Under the Sea: Black Panther Wakanda Forever Review
The greatest struggle the Marvel Cinematic Universe is having right now is that it has so much content it is hard to make each outing feel like unique and unexpected. They not only have to feel surprising while following a basic superhero formula, they also have to set up bigger storylines happening beyond their own movie while still feeling self-contained. It’s a tall order.
Black Panther inherently has a unique feel because it is one of the few MCU properties not based in the United States (or in a typical western country). It embraces African culture and celebrates it, a celebration that resonated with audiences in the first movie. Chadwick Boseman’s death was a great loss, not only to the MCU but also to all the children around the world who looked up to him as such a prominent black hero. Marvel wisely chose not to recast T’Challa, instead having the sequel reconcile with his loss. In a way, it gave a way for fans to grieve the character and the actor.
In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever , Wakanda finds that by revealing itself to the world, it has made itself a target. People want what Wakanda has: vibranium. This desperate search for vibranium (whether they take it from Wakanda by force or find a cache of it elsewhere in the world) leads to the awakening of a new threat: the people of Talokan (based on Maya culture, as evident in their clothing, language, names, and more), who want to remain hidden from the world. T’Challa’s sister Shuri must deal with life without her older brother who will be the last of the Black Panthers if she cannot recreate the heart-shaped herb that Killmonger destroyed in the first movie. She struggles to get passed her grief while trying to saved Riri Williams, a brilliant college student who unwittingly becomes a target.
Riri, who will soon have her own Disney+ series Ironheart, was charming and likable. It would be tough for anyone to fill Iron Man’s shoes and the MCU seems to already be setting other characters up for leadership roles, but Riri seems primed for the Young Avengers team that seems to be building.
Also making an appearance is Julia Louise-Dreyfus’s Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, just in case anyone forgot that she and her Thunderbolts will be coming to theaters in a couple years.
ABOUT THE MOVIE
Official Synopsis: Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba), fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.
Rated: PG-13
Starring: Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Florence Kasumba, Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Tenoch Huerta, Martin Freeman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Angela Bassett
Directed By: Ryan Coogler
Written By: Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole
Produced By: Kevin Feige and Nate Moore
In Theaters: November 11, 2022
Runtime: 2 hrs 41 min
Watch the trailer:
Photo: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios.
