A befitting tribute to both Chadwick Boseman and the legacy of Black Panther.
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The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has saved its best film of the year for last. Almost every other new MCU film has brought something different to the franchise but none have come close to the groundbreaking magnitude Black Panther (2018) and now, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, has.
Ryan Coogler returns as writer-director of the much anticipated sequel, delivering one of the franchise’s most sombre entries that delves deep into the loss of a fallen hero (both on screen and in real life). There’s no doubt the death of Chadwick Boseman–who once donned the mantle of Wakanda’s king and hero–had a huge impact on Wakanda Forever both off and on-screen. It was with great care and ambition that Coogler was able to not only honour the late actor’s legacy but also solidify the Black Panther name in the MCU.
Also returning are stars Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, and Martin Freeman alongside new faces to the franchise Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams and Tenoch Huerta as Namor, king of Talokan.
In addition to being the film that wraps up Phase 4 of the MCU, Wakanda Forever also serves as the backdoor for Thorne’s character who will return in a new Disney+ series. In the midst of all the happenings in the film, this subplot is its weakest plainly for diverting the attention. Huerta’s Namor on the other hand one-up’s with his MCU debut, putting to rest any Aquaman/Avatar references that may have come up when he was first announced. Namor may not be able to match the level of compellence Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger had but he has definitely made his mark as a memorable enough villain in the franchise.
The newcomers, however, fail in comparison to Wright and Bassett who are the cornerstone of Wakanda Forever. We see a different side of Shuri as Wright takes on a much meatier role in this sequel with her committed performance diminishing all qualms from the actor’s off-screen controversial comments. Bassett of course nails the role of a grieving mother and queen with stoic power and grace.
The beauty of Wakanda and Antlantean kingdom of Talokan is further emphasized by Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s stunning cinematography. She sets the bar for the franchise, proving superhero films can be of style and substance. But if we’re being perfectly honest, the true hero of Wakanda Forever is Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter whose work for both land and sea trumps all costumes ever featured in the franchise. There’s no doubt this will earn her another nomination at next year’s Oscars and we won’t be surprised if she bags the award too.
If you enjoyed the bittersweet pain of Avengers: Endgame, you will love the emotional depth of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
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