Reviews
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – A Beautiful Tribute and Captivating Sequel (Review)
Written by Tiara Henley
The Kingdom of Wakanda is welcoming audiences back following the loss of King T’Challa. Tragically, Chadwick Boseman (the only actor to portray T’Challa in the Marvel Cinematic Universe) passed away in 2020 from a years-long private battle with colon cancer. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever serves as a beautiful cathartic tribute to his legacy and reminds viewers of his prodigious impact on the franchise. Though the future of the Black Panther movie franchise was uncertain following Boseman’s death, the newest installment builds upon the foundation he collaborated to create. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is emotionally charged, poignant, shocking, and brilliantly executed. This is one movie that should not be missed. The storyline is authentic; it renders visibility to new cultures and serves up some much-needed healing. It’s sure to be one of the year’s biggest stand-out films.
With the emergence of Namor (The Sub-Mariner, played by Tenoch Huerta Mejia), ruler of a mythical underwater nation, Wakanda and its inhabitants must protect themselves from his threats as well as the usual threats posed by government agencies.
The story focuses on the people who were closest to T’Challa. Not as a means of creating a hierarchy and presenting women to be more superior or efficient to men, but to face the reality of those who would be most affected by the loss of the King. Undoubtedly, the women in the franchise prevail at upholding the eloquently cultivated world that we all fell in love with in the original Black Panther. As if these women weren’t amazingly captivating already, there is an extra element of depth gifted to onlookers as we see Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), Okoye (Danai Gurira), and the Dora Milaje expose emotionally driven versions of themselves. These ladies are hot-blooded, vulnerable, temperamental, reactive, and every other emotion that lies within the scope of human expression. We also get a genuine depiction of every stage of grief, with each character processing the tragedy uniquely. These processes will resonate with viewers who have lost loved ones and those fans who feel the loss of King T’Challa and Chadwick Boseman personally. The arch of storytelling through Black Panther: Wakanda Forever gives each spectator permission to heal. This was truly the version of the story that made the most sense.
Producer Nate Moore recently explained that the movie is not all about grief, though, “It’s also sometimes joy, sometimes humor. It is all of the emotions anyone feels with any profound loss.”
Like most great Marvel films, the audience can embark upon moments of joy and laughter to break up the tension. The creators manage to present a film that allows us to deal with the bereavement of a character we love so profoundly while also providing comedic relief. We owe a great deal of gratitude to Dominique Perry (Iron Heart), who is sure to be a breakout star following this portrayal. Cameos and bombshell revelations in the plot are sure to keep audiences engaged. The story also doesn’t lack action. With entrancingly choreographed routines, Gurira and Alex Livinalli (Attuma) give us one of the most satisfyingly intense fight scenes to date.
Danai revealed during a press conference, “It was a lot of work. The beauty of it is you’re seeing how we had to find the psychology in it while working together. So, there’s a lotta storytelling that has to go into the story being told. And I’m one of those people that’s like, from day one, I’m like, show me my fight, show me my fight so I can learn it now.”
While many brilliantly executed qualities stand out in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, one of the most notable is attention to detail in the representation of cultures. The depictions of ceremonious practices amongst African cultures are represented in funeral processions and the garments that adorn the people of Wakanda. Further, the introduction of Namor, the Sub-Mariner, into the franchise yields exposure to Mayan mythology and Mexican culture through the wardrobe, symbols, and art pieces of the Talokan characters. Aside from being an extraordinary storyteller, a distinguishing facet that director Ryan Coogler continues to bestow is the provision of self-awareness for minorities through tidbits of history. Intertwining locations such as Chicago (United States), Aztec, Maya, Haiti, and Africa, his artistic choices aim to further unify Pan-African, Latin, and Indigenous people.
“It’s all about culture,” started Mejia, who plays Namor. “Culturally, we are a part of indigenous roots, so embrace those roots and honor these two sources. The main sources in Latin America are of African and indigenous roots and are really important.”
Ultimately, producers Nate Moore and Coogler decided that Wakanda was the most important preservation when tasked with rewriting the script after Boseman’s passing. A precedent of greatness was established with Wakanda’s first depiction in the 2018 release of Black Panther. Maintaining that precedent became a priority for all the creators involved.
Moore discussed key focuses of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and the choice to carry on following Boseman’s untimely departure stating, “I think relatively soon, it was determined that this amazing ensemble of characters and this world that had been created onscreen needed to continue… And keeping the idea of a celebration of Wakanda and the character at the forefront, in addition to the grief that, of course, is gonna come with that.”
This installment of Black Panther exudes the assertive notion that Wakanda is here to stay and truly is Forever!
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be released exclusively in theaters on November 11th, 2022