Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Movie Review by Josh Davis : Pop Culture Leftovers

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Movie Review by Josh Davis

November 19, 2022 11:34 am |

More than any other Marvel movie — and perhaps more than any other movie in recent memory — “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is a study in what could have been.

According to reports, the film was already two months into filming when star Chadwick Boseman died because of stage-four colon cancer.

COVID-19 delays and an injury to star Letitia Wright further complicated an already historically fraught production.

The good news is, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is probably the best of the MCU’s Phase Four. But, it’s hard not to imagine how it would have turned out with Boseman in the lead role.

That loss is felt right away, and as the film opens we learn that King T’Challa, the Black Panther, has died because of a mysterious illness.

As the nation of Wakanda mourns, a new civilization appears out of nowhere and slaughters a team of CIA operatives searching for precious Vibranium on the ocean floor.

Wakanda is initially blamed, but the attack came from Talokan, an ancient underwater Mezzo-American city that rivals Wakanda and is ruled by a fierce warrior-king called Namor (Tenoch Huerta).

The movie’s MacGuffin is Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne), a brilliant MIT student who invented a device that can detract Vibranium and led the CIA to Talokan’s doorstep. Namor wants her killed, while Shuri demands she be set free, and the conflict sets the two nations on a path to war.

Boseman’s legacy is all over “Wakanda Forever,” and filmmaker Ryan Coogler handles his loss and his narrative absence about as well as possible. But, there’s definitely something missing without him.

The first “Black Panther” succeeded because of Boseman’s unique presence, and because Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) was among the MCU’s best-developed villains.

Huerta’s Namor is more middle of the road — fine enough in the role, but not menacing enough or sympathetic enough to rise into the stratosphere.

Wright is good but not great, and she’s just no substitute for Boseman. She’s most believable when grieving for T’Challa and grappling with her new role in his absence, but that partially falls apart in the third act.

What keeps “Wakanda Forever” afloat are four other returning actors from the first film.

First and most obvious from the trailers, Angela Bassett just owns the role of Queen Ramonda. Her stirring speeches will leave you breathless, but every scene she’s in is better for it. Bassett has always had a strong presence, but she’s rarely ruled the screen so completely.

Danai Gurira’s Okoye is also compelling and benefits from a strong character arc. Long a standout in “The Walking Dead,” here Gurira shines as a fierce warrior who burns to defend both her nation and the friends she’s already been to war with across several MCU films.

Winston Duke doesn’t get a ton to do as M’Baku, but Coogler expertly uses him to add much needed weight and depth in key scenes. Duke also lends subtle notes of humor with just the smallest gesture or glance.

Finally, there’s Lupita Nyong’o’s Nakia. Already an Oscar winner, Nyong’o is among the most underrated actors on the planet and she could not be any better in both Black Panther movies. She’s as graceful as anyone in Hollywood and just feels so natural on screen, even when she’s asked to wear ridiculous costumes and fly through the air, or dive hundreds of feet beneath the sea.

Plot wise, “Wakanda Forever” is serviceable, but certainly not as groundbreaking as its predecessor. The conflict between two super advanced nations seems a little absurd when thought about too long. A simple conversation about how the CSI abused Riri Williams’s invention should have been enough to diffuse the situation.

Also, like many modern big-budget superhero and sci-fi epics, there’s the weight of expectation versus what actually happens onscreen. Some theories about who would wear the new Black Panther suit might have been more satisfying than what actually played out on screen.

What does work — and what makes “Wakanda Forever” rise above the other Phase Four movies — are the absolutely gorgeous visuals, and the peerless soundtrack, score and sound design.

On a technical level, this movie is a marvel for the senses in every possible way. Coogler, known as an indie director just a few years ago, is a true visionary and what he brought to life has rarely been seen before.

More than just sumptuous world building through CGI — gorgeous enough on its own — Coogler is a master of framing and lighting, and his use of those tools add so much emotional weight. He’ll be one to watch as long as he’s making movies.

All of that said, “Wakanda Forever” desperately misses Boseman. His swagger and his heart carried so much of the first movie, and no one here — and probably no one anywhere — could ever fill his boots.

While “Wakanda Forever” is ultimately a very good superhero film, it’s hard not to think of what it could have been.

PCL Rating: High Taste It

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: FRESH