Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
It’s the question all of us had when Marvel announced that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was moving on with production after the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman: “How are they going to pull it off without him?” It comes with great joy to report that director Ryan Coogler and everyone involved in the production of this film pulled it off. A soaring tribute and a love letter to Boseman himself, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a triumphant addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and ultimately, a breath of fresh air. The sequel to Black Panther follows Shuri and now-Queen Ramonda, played by Letitia Wright and Angela Bassett respectively, reeling from the loss of their King and loved one T’Challa alongside the country of Wakanda. Outside Wakanda, however, other countries including the United States continue in their pursuit of the precious and sought-after Wakandan resource, vibranium. After seemingly finding a new source of the element once thought to be exclusive to Wakanda in the ocean, the people of Talokan, led by Namor (Tenoch Huerta) are angered and threaten an all-out global war, inevitably dragging Shuri and Ramonda out of their grieving process.
Dissimilar to its predecessor, Wakanda Forever raises the stakes and brings the plot to epic levels of proportion. Because of this, the film offers a relentless and downright entertaining watching experience. Despite the grandeur nature of the plot, the MCU has never felt more grounded with its exploration of grief and timely discussion of colonization. This is further accentuated by the film’s willingness to take its time to sit with its characters and emotions who are brought to life by touching and cathartic performances by both Angela Bassett and Letitia Wright. The latter of whom takes the reins of the lead with no qualms. A hard feat to accomplish after Boseman’s iconic performance in the last film. Furthermore, the film feels alive and brimming with a passion that is palpable in all aspects of the film. This is evident through not only the aforementioned performances but behind the camera as well.
A regal Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) asserting her power from within her chambers (masterfully characterized by the production design department) in face of her grief.
A stunning example of the craftsmanship between Durald’s cinematography and Coogler’s direction which highlights Namor’s (Tenoch Huerta) prowess over his people and the scale of Talokan.
Running at two hours and 41 minutes, the film easily could have benefitted from shaving off a few minutes, particularly the scenes involving FBI agent Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman). Aside from being a plot device for the first act, the film is always brought to a halt whenever the character was present on the screen.
It’s clear that the making of the film was a cathartic experience for everyone involved. From the performances to the camera work, this project was made processing Chadwick Boseman’s unexpected death but ultimately ended up being a celebration of both his life and legacy. Equally entertaining as it is impactful and emotional, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a welcome departure from the formulaic MCU and overflowing with life.
Verdict: A certain Nick Pick, Wakanda Forever is an MCU film that doesn’t miss an emotional beat and still delivers on the entertaining factor.
Ryan Coogler mans the camera in a raw and visceral manner that is unlike anything else in the prim and polished MCU. Paired with Autumn Durald’s cinematography, Wakanda Forever is undeniably one of the better-looking films in the cinematic universe. At times, there was an overuse of slow-motion during action scenes that did give the film a dated feel. Other than that, however, Coogler’s confidence and level of awareness in his craft are brimming throughout the film. Notably so, in his intentional omission of music during action-heavy scenes that would normally be accompanied by an overbearing orchestral score in any other superhero film. Coogler is mindful enough to know that this creates tension within the audience for the characters’ lives within the scene. An aspect that set Black Panther apart in the original film was its score. This time around, composer Ludwig Göransson expands upon the signature percussive tribal sounds and included new sonic and modern-sounding motifs that are as memorable as those that came before. A musical reflection of the themes the film touches upon, legacy and the passing of the torch from older generations to new.
On top of the deliberate exclusion of music in certain scenes, the apparent reduction in comedic moments throughout the film is a welcomed choice that differs from other installments under Marvel’s repertoire. Many times in the MCU is an impactful, contemplative moment immediately cut down by the compulsory need to include a joke but Wakanda Forever strays away from that formula. As screenwriters, Coogler and Joe Robert Cole are wise enough to know that a film discussing such topics does not need comedic relief in every scene.
A superhero film is not a superhero film without a worthy villain and Wakanda Forever’s antagonist more than lives up to that fact. Approached with empathy, Namor (played by an intimidating yet sincere Tenoch Huerta) is easily one of the more engaging parts of the film and plays a great part in the film’s themes and Shuri’s character arc.