“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” Movie Review

 

 

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”

Movie Review

The film "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" is an American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Black Panther and a sequel to Black Panther produced by Marvel Studios. Directed by Ryan Coogler, who wrote the screenplay with Joe Robert Cole, the film stars Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong'o, Daniel Gurira, Winston Duke, Florence Kazumba, Dominic Thorne and Angela Bassett.

"Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" is about King T'Challa of Wakanda, who is dying of an illness that his sister Shuri believes may have been cured by a "heart-shaped herb." Shuri tried to artificially revive the plant killed by Killmonger.

A year later, Wakanda is under pressure from other countries to share their vibranium, with some parties trying to steal it by force. Queen Ramonda asks Shuri to continue her research on the heart-shaped plant in hopes of creating a new Black Panther that will protect Wakanda, but she refuses due to her belief that the Black Panther is a figment of the past. In the Atlantic Ocean, the CIA and the US Navy SEALs use a vibranium-detecting machine to detect underwater vibranium deposits. A group of blue-skinned water-breathing superhumans led by Namor, whom the CIA believes Wakanda is responsible for, attack and kill the expedition. Namor confronts Ramonda and Shuri, easily overcoming Wakanda's extensive defenses. Blaming Wakanda for the vibranium race, he gives them an ultimatum: hand over to him the scientist responsible for the vibranium detector, or he will attack Wakanda.

 

Shuri and Okoye learn from CIA agent Everett K. Ross that the scientist in question is Riri Williams, a student at MIT, and arrive at the university to confront her. The FBI and later Namor's warriors pursue the group, defeating Okoye before taking Shuri and Williams underwater to meet Namor. Angered by Okoye's failure to protect Shuri, Ramonda strips her of the position of General of the Dora Milaje and seeks out Nakia, who lives in Haiti, since Blip. Namor shows Shuri the vibranium-rich underwater talogan he has been guarding for centuries since discovering the world. Namor, bitter on the surface world for enslaving the Maya, proposes an alliance with Wakanda against the rest of the world, but threatens to destroy Wakanda first if they refuse. Nakia helps Shuri and Williams escape, Namor fights back in an attack on Wakanda's capital, while Ramonda drowns to save Riri. Namor vows to return in a week with his entire army, and the citizens of Wakanda migrate to the Jabari Mountains for their safety.

Meanwhile, Rose is arrested by his ex-wife and CIA director, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, for secretly exchanging intelligence with the Wakandans. Using a bracelet made from the fibers of the plant that gave Namor's people their supernatural abilities, Shuri recreates the heart-shaped plant, eats it, gains supernatural abilities, and sees a vision of Killmonger that prompts her to seek revenge. Shuri dons a new Black Panther outfit and is recognized as Black Panther by the rest of the Wakandan tribe. Although M'Baki pleads for peace, Shuri is determined to exact revenge on Namor for Ramonda's death, and orders an immediate counterattack against Talokan. In preparation for battle, Ayo takes on the role of Dora Milaji's general, giving Shuri the Midnight Angel Armor, and she takes Dora member Aneka with her. Williams builds an Iron Man-esque powered exoskeleton to help the Wakandans.

 

The Wakandans board an ocean liner and drag Namor and his warriors to the surface. A battle ensues, and Shuri traps Namor in a fighter jet, intending to paralyze and weaken him. The pair collide and fight on a desert beach. Shuri gains the upper hand, but realizes the similarity between their paths and asks Namor to offer a peaceful alliance. Namor agrees and the battle ends. Namor's cousin, Namora, is saddened by Namor's surrender, but Namor assures them that their new alliance will one day allow them to conquer the surface world. Williams returns to MIT, abandons her suit and Okoye rescues Ross from prison.

In Shuri's absence, M’baku steps in to mount a challenge for the throne. Shuri visits Nakia, in Haiti, where she burns Ramonda's funeral clothes as per her wishes, finally mourning T'Challa. In a mid-credit scene, Shuri learns that Nakia had a son with T'Challa, Toussaint, whom Nakia is secretly raising from the pressures of the throne. Toussaint reveals his Wakandan name is T'Challa.

Director Coogler and writer Cole cleverly weave the characters in between the usual Marvel action. Much-needed dialogue takes place here, and they add welcome shading and depth to many of the characters. Black Panther's strength is its supporting characters. Wakanda Forever makes up for it with Mbaku, the Jabari leader played by Winston Duke, or Dora Milaje General Okoye, played by Danai Gurira. The entire cast is believable. Bassett gives a great performance as a destructive, yet strong-willed queen, while Wright really comes into her own here. Lupita Nyong'o also excels with the more grown-up Nakia.

 

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever introduces two major Marvel Comics characters to the franchise, Huerta's aforementioned Namor and Dominic Thorne's Iron Man successor Riri Williams. Both performers immediately immersed themselves in their roles and solidified themselves as welcome additions to the MCU. Particularly Huerta proves to be one of the franchise's most compelling antagonists, giving Namor a layer of charisma and sympathy that's hard to root for, at least for a while. Namor and Riri are one of Wakanda Forever's strengths, but their presence is a reminder of how much this movie happens simultaneously. This Marvel sequel goes to some dark places and takes some big swings. Sometimes Coogler and Cole's script seems to struggle from trying to pull all threads together, and while the final product isn't as neat as the first Black Panther, it's still a thrilling and emotional ride. That's because Coogler moves easily between epic scenes and quiet, contemplative moments. Ruth E. Carter's costumes are colorful and interestingly designed, while production designer Hannah Beechler creates an underwater kingdom that, while not as vivid as one might expect, is as evocative as Namor swimming through the Talogan. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is bursting with ideas, great callbacks to the previous film, and piercing expressions of sadness. The audience will cheer and cry in equal measure.

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