The language is English.
Black Panther: Wakanda Synopsis Forever begins with Wakanda in mourning after the death of King T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman). Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) and Shuri (Letitia Wright) are left vulnerable as they deal with the loss of a loved one while also caring for a once-powerful, now-vulnerable Wakanda. When a similar threat appears in the form of Namor (Tenoch Huerta), King of Talokan, a mysterious underwater civilization, it falls to Shuri to carry on her brother's legacy and protect her people.
When I walked into the theatre to see Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, I was immediately nervous and ready to cry. Ryan Coogler and co-writer Joe Robert Cole wasted no time in addressing the elephant in the room, Chadwick Boseman's untimely death. Allowing not only the characters, but also MCU fans, to mourn both King T'Challa and Boseman in equal measure, the first half-hour will leave even the most hardened of hearts in an emotional state. Shuri (Letitia Wright) chooses to bury herself in work rather than mourn her big brother, while Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) finds comfort in spirituality.
While grief is a major theme in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, neither Ryan Coogler nor the incredible cast let it overshadow the entire story. Rather, we're hit with nostalgia for previous MCU films we know and love, interlaced with almost everything Black Panther got right the first time. Two incredible performances by Letitia Wright and Angela Bassett, who use their real-life sorrow to act their hearts out, stand out. During a UN hearing, Bassett has her Shakespeare moment, appropriately schooling those who want to hunt down the vibranium that rightfully belongs to Wakanda for their malicious intentions.
Wright, on the other hand, deftly navigates the varying shades of emotions she's constantly hit with at every twist and turn, especially in the final hour. Tenoch Huerta, who plays Namor, a beloved Marvel character who comic book fans have been waiting to see on the big screen, is equally impressive. Namor introduces us to Talokan, an unknown underwater civilization, and it is here that cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw shines the brightest. The contrast and similarities in aesthetics between Wakanda and Talokan in contrast to the surface above are magnificent to see and behold.
We still have Danai Gurira's Okoye (with the ever-enthralling Dora Milaje by her side, who never fails to leave you with goosebumps) and Winston Duke's M'Baku, who make us laugh just enough, but not too much. Dominique Thorne appears as Ironheart/Riri Williams, who is just the right amount of intellectual spunky to match up to Shuri, albeit with some dubious technology. While Lupita Nyong'o's Nakia takes a back seat this time around, it's impossible not to be captivated by the Oscar winner every time she graces a scene.
Mabel Cadena and Alex Livinalli as Namora and Attuma are also impressive MCU entries, with the former demonstrating just how bloody brilliant Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter is when it comes to the intricate details in representing culture at its brightest through clothes. Ludwig Göransson's magisterial music, which amplifies emotions to the highest degree, is another winner. When it comes to the action sequences, while the final battle has its moments of thrills, frills, and a few CGI misses, it's when the stakes are truly high and you're left entertained. This is especially evident when the FBI encroaches from all sides on Shuri, Okoye, and Riri, paving the way for a high-stakes long drive.
A creative decision I made in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever that was a risk but will pay off handsomely is to not connect it completely to the MCU Phase 4 storyline, despite being the final film to mark the end of the underwhelming phase. With a few exceptions, such as the inclusion of Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and Director de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), the sequel stands alone, leaving little residue in its wake.
This allows fans to be truly surprised by the heartwarming mid-credits scene, which will undoubtedly leave many people speechless. Also, keep an eye out for a celebrity cameo! At the end of the day, the Black Panther reveal is a bittersweet symphony lasting 2 hours and 41 minutes.
Finally, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a royal love letter to Chadwick Boseman, who completely anchored the original. And whose enduring legacy tearsfully passes the baton for riveting instalments like Ryan Coogler's committed directing.
Advantages include:
Without its captain Chadwick Boseman, the stellar ensemble performance led by the supremely talented Letitia Wright and veteran acting enigma Angela Bassett keeps the ship afloat in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Tenoch Huerta and Talokan are both welcome additions. It's also the well-balanced storytelling, with grief never overshadowing the Black Panther franchise's "tradition meets modernity" thrills and frills. The MCU's humour is boosted throughout, and character development is given a chance to shine. The final battle sequence is drenched in the familiar Marvel magic.
Highlights:
- Letitia Wright and Angela Bassett deliver scene-stealing performances.
- The slow-burn process to the inevitable Black Panther reveal.
- Autumn Durald Arkapaw's genius cinematography - with Ludwig Göransson's dominating score in tow - particularly during the Talokan scenes.
Credits: Pinkvilla, Marvel Studios
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