[8.2/10] The death of Chadwick Boseman looms large over Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The film, and director Ryan Coogler, treat the loss with the gravity it deserves. The drumbeat of the need for ever-more franchise fare marches on unabated. Much of the time, though, you will find yourself forgetting that you are watching another crown jewel in the infinity gauntlet of Marvel megaproducer Kevin Feige, and feel like you’re watching a sober reflection on loss and the irregular patterns of grief and mourning.
There is great artistry in the way Coogler and company choose to use silence to give the death of King T’Challa, and by extension the man who plays him, the emotional space it needs. Creating that absence of sound at the bookends of the film make the moments when his family mourns him feel sacred, unsparing, and real when there’s none of the usual distractions to take your focus away from the sad sentiments of these moments. Wakanda Forever features a beautiful funerary tribute, rich with the sort of culture and detail that elevated the first Black Panther movie. But it’s these more stark moments, where simplicity, performance, and reflection take over that have the most impact.
The hardest task before Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was to say goodbye to its title character and star in a way that was appropriate to the real world and to the fictional one he once inhabited. Coogler and company not only thread that needle, they turn it into something moving, and organic to the story of the film.
The story does not try to simply replace Boseman or T’Challa. One of the sharpest choices Coogler and co-writer Joe Robert Cole make is to turn Wakanda Forever into more of an ensemble piece. T’Challa’s sister Shuri eventually claims the mantle, and she is the film’s main character. But rather than anchoring the film on her as Black Panther did T’Challa, there’s a greater balance and willingness to explore the impact of these events on those left in their wake.
Angela Bassett, who was underutilized in the prior film, is volcanic as Queen Ramonda in this one. The film takes the time to explore her status as a grieving mother called to lead her people, desperate to protect the remaining children in her care, and she repays the focus with a performance that is Shakespearean in its gravity, emotion, and intensity. Okoye, the head of the Dora Milaje elite protectors, is once again the film’s secret weapon, a vessel to explore the marks of duty and personal connection amid seismic change and shared loss. Nakia, T’Challa’s paramour, is the prodigal daughter of Wakanda, separating herself from her homeland and the finality of its loss, while getting involved in the issue du jour and protecting a hidden legacy. Each of these women command the film at various intervals, reflecting the death in the family in different ways, and channeling the story through different experiences.
The non-Wakandan additions to the proceedings fit a similar mold. The exception is Everett Ross, whose business with ex-wife Val and the dealings of the U.S. government play like narrative set dressing and setup for later films than anything essential to this one. Riri Williams, a.k.a Ironheart, feels a little shoehorned into the film at times too, but she, by contrast fits the thematic aims of Wakanda Forever.
She too is mourning a loss, her stepfather; she quickly becomes another child for Ramonda to defend, and as a tech-minded young woman, she has a natural accord with Shuri. The film finds a way to make her plot-relevant -- as the creator of a vibranium-detection machine that threatens to put the powerful substance into hands the Wakandans and their undersea counterparts don’t trust -- but she largely succeeds as another figure coping with the death of a loved one and the intersection of different worlds with different expectations and demands.
None fits that bill more so than Namor, the king of an undersea civilization called Talokan. Wakanda Forever smartly makes Talokan and its inhabitants a funhouse mirror counterpart to Wakanda. Both are rich, capable communities that hide away their talents and resources from the rest of the world. Both benefited from a localized cache of vibranium, whose properties in the soul created plants that allow the citizens to do amazing things and pose a threat, if they choose to, to anyone who would oppose them. But the undersea setting of Talokan, their animosity rather than reclusiveness toward the surface world, and the distinct cultural heritage makes them different.
Coogler and company do the same stellar job for Talokan that they did for T’Challa’s homeland. One of the joys of the original Black Panther film was simply seeing Wakanda itself, looking at the beautifully-realized world with distinctive cultural touches mixed with futuristic flair that cultivated a real sense of place. The same is true for Talokan, only the production and design teams imbue it with a Mesoamerican flair, imagining the culture that might have thrived, with a supernatural twist, in the absence of colonial oppression. The attention to detail helps the audience appreciate both communities, alike in dignity, recognizing their equal stature and prowess, while they’re dancing on the edge of being allies or enemies.
Such is the provenance of Namor, himself a mirror image of Shuri. He, like all the major figures, lost someone close to him -- his mother. He too is royalty in a unique and closed-off kingdom, suddenly finding itself having to confront incursions and demands from the outside world. His pointy ears and winged feet from the comics scan as a little silly in the more grounded tone of the MCU, but reimagination of indigenous dress allows him the benefits of so much of the great costuming in the film -- helping to make the character more memorable and give them an added presence through aesthetics alone.
Namor represents the dark path that Shuri might walk down. The question at the heart of Wakanda Forever is “How do you respond when someone you love is lost forever?” Having lived for centuries, Namor has watched so many he considers family die, and it has hardened him. It makes him want vengeance, bloodshed, a pound of flesh to fill the hole in his heart where his mother once rested. He wants to wreak havoc upon those who inherited the largesse of the people who colonized and oppressed his ancestors, to strike at them before they impinge on his people’s peace and tranquility.
Shuri has the same anger, the same desire to make someone pay for having lost her brother, for taking away the tools that might have allowed him to save her. She is tempted to go to war against the rest of the world hand-in-hand, especially when Namor shows her around Talokan and explains his people’s achievements and their forebears’ suffering in terms that resonate. But she ultimately refuses, valuing the life of Riri as an innocent bystander, a refusal that results in an attack from the sea god himself and the death of her mother. In one heartbreaking death and act of selflessness from Ramonda, Shuri is in charge, and has an enemy who has taken someone important from her with a plan to exact revenge upon those who’ve done him wrong.
In that, Shuri has her own Killmonger, which makes it a deft choice to return him as the vision Shuri sees after imbibing the artificial heart-shaped herb. She is tempted to let the anger in her heart bear out after so many painful parting of souls. Like almost everyone in Wakanda Forever she is still smarting from all that has been taken from her in so short a time. And as she stands over her foe in single combat, having assumed the storied mantle of the Black Panther to protect her people, the images of those thefts, those hearts ripped away from hers, she seeks to avenge those lost and quiet the tempest with metal and blood.
And yet, at the moment of truth, she sees the concordance shared by her people and his, the way their civilizations are built with the same richness, the same blessings, the same joys. She chooses to honor the legacy of her mother and brother, whose nobility spurred them to protect those who need it and show mercy in lieu of vengeance. She spurs Namor to yield, vows to defend him and his people, and finds peace and shared community in lieu of conflict and opposition between the two peoples.
With that, she heals. She allows herself to confront those losses as something to be felt, not a thing that can be solved or fixed. She joins in the shared strength of her brothers and sisters, the support of her community. She lets go of hate and begins working toward the type of future they would want to see, one founded on mutual trust and connection, knowing that their legacy will live on, even if they do not.
It takes a lot of movie to reach that landing spot. There’s a ton going on here. With an extended runtime, Coogler does not waste it on the inessential (give or take the “Director Fontaine wants to strike” material). While Shuri’s arc takes center stage, she, Ramonda, Okoye, Nakia, Riri, and even tertiary characters like M’Baku and Ross carry the weight of T’Challa’s death and what it means for Wakanda. He extends these lived-in corners of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, unveiling another civilization as powerful and fully-realized as the stealthy African nation. The latticework of the film’s plot and world-building and themes is intricate, heavy, and not always clear. But it’s all worthwhile, building to a greater whole even in the parts that seem a touch overloaded.
I liked the original Black Panther film. Boseman’s performance anchored the film’s central dilemma and humanized the role. The layer of detail to the Afrofuturistic world dreamed up and exacting but communal themes resonated. But it still fit into the superhero movie formula, with appropriate twists and touches to make it Coogler’s own, but hitting the expected sorts of beats the traditional versions of these films must.
Wakanda Forever is different, and if I may be so bold, better. Yes, the final reel includes a grand, climactic buffet of CGI spectacle and fisticuffs, and this is still centered on the ascendance of a new superhero. But in its aims and its counts, it deviates from those formulas.
The story is more diffuse, more personal, more individual. Its ensemble focus is unique. Its reflections on the common fears but stronger common ground between oppressed peoples is novel and piercing. While not as tight as its predecessor, what the film lacks in precession, it makes up for in the sheer volume of heartfelt, mournful, genuine material it includes in a tale built on notions of processing loss. To see a movie under this banner given the freedom to craft a unique work of mourning and catharsis, syncopated in its rhythms and raw in its emotions, is a genuine marvel.
About on par with the last couple years of Marvel content, which is to say, serviceable, but unspectacular.
My biggest problem with the film were the antagonists, who were not only underdeveloped, but also a bit too goofy for my liking. I just can't take winged ankles seriously. The blue skinned Aztec people felt similarly odd, and with Avatar: The Way of Water just around the corner, a civilization of water focused blue folks doesn't even land as original. Additionally, the connection between Wakanda and this other vibranium based civilization doesn't really make sense. Why did the same flower have such dramatically different effects for the two groups and Namor himself? That question is posed by two of the characters at one point, but the movie never bothers to provide a satisfying answer. I also thought the tactics of the antagonists were questionable. Given everything we had already heard from Namor, his mid-movie attack on Wakanda felt like convenient plotting. Such a successful attack and the assassination of the queen feels like it wouldn't culminate in a simple withdrawal and ultimatum.
While the antagonists weren't my favorite, I did generally enjoy all of our heroes. Shuri's emotional arc was quite strong, and the use of Michael B. Jordan's Killmonger was an excellent way to punctuate it. That said, Marvel's reputation for avoiding darker turns deflated the arc somewhat, as I was quite confident that things wouldn't go in the more extreme direction that was hinted at (although I kind of wish they had, as the set-up was solid).
Getting into some smaller thoughts/critiques, I thought the action was a mixed bag, with some of the smaller scale fights being well choreographed and weighty, where as the bigger moments and set pieces feeling a bit too CGI-packed and cheesy (the aforementioned ankle wings definitely didn't help). Also, it may have just been my theater, but I found that certain scenes felt too dark, to the point that I was straining to make out details (e.g. during the first attack at the vibranium drill site in the ocean).
As one final positive note, the Marvel logo tribute to Chadwick Boseman was a touching gesture. His gravitas/presence was definitely missed.
After a questionnable year for Marvel we finally get something good! It's exactly what I wanted from a Black Panther sequel. As good as they could have done it with what they were left with and no Chadwick Boseman. I think it's actually an upgrade from the first such a better story dealing with grief and loss. Those themes were done greatly and you can feel the emotional impact on the characters. The story is engaging to the point where Chadwick Boseman's absence wasn't as strongly felt. There are of course moments where he's missed but the transition and execution was done right so I wasn't missing him as much.
The acting was good all around but the standout is Angela Bassett who gives her heart and soul into an incredibly powerful emotional performance. The CGI has it's flaws at times but they're minimal and didn't bother me. The action is fantastic I was on the edge of my seat most of the time.
The world building was truly excellent. Namor is a really cool and badass villain and so layered he isn't just black and white. His civilization underwater loved it and the whole adventure of discovering them and how they're brought in was a treat.
Some characters felt unnecessary like the new girl, not a fan of her and her suit looked cartoonish. The whole politics subplot should of been cut out it brings nothing to the stoty. I was satisfied by pretty much every characters arcs but it needed way more Okoye and M'Baku. Also Okoye was absolutely right that blue suit looks like shit honestly it felt like Power Rangers when it was on-screen.
Loved the ending and mid-credits, so emotional. Overall a great time at the theater watch it in IMAX if you can!
Just off the bat, I want to say I thought the original film was....not great. The character worked extremely well in Civil War, but the original Black Panther had too many problems to get into (mostly involving an overused plot, terrible CGI and some very questionable acting choices). THIS movie however, I very much enjoyed. Not to say there weren't problems, because there sure were, but I thought as a whole, I can get behind this installation.
Before anything, the acting was phenomenal. Angela Basset and Letitia Wright FAR EXCEEDED what I expected for their roles (with good reason) and honestly, it's worth the price of admission and your time just to watch them on screen. Tenoch Huerta, Danai Gurira and, as always, Lupita Nyong'o were excellent as well, giving so much life to their characters beyond the script.
The cinematography was inspired and beautiful. The choices Coogler makes is much more elegant than the first film, and you can tell he was much more meticulous about his decisions in this one, which made for a really exciting experience. The score also really made the scenes come alive and was absolutely perfect (more than I can say for the random pop songs that show up at points in the film and completely took me out).
Not to say there aren't criticisms. The pacing was off at certain times. We spent too much time with certain characters or in certain locations when it really doesn't pay off much later on. There were a few scenes that could have been completely cut and it wouldn't have changed a thing. While I'm assuming these were there to tie the MCU together, it really didn't have much of an impact on the plot at all. And finally, not everyone is going to agree here, but there was a lot of emotional manipulation going on at certain times. There are a few that I found respectful and quite moving...but then there were some that were completely just there to make you break down and felt a bit exploitative, just to make the audience feel like they loved the film.
I did very much enjoy the film. I love a film that isn't just action scene after action scene. I'm here to see the story develop, not just a bunch of things explode and vehicles dancing on planes. And this film delivered a lot of character development and well-timed action scenes when necessary. Besides the fact that the villains here all look like the Na'vi, which was a bit tacky, I loved them. I thought they were a perfect threat for an unstoppable well-armed country such as Wakanda - and the backstory of Namor and his people worked so incredibly well.
I love when the MCU does comedy (and don't understand the new aversion to a comedic film), but I also love when they hit it out of the park with the drama and this film did that so well, besides the few pacing issues I discussed earlier. This was a good film and I enjoyed it so much better than the first. A great ending for Phase 4 of the MCU.
The setup was interesting, but then this movie started to get bogged down by action and the usual revenge vs doing the right thing-stuff. And let's face it: They could have easily cut Riri (some kind of female Tony Stark, Peter Parker prodigal), Ross and that creepy ex-wife of his, and not have had to change the movie one bit. And that AI? Why does Shuri all of a sudden need an AI? An AI which is infinitely less developed than Jarvis or Friday, mind you?
I wonder if anyone who swallows that blue flower juice develops powers akin to the Black Panther - if so, why don't they give that juice to the Dora? And who chose Shuri to drink it in the first place? Just because she's T'Challa's sister? Not sure but I saw quite a few women more worthy of the title Black Panther even without being juiced up, in this movie (Ramonda, Nakia, Okoye...).
And while I liked the mid-credits scene... I have to admit I hate those cop-outs: the hero dies, but doesn't really because he lives on in his love-child. It's too much of a cliché. Albeit in this case, it's born out of necessity due to Boseman's passing, not because the writers chose to let their hero die (but not die). That's why I was actually moved by this scene despite the cliché.
But the thing that still sticks with me is the Wakandan arrogance. I mean they were lucky the meteor landed in their territory in the first place... and they choose to keep it secret, keep themselves hidden... while all around them their neighbours fall to "white conquerors"... Not sure, but I don't think they have much of a leg to stand on looking down upon said white conquerors. Not sure that standing by and doing nothing when they could interfere is so much better. And still keeping the vibranium for themselves out of fear that others could build weapons with it? Ahem... don't they have vibranium-based weapons themselves? Again, not much of a leg to stand on.
Anyway, let's see what happens next with Shuri as Black Panther, M'Baku presumable king, Namor biding his time... and a possible future king T'Challa growing up in secret. I can only hope the result will be better than this movie.
Another marvel plot storyline with just just different race. This is what generalized audience catering causes. Some good storytelling require different tones. You can't just keep shit PG13.
How could just all the fight scenes be spearing,sword stabbing, maiming, flinging each other and Still No BLOOD!!!!. Ridiculous!!
Major issues with this movie for me personally are:
1. Revenge seems to be viewed as an alien thing (in marvel generally) but it affects this movie so much it makes pointless!. The premise is intriguing at first but is butchered poorly. How does killing a monarch just seems to be brushed off especially by the daughter, mind I say, that she lost all of her family members.
2. Characters giving the vibe "I'll kill them all" but you know it's bullshit and that at the end they'll be like "I'm better, violence is not the answer or some bs or something along the line,"she/he wouldn't want me doing that". At this point, it's getting tiring. ( I thought we'd left that for Mr America)
3. The unreasonable tactics of Namor regarding the surface. How does one that millions years old plan egregiously about war strategies. You'd assume he's got his shit together but no he's like you join or I'm attacking you!?!
4. MCs ( all of MCU) mainly villains are watered down and their POV is made pointless just to make the heroes cool and pacifist. Come on!!!! you don't think someone wouldn't hesitate killing someone who brutally murdered your mother cause he can.
5. Portending disaster but just delivering pep talk at the end. In this case, using killmonger just Ms no combats pat the supposed villain on the back at the end.
This point is about MCU generally --- I get it you want to keep characters for future projects but come on stop these repetitive, it makes the plots pointless. I know character building isn't your thing Marvel at least try on some level.
Good things that earned the 5 stars from me are;
Chadwick Boseman tribute and the incorporation of the actors grief for their fellow colleague.
Marvel has made an effort to adapt its next story to the unfortunate loss of actor Chadwick Boseman, to whom a heartfelt tribute is also made in the film, which is to be welcomed. But, unfortunately, it is not at all solid and, although the intention is good in the inclusion of the new member of the Marvel multiverse, the final result is a mixture of lime and sand that does not end up convincing.
The whole backstory of Talokan and its inhabitants is a delight to look at, and an excellent way to introduce a new setting. However, the actor Tenoch Huerta does not measure up, either acting or physically (one would expect the character he plays to be a physical and intellectual prodigy, but he is neither). The scales of power are also inadequately established.
Technically, too, there is a drop in quality. The new Wakandan trump card is a B-movie horror, and some scenes are crude and poorly done. And the soundtrack is not particularly striking.
Idea Factory diehards will enjoy it, but those who write Marvel in smaller letters will suffer from an overlong running time and a sluggish mid-film narrative that loses most of the interest.
Let me start by saying this. It is clear that this film faced many challenges, including the loss of Chadwick Boseman, who brought so much depth and nuance to the role of T'challa. Despite this, the film attempted to continue the story of Wakanda and introduce new elements to the franchise, including the Atlantians. Unfortunately, the depiction of this new civilization was lackluster and lacked the unique cultural and historical elements that could have made them a compelling addition to the film. The costumes were also a disappointment, with designs that were reminiscent of low budget productions and failed to capture the vibrant and imaginative world of Wakanda.
The soundtrack throughout the movie was overpowering and detracted from the film's overall atmosphere. It seemed more suited to a trailer than to a blockbuster film, and it failed to add depth or emotional nuance to the story. The plot was unsatisfying, with a lack of coherence and focus, and the acting was subpar, with performances that felt artificial and lacked the conviction necessary to bring the story to life.
The film attempted to handle multiple themes, including the mourning of T'challa, the death of Chadwick Boseman, and the introduction of new characters, but ultimately it failed to execute any of these elements well. The mourning of T'challa seemed fake and lacked the emotional depth necessary to pay homage to the late actor and character. The death of Chadwick Boseman was handled poorly, and the introduction of new characters was boring and failed to capture the audience's imagination.
In conclusion, "Black Panther 2" is a disappointment that fails to live up to the legacy of the original film and Chadwick Boseman. Despite its best efforts, the film was overloaded with too many themes and failed to execute any of them well. The soundtrack, costumes, and acting were all subpar, and the plot was unsatisfying. For these reasons, I would not recommend this film to fans of the original or to anyone looking for a compelling and well-crafted cinematic experience.
First off the good stuff:
- Everything Namor and the Queen
- Riri was hilarious and it was a fine debut overall for her
- The mid-credit scene was fitting and made total sense. Here’s to a new T’Challa.
Bad stuff:
- I didn’t buy it for a second Shuri as BP, her performance were stiff as hell and pale in comparision to basically everyone else in the movie. When she shouted and basically forced M’Baku to go to war was so cringe I didnt feel an ounce of charisma there. Bad bad choice making her the main character, I understand it made sense narratively on paper but the performance really left much to be desired. The difference is clear when you contrast that with Killmonger’s short appearance which was mesmerizing to watch.
- And I thought the PS2-esque BP costume in the first movie was bad, Shuri’s suit gave that one a run for its money in the bad CGI department. The other suits didn’t fare any better either.
- Please tell me you didn’t kill off Queen Ramonda just to be a plot device to give Shuri the reign, that was cheap as hell.
- What’s with the lighting in this movie? Many scenes were so dark I could barely see anything.
Probably a top 4 MCU for me in Phase 4, behind NWH, Shang-chi and DS2.
I absolutely loved the way the handled Chadwick's passing. The first few minutes of the movie were very emotional, especially for someone like me that has an immense love for the MCU as a whole. Angela Bassett killed her role, especially in the beginning at the UN. Such an awesome scene! The amount of times I wanted her to say 'fuck around and find out'....man. M'Baku's role in this movie compared to the last was great; like a big brother figure. He's such a perfect actor for the role too.
To be clear, I thoroughly loved this movie. It's in the top 8-10 MCU movies for me.
What didn't work for me:
-Namor's little ankle wings. Giving a character the ability to fly with no real explanation (i.e. Superman, Ebony Maw, Dr Strange) I can deal with. But, Namor's little tiny wings just can't produce the lift needed, especially when you see him moving super fast and with a lot of agility. I don't know why this one bothered me so much.. but it did.
-Riri's suit for the final fight. It just looked too cheesy.. like DC tv show suit. It was like a Great Value miniature Gundam Wing.
It's not as if these ruined the movie for me or anything of the sort. Just a slight suspension of my immersion during a few scenes.
After "Love and Thunder" and "She-Hulk" a project in the MCU that takes itself seriously was overdue. Luckily, "Wakanda Forever" delivers in this regard. But that doesn't mean the humor has been reduced to a bare minimum. There are still numerous MCU-typical jokes. But at the same time, there is much more time for emotions, which I greatly appreciated.
Following the untimely death of Chadwick Boseman, director Ryan Coogler faced the challenge of continuing the "Black Panther" story without its star. Even if the film's beginning is a little clunky, I believe he has managed to strike a balance between celebrating Boseman and the new focus on the future. As in the first film, the female characters are particularly strong. Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, Angela Bassett, and Lupita Nyong'o all have their moments. Newcomer Dominique Thorne also makes a strong first impression. The male actors have smaller roles, although Tenoch Huerta is solid as the antagonist Namor. Still, the mixture of The Little Mermaid, Tinkerbell, and Superman is really odd. He doesn't even come close to Killmonger.
One of the most appealing aspects of "Black Panther" is and will always be Wakanda. Coogler manages to present a fascinating world with a distinct culture, particularly in the first half of the film. The world-building is very effective. Wakanda is vibrantly colored, and Ludwig Göransson's score, once again, enhances this. With Wakanda, Coogler creates a one-of-a-kind atmosphere. For the kingdom of Talocan, however, this does not work so well.
I wasn't a huge fan of the action in this movie. Those sequences are often uninspired. And the CGI for the underwater scenes was simply awful. This is especially evident when compared to the upcoming Avatar sequel. Nonetheless, some scenes were powerful, although the last act was once again too formulaic.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. The lengthy run time (162 minutes) is noticeable at times. However, the film never fails to captivate the audience. But don't expect any big surprises (except maybe one). "Wakanda Forever" is still a typical Marvel movie, and they work according to a certain formula. If you suffer from superhero fatigue, then this Marvel project is no cure for you either. The average MCU fan, on the other hand, will have a good time. Even though I didn't like the mid-credit scene, I left the theater with a positive feeling.
Nice, finally another good MCU movie! I'm a huge Marvel fan but for me the MCU collapsed after Endgame and I didn't really like the previous three MCU movies (rated all of them 6/10... :o). I had high expectations for this movie, as I really loved the first Black Panther movie, but I was also really skeptic (due to the previous three MCU movies).
Anyway, I always loved Shuri - both as a character and the actress. When Chadwick Boseman died (RIP, may he be gone but not forgotten and may death not be final) I therefore immediately hoped that Shuri will fill his role and become the next Black Panther. It seemed like a likely option until Letitia Wright almost got herself cancelled (that was so unnecessary... :o I think I get why but she should've thought more about it and should've done some research before spreading misinformation - I guess she also lacked a good team and wasn't surrounded by the best people). Anyway, I hope that incident is resolved by now and that she can keep playing a major role in Black Panther!
Rating this movie is quite difficult for me... I really loved the first half (10/10) but then I got annoyed by the unnecessary war (I get why but it's so frustrating!) and it sucked that Shuri got so broken that she sought vengeance! I'd rate this between 8.5 and 9.5 out of 10.
Not as good as the original (which is hard to do anyway), but still very, very good. My sole complaint is that many parts of it had the same alleged problem as the last episode of Game of Thrones, i.e., too physically dark to be able to see what was happening. Beyond that the music and visuals were amazing, the pacing was excellent, and the whole thing flowed remarkably well around the absence of Chadwick Boseman (RIP). I really loved a lot of the little details with Namor, and I hope fans of Hermes in all media types were taking notes, because the ankle wings were realistic and the cool fast skating moves for him to build up speed were inspired.
Those complaining about the writing and side characters, did you watch the same movie as me? I rate movies based on how engaged I am with them (so, am I dicking around on my phone at the same time or am I just watching the movie), and apart from looking a couple of things up during, I was fully focused on the movie, despite its length. (It didn't feel like almost three hours, either.) It seems like many people went into this burnt out on Marvel, or perhaps suffering from that trendy affliction of "let's hate on Marvel because other people like it".
This is a tough one. It's not great, it's not bad, it's just somewhere in-between.
Ryan Coogler had a tough task to accomplish here and I think they did what they could given the circumstances. There were so many decisions to make regarding the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman and working around a pandemic.
As far as paying tribute to Chadwick and T'Challa goes, I think the film did a beautiful job, especially in the opening scene and the mid-credit one that let his legacy live on. I also fully understand the decision not to recast the character. I think it was the most tasteful way to handle the situation. In-universe, passing the torch to T'Challa's son one day also seems like a fitting idea.
Taking a look at the rest of the movie however, it's a mess and way too long for its own good.
Personal feelings about Letitia Wright and her views regarding the pandemic aside, I don't think Shuri should've become the next Black Panther and she doesn't work as a main character at all. While her conflict was played well, it was also very one note in the writing. Not once did the story or character (even before that) indicate any interest to become the Black Panther. If anything her storyline was more or less if she can recreate the flower to even make a new Panther possible, not to take up that mantle. Shuri is not a warrior, but a scientist. Sure, she can hold her own in a battle, but if all her appearances within the MCU indicated something, then that she works best as a scientist leaving the fighting to others. She's a badass in her own field, leave it at that. Her arc would've worked just as well by coming to terms that Wakanda needs a new Panther and that she doesn't betray her brother's legacy by helping to create one. As far as candidates go, I think it should've been Nakia or Okoye, because it would've fitted their storylines so much better. M'Baku maybe as well, though I'm fine with him becoming King instead.
The movie also unfortunately decided to sideline all the wrong characters. I don't think Shuri works as the sole protagonist, even if that is an unpopular opinion here. Some characters just function better in a supporting role. Again, I think focusing on Nakia or Okoye would've benefitted the movie more. M'Baku, while having some of my favorite moments in the film, also finally deserved his time to shine.
I appreciated the short return of Michael B. Jordan, because he is fantastic, though even that cameo felt shoehorned in.
Angela Bassett gave a very strong performance and was clearly a standout in the movie. I think Queen Ramonda's death however was absolutely pointless and unnecessary and she was just used as a prop for Shuri, something that could've been done differently in so many ways. Especially since she sacrificed herself for a character neither she or the audience have had any connection at this point.
Speaking of, I like Right Williams. I like Dominique Thorne's portrayal. I don't think she should've been introduced in this movie. There was no point in her being the scientist to figure out a way to find vibranium. If anything it felt a tad ridiculous, especially since even if Namor managed to kill her, the government already used her technology and knew about it, so that whole plot was flimsy at best. It also feels weird to introduce Iron Heart without even mentioning Tony Stark, but that's probably the MCU continuing to shit on its OG character (within the movie-verse I mean).
Namor started out as an interesting villain, with at least some sympathetic motivation until he went full out "let's conquer the surface world" without a warning. He also was basically there for lots of exposition. The movie was full of that. So. Much. Exposition.
I always enjoy Martin Freeman as Everett Ross, but a cameo in the beginning would've done that. The whole side plot with his ex-wife could've been cut and nothing would've been missing from the film.
The cinematography was beautiful and the CGI was better than in the first film, but got gradually worse as the movie progressed. The fight choreography was okay-ish but not very innovative.
In the end, I think they tried very hard to work around the incredible loss they suffered and I respect that. I wish they would've taken more time to work on the script though. There's a good movie hiding somewhere inside of this jumbled mess, but unfortunately it spends most of its time running around and chasing a red line. It is still better than a lot of other films the MCU has put out there in recent years, easily superior to the likes of Multiverse of Madness or Thor: Love & Thunder but still far from the greatness it could've been.
I have to admit that I was quite a bit hesitant about this movie. I feared this was one movie where the woke intellectual midgets of Hollywood would go overboard with their nonsense.
Luckily, the movie was more or less free of such rubbish except for maybe the lame “joke” at the end of the movie. If you are one of the woke intellectual midgets watching the movie I am sure you could find some contrived way of construing some message out of it but normal people will probably find it rather woke free.
Overall it was a pretty decent movie actually. Lot and lots of special effects and action of course and, as with Black Adams that I just reviewed, that is the main reason to watch this movie.
Unlike Black Adams, the story as a hole has more Hollywood nonsense in it though. It is good enough to propel the movie from start to finish but that is all.
The main plot of the movie is unfortunately one of those nonsensical bits. Not even a kid (actually she is not really a kid but an adult) having the misfortune of attending one of those depraved grooming and indoctrination institutes they call schools today would be stupid enough to hand over a detector that would put their African home nation in such grave danger.
Then there was that illogical rant from the Queen where she, in a emotional fit, fired her best (only) General. The cognitively impaired sock puppet might do a thing like that but not a real regent.
The part with the French in the UN was also utter rubbish. That was to please the Chinese, who are the ones that would actually do what the movie claimed the French were doing, and nothing else.
Anyway, it is still a decent movie. Certainly a lot better than quite a few Marvel/DC movies that Hollywood has produced over the last couple of years. The special effects are very nice and most of the action is quite cool.
I am somewhat concerned that they picked that rather non-charismatic and overly emotional woman to become the next Black Panther though. After all, she could have re-created the magic flower a lot earlier but instead she let her stubbornness and emotions stand in the way. Not exactly qualities you would want in the Black Panther.
Chadwick Boseman is undeniably missed, but 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' still manages to produce an entertaining and even touching final chapter of the MCU's Phase Four.
I had a positive time with this, one good thing about watching it almost two months after release is that I got to watch this in an empty cinema - absolute bliss. Thankfully I managed to avoid all spoilers, though had heard the name Namor bandied about online so that's all I knew coming into it.
Speaking of Namor, I'm a fan. He makes for a cool new character to the universe, as does Talokan as a whole, with Tenoch Huerta a welcomed addition to the cast - first time I recall seeing him in something, and I'm impressed. The star of this 2022 flick, however, is Letitia Wright. I don't really remember her standing out in the original much, at least to me, but here Wright is excellent.
Angela Bassett is very good also, there's one emotion-filled speech scene in particular that stands out in my memory. Danai Gurira is always a joy to watch, while Winston Duke and Lupita Nyong'o are the best of the rest - though, the whole cast are good; even Martin Freeman, who I'm not always convinced by.
The film handles Boseman's absence nicely, there are some very touching moments in there. I'd say they went the correct way with the character of T'Challa, no-one would've been able to even closely replicate Boseman. The music, meanwhile, is pleasant.
I do think this has some relatively minor pacing issues, mainly around the midway point, but other than that I felt more than satisified with what I had just watched when leaving the cinema. Phase Five, see you soon!
1/2
"HAVE I NOT GIVEN EVERYTHING"
9.5/10
'Lift Me Up'
That's exactly what this movie
has done to me on every
single watch.
Where do I even begin....
"Balanced" this amazing movie is perfectly balanced,
the way they handled
Chadwicks passing was just
perfect and special and warm
and completely heart felt,
I even had my doubts that this
was even possible to do without
the primary character as this would
be the first Marvel movie ever
to recast the main character who's
name is in the 'Title' of the movie.
They absolutely nailed it
and then some and the way
They 'Balanced' having to shift the focus to Shuri and be totally respectful to Chadwick was flawless and they did not exploit it what's so ever, it was done very naturally and organically, we had a
beautiful opening tribute
'moment of silence' done in
The Wakanden Royal colours,
Which was just beautiful,
The silence said so much
of our deep affection
and Sadness.
then
we we're straight
into the unfolding
events of the movie,
a couple of natural mentions
Through the second act which the story demanded, then we had the
perfect closure right at the end.
Honestly this hole movie was
just so well done and an absolute
celebration and joy to experience.
Thoughtful, Beautifully Balanced
A touching touching tribute
And an amazing launch pad
For future Marvel Installments.
It was a monumental task
to say the least
For Kevin and Ryan
and they totally pulled it off.
Kudos to all involved, this was never
Going to be an easy make and having
to rewrite the hole damn thing at such
Short notice...well saying the odds
we're stacked just doesn't say
it properly
try nearer enough
impossible task.
Then to stick the landing
as they did,
Wow..just...wow.
'Iron Heart'
Riri had the perfect
introduction and
set her D+ show up
Just right, I loved
how they hit the reset button
at the end of the movie,
as the most important part
was showing us Riri and give
us a chance to warm to her
ahead of her own show+.
2/2
Fun Fact
X:Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
In the Marvel Comics, Namor is ruler of the underwater realm of Atlantis. The filmmakers changed the name to avoid connections/comparisons with other versions of Atlantis (notably DC Comics' version and its own superhero king Aquaman (2018), and so in the film the realm is named Talokan,
after the Aztec underwater
realm of Tlalocan.
The concept of a Mesoamerican underwater kingdom is based on the concept of Aztlan,
a mythical home that originated the Aztec people and was said to be another name for "Atlantis".
In the film, Namor is named after a Spanish phrase "El Niño Sin Amor"
(The Boy Without Love).
In the comics,
Namor is Atlantean for
"avenging son."
The actual name comes from
"Roman" written backwards.
This is the first MCU
movie to use the term
"Mutant"
In the comics Namor is
referred to as
The Worlds First Mutant.
R.I.P
Dorothy Steel
Who sadly passed
95 years old
February 23rd 1926
October 15th 2021
Role: Merchant Tribe Elder.
(within the first and
second movie).
The license plate of the prisoner transport carrying Everett Ross reads "CB112976",
for Chadwick Boseman and his birthdate
of November 29th 1976 (11/29/76).
Chadwick Boseman initially signed up for a 5 picture deal with Marvel Studios back in 2014. This film would have been his final contractual appearance in live action as
Black Panther in
The MCU.
This movie is the second longest Marvel movie ever at a running time of
161m (2H 41M) it had so much to
cover
From introducing
Several new characters and multiple stories that can now be told off the back of this,
And bringing
Namor-'Marvals first Mutant'-
The Sub-Mariner
into The MCU.
Namor is
Marvels first Superhero
(as was Angel and
The Original Human Torch
dating all the way back to 1939).
Giving Chadwick a genuine heartfelt tribute and goodbye was a megalithic task and everything was handled superbly and with grace and with that this movie gave us
"EVERYTHING"
It has definitely ensured that
there will be a
"WAKANDA FOREVER".
BLACK PANTHER WILL RETURN
The intro scene of Shuri desperately trying to find a cure for her brother only to be confronted by her mother and getting the news that he passed... then the funeral ceremony scene... it was all so beautifully crafted, with the most intricate details;
then the usual marvel logo animation starts playing but it's all scenes of Chadwick... without any music playing, as to signify a moment of silence.. i could've bursted out in tears right then and there,
followed by that intro sequence of Queen Ramonda's entrance at the UN assembly, such a powerful entrance & speech, i loved it
that scene of Okoye using her spear just like in the first movie was SO GOOD
that scene in the ship that got attacked where the Dora Milaje shows up from the darkness, and their soundtrack starts playing, WAY TOO GOOD. JUST TOO GOOD.
the effects were gorgeous, and i especially loved the slow-mo scenes
Namor was a m a z i n g
AND LUPITA NYONG'O. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.
not to forget, the soundtrack of this movie was really really good, it literally had me dancing in my seat;
there is soooo much more i could talk about, and this small paragraph barely does it any justice
and the end where Shuri sits by the fire to complete the grieving ceremony hits so hard, the way the music and sfx gets drowned out, only the breeze of air of the beach is heard, the flashbacks of the first movie play, it was all just so sad ):
Ryan Coogler truly made a masterpiece of a movie, & a wonderful tribute to the legend that is Chadwick Boseman, Rest in Power.
Wakanda Forever
wow, what a pleasant surprise this movie was.
the death of tchalla is handled incredibly well, I'm part of the people that believe that he should have been recasted, but i gotta say i stand corrected.
Namor is amazing. Intimidating, strong, and everything he says and does makes a lot of sense. After the first few scenes, when you see him coming out of the water you really think "oh shit, things will get rough now". Man, if only they treated gorr in Thor the same way.
I also LOVE LOVE LOVE that Namor doesn't actually die at the end of the movie!!!! Is this a first for the MCU? Other than Infinity War, i believe the villain always dies at the end of each and every MCU movie.
I CANNOT wait to see him again on the big screen, either as a friend or a foe, there so many possibilities with a character like this.
Finally, my god the movie is so serious! I counted a grand total of 4 "funny" moments, literally 4. And it really work, you really feel the gravity of the situation and grasp the stakes at risk in each scene. Thor feels like a joke in comparison.
I had many friends tell me "I'm losing faith/interest in the MCU lately". This is the kind of movie that can change your mind, IMHO
Nostalgic, Emotional, Satisfying
Black Panther Wakanda Forever is a nearly close to perfect homage to Chadwick as he passed away in 2020. Rather being all out action extravaganza this sequel is more grounded and evolves the relationships inside T'Challa's family, the origin of a powerful Namor and the conflicts that arises later with the Wakandans. The film screenplay is tad bit slower compared to other marvel flicks as the emotional scenes take over most part of the runtime. The action set pieces are great but none will be worth recalling and remembering after you come out of the theatres. The music is the best part of the film. The tracks used while Namor introduces the Princess to the Talokan city is surreal. The scores are beautiful and make the scenes pop while they play in the background. The VFX is as usual epic and the introduction of Talokans is quiet brilliantly done.
Shuri played by Letitia Wright has been given a powerful character arc development in this film. She used to be smart but always away from making her hands dirty. This sequel changes that and she is brilliant. Apart from being stylish and full of Swag in some scenes, she also did very good in her emotional scenes. Angela Bassett is stunning as the Queen. She is authoritative , powerful and protective and she delivers her scenes with brilliance. That moment when she speaks to Okoye is one hard hitting moment you shouldn't skip. Tenoch Huerta is one of the perfect castings of Namor. He has a gray character and it shifts dynamically throughout the film. He has done an exceptional job as Namor.
Overall, Black Panther 2 is better project from Marvel after dudds like She Hulk and Thor Love and Thunder. The film if not outstanding still delivers in form of action , drama, effective introduction of the Talokans and some new revelations which add weight to the Phase 4 of MCU. Some exceptional performances and that unexpected twist in the post credit scene made this film a good one in the MCU lineup. Black Panther is nostalgic and somewhat satisfying.
This had some really, really beautiful moments. I think the way they dealt with Chad/T'Challa's death, and the eventual transition and focus shift to the rest of Wakanda was well done, but... I don't know what it is exactly that made this film drag so much halfway through.
My problem with this is my problem with Phase 4 as a whole: the MCU is becoming a fanservice machine, focusing a tad bit too much on world and lore introductions... a bit too fast. (I am part of the fans being serviced, of course, and I am way too invested to completely turn away at this point, so consider me an MCU apologist. Doesn't mean I have to like it 100% of the time.)
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed both Riri and Namor, but this was just a tad bit too long and I would much rather that the focus stayed on the core of Wakanda (the first half of the movie was so good, with the focus on the queen and Shuri and Okoye / the Dora Milaje). Now, I don't have much complaints about Riri whose involvement in this was pretty minimal since we all know she's already getting her own show (and her scenes gave some of the funniest moments of the film)...
... but maybe Namor needed his own movie? IDK, they could have taken out some of his lore scenes (I feel like this was to explain away the massive difference from the comics); I would not have minded Namor being introduced as this total villain for now to possibly be somewhat redeemed in a future movie... And jesus, I liked seeing Val again to show just how dangerous she's really getting, but there were too many CIA scenes.
It was good. It was just so long (halfway through I was thinking, this already feels like a full ass length movie but I just know there's still a long way to go since there's still so much that needs to be resolved holy sh--). But eh, what do I know?
Favorite stand-out scenes I still think about:
*Riri's intro. I had little excitement for the Ironheart series, and this movie just changed that.
*That scene where Angela Bassett/Queen Ramonda confronted Okoye after Shuri was taken? Holy shit
*The scenes highlighting everyone that Shuri has lost. I felt that deep in my bones.
*The final and the mid-credits scene of course. Goddamn.
Once again, the exit poll of the BLACK PANTHER fans was enthusiastic, for this sequel. Of the dozen people I spoke with, the ratings ranged from 8 to 10. Representation is a powerful force and our audience reflected the faces on the screen. As for the film itself, personally, I found the energy on screen to wander in moments. I could tell the writers wanted to include so many diverse themes and elements but I found it distracting and overstuffed, at times. One theme was constant, though, and that was a real sense of grieving the loss of Chadwick Boseman, both the actor and the character he played, throughout the film, It was palpable in the shed tears of the audience in multiple, poignant moments in the film. The film was beautiful, in locations, in costumes and in CGI. The characters were well drawn and the performances filled them out. For a Marvel film it seemed the action took a backseat, not because it was poorly executed, but because it seemed insignificant in the arc of the film. I was particularly struck by the way they mythologized a noble culture from Mexico’s history, a trend I see more and more on big and little screens. I think the industry may finally be realizing the power (and payday) of people seeing themselves and their culture in films. BLACK PANTHER set a high bar for other Marvel films to follow, It hit landmark box office numbers and was passionately owned by the Black community. It was a straight up 10 across the board. This movie had the same ownership but didn’t hang together as tightly, in my eyes. I wavered between giving it an 8 (great) and 9 (superb) but I think I’m going to dismiss the disconnects as inconsequential and give it the 9 out of 10. [Action Adventure Superheroes]
I am one of the few people who thinks the first Black Panther is vastly overrated. It’s fine, but it’s doesn’t stand out in the MCU.
This, on the other hand, was amazing. Firstly, they handled Boseman’s passing beautifully. From the Marvel-opening until the last scene, they payed homage to him in an awesome way.
As a sequel, this movie does stand out. The story grips (mostly), is paced right and has good action sequences. They show Shuri’s struggle and the transition to her being Black Panther is believable and natural. Really well done. Namor as a villain is also good. His motivations are relatable and is back story makes sense. I liked him more than Killmonger (which was also great) as a villain because he isn’t just ‘Black Panther, but bad’.
On the other hand. Riri Williams adds nothing to the story and her suit is too bulky and ugly as hell. Her introduction could’ve waited until her own show. The whole bit with Nakia finding Namor’s Prison after talking to one old lady is just stupid. The people of Talokan managed to hide for this long and she finds them that fast? That’s doesn’t make sense at all. Also, the CGI in the last fight is very bad, it was distracting and thus not OK.
All in all, i liked it. It is definitely one of the best Phase 4 movies and one of the best sequels in the MCU overall. Keep this up and phase 5 is going to be worth watching again.
Review by JordyVIP 8BlockedParent2022-11-10T13:31:53Z— updated 2023-11-28T20:34:08Z
Starts very well, the way they handle the death of Boseman is very tastefully done (so many well executed emotional beats) and I like the new conflict that they set up, which is a little more grey and intelligent than the usual blockbuster, like the first movie. The new villain is an interesting character, and I quite liked the creativity that went into the design of his powers and world, but for the love of god, never show me those goofy wing boots again. From the second act onwards, the movie starts to get bogged down by the Marvel machine, i.e. the movie slips out of Coogler’s hands. It’s unfortunately forced to function as a backdoor pilot for Disney + shows and used to drive the corporate machine forward, instead of focussing on the development of its own premise and character arcs. The way it rushes through the arcs of Okoye, Shuri and Namor leaves a lot to be desired. Meanwhile, cutting/writing out Riri, Martin Freeman and Julia Louis Dreyfus would improve the overall cohesion and pacing a lot. What doesn’t help either is that the action and visual effects get increasingly worse and worse as the movie goes on, to the point where we again have an ugly third act on our hands, which includes some of the most hideous looking costumes the MCU has ever put out. Moreover, the soundtrack is kinda bland this time around. It’s not like Kendrick et al. were putting out their best material for the first film, but the music here is just so vanilla and forgettable. Finally, I’m not enitrely sure what the script is trying to communicate on a deeper level, besides being a general statement in favour of diplomacy. If it’s meant to be just that, I don’t think this is anywhere as bold as the first movie. Not that it needs that in order to be good, but it’s another layer stripped away from what made the first movie special. What saves the film ultimately is a lot of its craft: the directing, worldbuilding, acting, score, cinematography, costume and set design (underwater world looked great, much better than Aquaman IMO) are all very well handled and stand out in the blockbuster field. It has those strong foundations in place that make it hard to produce a flat out bad Black Panther film, but man does this movie also show that Marvel is its own worst enemy at this point.
5.5/10
.