BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (2022) Review
Directed by Ryan Coogler
There are a lot to process in the film. It being a sort of vehicle for the fans, the actors, the characters, to process the lost of Black Panther himself and the actor Chadwick Boseman, Shuri and Letitia Wright having to lead the sequel, Namor entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the film’s villain and introducing the Talokans history and what their presence mean to the entire MCU.
Ryan Coogler has a lot on his plate. It wasn’t easy. The film is a bit overstuffed but that’s also why it’s the longest MCU film after Endgame. It has a lot of story to tell. But the film presents these stories as if you’re processing grief as well. How we hold on to the pain, how we blame others for the things we didn’t say, we didn’t do for the ones we have lost. Wakanda Forever also tries to present how when things are lost, there are also things that will arrive. New enemies or maybe new allies.
Albeit its length and themes, the film is satisfying visually and emotionally. The film delivered every necessary thing you wanted from it: a worthy tribute to Chadwick Boseman, an entertaining superhero movie, great performances from Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira and Winston Duke, action-packed sequences filmed with IMAX cameras.
I think my biggest issue with the film is Letitia Wright. She lacks the screen presence to lead the film. You really feel that big hole Boseman left when Wright is on the screen. Tenoch Huerta is an effective villain though. My only knowledge of Namor is that he’s actually a good guy and that he’ll be part of the Avengers one day but his portrayal feels like he’s going to be a villain until the character dies. He definitely added layers in the film and made it into a roller coaster ride.
4 OUT OF 5 STARS
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is now showing in cinemas and IMAX 3D Theatres nationwide from Walt Disney Pictures. Rated PG by the MTRCB.