Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Starring Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Tenoch Huerta Mejia
Directed by Ryan Coogler
Starring Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Tenoch Huerta Mejia
Directed by Ryan Coogler
In 2018, director Ryan Coogler brought forth the film "Black Panther" centering on the titular hero and king of the African nation of Wakanda, acted to perfection by Chadwick Boseman. The film became revolutionary especially for African Americans who finally got to see someone they can relate to as a superhero, and the story was extremely well-written and performed. The film earned over $1 billion worldwide and was nominated for several Oscars, including Best Picture, winning three golden statuettes. To say the film was a phenomenon is an understatement, and everyone was anticipating what Boseman would bring to the Black Panther title in the future - and then he passed away in 2020 after a silent battle with cancer, and the fate of the Black Panther was up in the air. Needing to completely revamp the sequel, Coogler had a lot on his shoulders - paying homage to Boseman, finding the next Black Panther, and establishing a new threat to go against Wakanda. "Wakanda Forever" was easily the most anticipated Marvel film since "Endgame," and while it's not going to be remembered as fondly - or critically acclaimed - as its predecessor, it managed to check all the boxes needed to land it in the upper echelon of the MCU.
After the shocking death of King T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman), Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) has taken rule of Wakanda during a time of political turmoil: the world knows that the Black Panther is gone, and they're demanding Wakanda share their Vibranium reserves, something T'Challa promised before. Meanwhile Shuri (Letitita Wright) is still grappling with the death of her brother and feeling responsible because she couldn't save him, and is allowing her anger to fuel her path forward, and when Wakanda comes under attack by Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejia), the King of the underwater nation of Talokan, she must balance vengeance with forgiveness before the darkness consumes herself and the nation as a whole.
"Wakanda Forever" is a unique film within the Marvel Cinematic Universe in that it's the most personal for the actors and everyone behind the scenes, as the weight of Chadwick Boseman's passing weighed heavy on the proceedings. Even though the beginning of the film highlights his life and passing, his spirit lingers through every scene, and the commitment that everyone made in order to make a film that he would've been proud of permeates through every scene. This is a personal effort by everyone involved, and the emotions are so raw you know that it's not just them acting, but grieving in real time, and the film really highlights the different ways people grieve. More than just another superhero action spectacle, "Wakanda Forever" helps us through the grieving process and shows us that there's no "right way" to grieve.
For Queen Ramonda, she has to grieve in private. She's the head of the nation of Wakanda now, and she's facing opposition on every side. The nations of the world know that the Black Panther is dead, and Wakanda is left defenseless (or so they think), and open to attack for their precious Vibranium reserves. She has to maintain a steely resolve and mourn in private, carrying the weight of not just the nation on her shoulders, but her own heart-shattering loss as well. They say every parent's worst fear is losing their child, and it's only heightened when you can't publicly mourn for them. Angela Bassett's performance is exemplary, balancing her sadness with her righteous anger and resolve, becoming a force of nature and showcasing her real grief in a palpable way.
For Nakia, she grieves on the sidelines. She can't bring herself to go to the funeral and lives away from Wakanda doing her own thing, and even though on the outside she seems less affected than others, she's masking a deep loss within. Lupita Nyong'o has always been a reliable actress, and despite her shortened role in this film, she is still able to perform admirably and believably.
For Okoye, she grieves in the midst of her work. As the header of the Dora Milage, her main role is to protect the King at all costs - but what happens when he's taken down by something you can't control? Okoye dives head-first into protecting Ramonda and Wakanda at all costs, and she maintains a stiff upper lip when needed, but also showcases her raw emotions - especially during an intense moment with Ramonda - that will also bring a tear to your eye. Danai Gurira is brought more to the forefront than previous outings, and proves once again why she's always been a fierce actress.
For M'Baku, he grieves as he accepts a bigger role. Although they were foes at the start of "Black Panther," M'Baku and T'Challa became not just friends but allies by the end, and he even assisted him in the fight against Thanos's army in "Avengers: Infinity War," and now that T'Challa has passed, M'Baku takes the mantle of the bigger brother to Shuri, offering her sage advice in the midst of the most trying time of her life. Winston Duke offers lighthearted moments in the middle of grief, and is a towering influence on screen.
Finally there's Shuri, who's grieving is multi-layered. She buries herself in her lab, working tirelessly to re-create the Heart-Shaped Herb that gives the Black Panther their abilities, and doesn't allow herself a moment of brevity as she feels responsible for not being able to save her brother. On top of that, she's angry at the world for taking her brother from her, and her faith in the traditions of Wakanda is virtually no-existent anymore. She's fueled by vengeance and hatred, and in her grief she could easily fall to the darker sides of her aspirations. Taking up the lead role mantle, Letitia Wright - despite her real-life grievances - is a pitch perfect choice to carry on the franchise, forced to grow up in a way no one wants to. "Black Panther" found her as a young, vibrant, humorous intellectual who really enjoyed working in her lab, and now she's sullen, depressed, angry, and almost seems like she's lost her passion for her work, doing it now out of obligation rather than desire. This is a much different Shuri, and shows how grief can really change you - for good or bad, depending on how you take it.
To further compound the grieving process, Wakanda finds itself under siege by Namor, the ruler of the underwater nation of Talokan. He's worried that his hidden nation - much like Wakanda in the past - will be discovered and usurped by the surface world, and wants to wage war against them, and either Wakanda stands with him or it'll be the first nation to fall. Unlike other villains within the MCU that are thinly-written and easily forgettable, Tenoch Huerta Mejia brings an unforgettable quality to Namor that makes him one of the best villains of the franchise alongside the likes of Loki, Thanos, and Killmonger. Namor isn't driven by world conquest, but he wants to protect his people - something Shuri can relate to, and it's in the discussions between the two rulers that the film really shines. You get a sense for Namor's purpose, and while his means might not be the most wholesome, sometimes it's what's necessary in order to survive. Tenoch Huerta Mejia dominates the screen and is a great addition to the franchise, giving Namor more to chew on than just a hollow villain.
The juggernaut that is the MCU has been faltering recently with weaker outings, especially "Thor: Love & Thunder," so the expectations for "Wakanda Forever" were set even higher than before. Thankfully it rose to the occasion, playing to Coogler's strengths of rich character development over cheap humor, and for one of the most anticipated MCU films to date, "Wakanda Forever" rarely disappoints. Only when the film works to continue crafting the cinematic universe forward does it falter slightly. Dominique Thorne's introduction to the MCU as Riri Williams - also known as Ironheart - seemed almost like a side story to the overarching theme, even though her role is deeply involved in the major plot. She's sidelined through most of the film and seems to merely exist as a teaser for her "Ironheart" Disney+ series next year. She needed to be more flushed out, but as it was she did admirably, even though it felt shoe-horned, along with the inclusion of Martin Freeman's Everett Ross, who works with the B-plot of political intrigue that doesn't go far against the backdrop of war with Talokan.
The MCU is often criticized for their focus on the final epic battle, and while "Wakanda Forever" does have that moment, it's not the main focus. The majority of the film is spent without a Black Panther, and focuses on the humanity of everything happening around them, providing some of the best acting in any MCU film to date. "It's not about the destination, but it's all about the journey" should be the film's headline, as we see the journey to get to its conclusion as more important than the finale itself, giving its characters more dimensions to their roles than they would've otherwise. A true spectacle in every sense of the word, Ryan Coogler managed to do what he set out to do: make a film that Chadwick Boseman would've been proud of, a film that is more about character development than spectacle, and one that's going through grief will appreciate due to its personable, palpable response to it.
The Score: A+
After the shocking death of King T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman), Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) has taken rule of Wakanda during a time of political turmoil: the world knows that the Black Panther is gone, and they're demanding Wakanda share their Vibranium reserves, something T'Challa promised before. Meanwhile Shuri (Letitita Wright) is still grappling with the death of her brother and feeling responsible because she couldn't save him, and is allowing her anger to fuel her path forward, and when Wakanda comes under attack by Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejia), the King of the underwater nation of Talokan, she must balance vengeance with forgiveness before the darkness consumes herself and the nation as a whole.
"Wakanda Forever" is a unique film within the Marvel Cinematic Universe in that it's the most personal for the actors and everyone behind the scenes, as the weight of Chadwick Boseman's passing weighed heavy on the proceedings. Even though the beginning of the film highlights his life and passing, his spirit lingers through every scene, and the commitment that everyone made in order to make a film that he would've been proud of permeates through every scene. This is a personal effort by everyone involved, and the emotions are so raw you know that it's not just them acting, but grieving in real time, and the film really highlights the different ways people grieve. More than just another superhero action spectacle, "Wakanda Forever" helps us through the grieving process and shows us that there's no "right way" to grieve.
For Queen Ramonda, she has to grieve in private. She's the head of the nation of Wakanda now, and she's facing opposition on every side. The nations of the world know that the Black Panther is dead, and Wakanda is left defenseless (or so they think), and open to attack for their precious Vibranium reserves. She has to maintain a steely resolve and mourn in private, carrying the weight of not just the nation on her shoulders, but her own heart-shattering loss as well. They say every parent's worst fear is losing their child, and it's only heightened when you can't publicly mourn for them. Angela Bassett's performance is exemplary, balancing her sadness with her righteous anger and resolve, becoming a force of nature and showcasing her real grief in a palpable way.
For Nakia, she grieves on the sidelines. She can't bring herself to go to the funeral and lives away from Wakanda doing her own thing, and even though on the outside she seems less affected than others, she's masking a deep loss within. Lupita Nyong'o has always been a reliable actress, and despite her shortened role in this film, she is still able to perform admirably and believably.
For Okoye, she grieves in the midst of her work. As the header of the Dora Milage, her main role is to protect the King at all costs - but what happens when he's taken down by something you can't control? Okoye dives head-first into protecting Ramonda and Wakanda at all costs, and she maintains a stiff upper lip when needed, but also showcases her raw emotions - especially during an intense moment with Ramonda - that will also bring a tear to your eye. Danai Gurira is brought more to the forefront than previous outings, and proves once again why she's always been a fierce actress.
For M'Baku, he grieves as he accepts a bigger role. Although they were foes at the start of "Black Panther," M'Baku and T'Challa became not just friends but allies by the end, and he even assisted him in the fight against Thanos's army in "Avengers: Infinity War," and now that T'Challa has passed, M'Baku takes the mantle of the bigger brother to Shuri, offering her sage advice in the midst of the most trying time of her life. Winston Duke offers lighthearted moments in the middle of grief, and is a towering influence on screen.
Finally there's Shuri, who's grieving is multi-layered. She buries herself in her lab, working tirelessly to re-create the Heart-Shaped Herb that gives the Black Panther their abilities, and doesn't allow herself a moment of brevity as she feels responsible for not being able to save her brother. On top of that, she's angry at the world for taking her brother from her, and her faith in the traditions of Wakanda is virtually no-existent anymore. She's fueled by vengeance and hatred, and in her grief she could easily fall to the darker sides of her aspirations. Taking up the lead role mantle, Letitia Wright - despite her real-life grievances - is a pitch perfect choice to carry on the franchise, forced to grow up in a way no one wants to. "Black Panther" found her as a young, vibrant, humorous intellectual who really enjoyed working in her lab, and now she's sullen, depressed, angry, and almost seems like she's lost her passion for her work, doing it now out of obligation rather than desire. This is a much different Shuri, and shows how grief can really change you - for good or bad, depending on how you take it.
To further compound the grieving process, Wakanda finds itself under siege by Namor, the ruler of the underwater nation of Talokan. He's worried that his hidden nation - much like Wakanda in the past - will be discovered and usurped by the surface world, and wants to wage war against them, and either Wakanda stands with him or it'll be the first nation to fall. Unlike other villains within the MCU that are thinly-written and easily forgettable, Tenoch Huerta Mejia brings an unforgettable quality to Namor that makes him one of the best villains of the franchise alongside the likes of Loki, Thanos, and Killmonger. Namor isn't driven by world conquest, but he wants to protect his people - something Shuri can relate to, and it's in the discussions between the two rulers that the film really shines. You get a sense for Namor's purpose, and while his means might not be the most wholesome, sometimes it's what's necessary in order to survive. Tenoch Huerta Mejia dominates the screen and is a great addition to the franchise, giving Namor more to chew on than just a hollow villain.
The juggernaut that is the MCU has been faltering recently with weaker outings, especially "Thor: Love & Thunder," so the expectations for "Wakanda Forever" were set even higher than before. Thankfully it rose to the occasion, playing to Coogler's strengths of rich character development over cheap humor, and for one of the most anticipated MCU films to date, "Wakanda Forever" rarely disappoints. Only when the film works to continue crafting the cinematic universe forward does it falter slightly. Dominique Thorne's introduction to the MCU as Riri Williams - also known as Ironheart - seemed almost like a side story to the overarching theme, even though her role is deeply involved in the major plot. She's sidelined through most of the film and seems to merely exist as a teaser for her "Ironheart" Disney+ series next year. She needed to be more flushed out, but as it was she did admirably, even though it felt shoe-horned, along with the inclusion of Martin Freeman's Everett Ross, who works with the B-plot of political intrigue that doesn't go far against the backdrop of war with Talokan.
The MCU is often criticized for their focus on the final epic battle, and while "Wakanda Forever" does have that moment, it's not the main focus. The majority of the film is spent without a Black Panther, and focuses on the humanity of everything happening around them, providing some of the best acting in any MCU film to date. "It's not about the destination, but it's all about the journey" should be the film's headline, as we see the journey to get to its conclusion as more important than the finale itself, giving its characters more dimensions to their roles than they would've otherwise. A true spectacle in every sense of the word, Ryan Coogler managed to do what he set out to do: make a film that Chadwick Boseman would've been proud of, a film that is more about character development than spectacle, and one that's going through grief will appreciate due to its personable, palpable response to it.
The Score: A+
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