Review: Wakanda Is Forever
posted by Darrell McIver | November 23, 2022 | In Arts and Culture, NewsBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever, the much-anticipated sequel to the 2018 smash hit Black Panther, was officially released in theaters on November 11.
In its first weekend, the movie earned $331 million worldwide. This is the second largest opening weekend of 2022, with Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness holding the top spot.
Directed by Ryan Coogler, Wakanda Forever has returned with most of the original cast including Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, and more. The film also introduces new actors and characters to the Marvel Cinematic Universe such as Tenoch Huerta as Namor and Dominique Thorne as Ironheart..
Without spoiling the film, the general plot includes Shuri (Letitia Wright), Ramonda (Angela Bassett), and Wakanda trying to overcome the passing of T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), their former king and Black Panther.
During this period of mourning, Wakanda encounters Namor and his underwater kingdom of Talokan, who believe Wakanda should ally with them to go to war with the surface world or Talokan will destroy Wakanda. Being placed in this difficult predicament, our main characters must find a way to both avoid having Wakanda go to war with Talokan and the rest of the world.
As one may assume, due to Boseman’s passing in 2020, the mantle of the king of Wakanda and Black Panther are vacant at the start of Wakanda Forever. Ramonda takes the role as ruler of Wakanda throughout the film, trying her best to navigate the issues Wakanda faces, while also trying to provide guidance to Shuri who feels anger towards the world after her brother’s passing.
The antagonist of the film, Namor, is introduced as the king of an ancient underwater civilization and it’s made clear that not only does Namor despise the surface world, but he is also willing to do anything to protect his kingdom from being discovered. Ironheart makes her introduction in the film as a young and gifted engineer that is capable of building incredible technology in relatively short periods of time.
The film contains many emotional and dramatic scenes involving Ramonda, Shuri, and Namor. Angela Bassett’s performance as Ramonda is captivating and stellar to say the least, as she conveys the raw emotion of her character in a natural manner.
Letitia Wright’s performance is also great, especially considering that her character seems to be constantly forced to go through hell and back in the film.
Tenoch Huerta’s portrayal of Namor is so compelling due to the fact that although his character is the antagonist of the film and commits several acts of violence, he comes off less as a villain and more as a troubled man and distressed king pushed to his limits.
There is a clear comparison made between the Wakanda and Talokan which displays how similar the kingdoms and their rulers are to one another. Both generally want to be mostly left alone by the world outside their kingdoms because they justifiably fear what the outside world would do with their resources. This comparison displays the overarching theme of the film, which is what are the characters willing to do to protect what they love.
There are other elements of the movie worth noting, such as the fitting soundtrack which features artists Rihanna, Tems, and Ludwig Göransson. The sound design of the film is generally great too. Possibly one of the most notable elements of the film is how it connects to both Black and Latino culture through its visuals, music, and characters.
Many fans of the original film may wonder how the film handles and incorporates the death of Chadwick Boseman. Although I will not give too many details on the subject, I will say that the film does pay tribute to the actor and his contributions to the franchise multiple times throughout the film’s runtime, whether it be directly to the audience or indirectly through the story. For many, these tributes will likely be some of the most emotional moments of the film and his legacy seems unlikely to be forgotten by both Marvel and fans alike.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever contains strong character development, an even stronger cast, an interesting theme, and a solid plot. To many fans of Marvel, this film will likely be an enjoyable and even emotional watch thanks to the film’s tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman. Even those who may not consider themselves fans of Marvel or the superhero genre as a whole should be able to find some appreciation in certain elements of the film such as the cinematography, cultural ties, and acting performances.
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