has a taste for nasty deeds. While some questioned his look for this movie, the design they used feels right and works well with his amphibious ambitions.
It's always hard to find a good level of action and drama in these movies. Coogler has the right experience from doing movies like Fruitvale Station and Creed. He understands how to move fluidly in his process, always understanding that characters need development and that action scenes require some bit of reality. Wakanda Forever isn't perfect, but it's a definite step in the right direction for the MCU and Black Panther as a whole.
-CG
