BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER
(director/writer: Ryan Coogler; screenwriter: Joe Robert Cole; cinematographer: Autumn Durald Arkapaw; editors: Kelley Dixon/Jennifer Lame/Michael P. Shawver; music: Ludwig Goransson; cast: Martin Freeman (Everett Ross), Angela Bassett (Queen Ramonda), Letitia Wright (Shuri), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Tenoch Huerta (Namor), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Florence Kasuma (Ayo), Lupita Nyong’o (War Dog Nakia), Michaela Coel (Aneka), Dora Milaje (Shiquita James), Zachary Andrews (Merchant), Richard Schiff (American at the UN), Dominique Thorne (Riri Williams); Runtime: 161; MPAA Rating: PG-13; producers: Kevin Feige/Nate Moore; Marvel Studios; 2022)
“If you’re looking for a big plus about the film, it makes the viewer think in a serious way about dealing with grief in their own lives.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
It’s a disappointing, grim, flatly delivered, ambitious and emotional narrative compared to the better made original 2016 Black Panther superhero/political drama, which grossed over a billion dollars and received mostly good reviews. Nevertheless this uneven blockbuster is well-crafted and entertaining. It’s nicely directed by Ryan Coogler (“Fruitvale Station”/”Creed”) and co-written by the Black Panther director Coogler and Joe Robert Cole. The comic book story from Marvel Studios suffers dearly from the death of its charismatic Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman, even as it pays homage to him and grieves his loss. The film never quite recovers from his death in 2020 from colon cancer at the ripe ‘young age’ of 43.
If you’re looking for a big plus about the film, it makes the viewer think in a serious way about dealing with grief in their own lives.
The returning characters are Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira), Ayo (Florence Kasumba) and Shiquita James (Dora Milaje), who fight on their own to protect their nation from intervening world powers due to the tragic loss of King T’Challa. He died in the film from an unnamed ailment, as he’s unable to be saved by his genius scientist sister Shuri.
A year after her son’s death, Queen Ramonda must find out what’s up in the underwater kingdom of Talokan (whose army is fierce). The country is ruled by the powerful mutant Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejia).
Queen Ramonda must turn her attention to confronting the vibranium possessing bloodthirsty Namor, who possesses the resource once thought only to be found in Wakanda.
Ramonda is also burdened with saving Riri (Dominique Thorne), an MIT prodigy, who has invented a vibranium-detecting device. Because of that invention, Riri is now vulnerable to being taken by the CIA.
All the characters must be prepared to expect no more help from the dead T’Challa, as Coogler rails against all the endless wars. He also relays to us how all the characters are now forced to survive without their leader Chadwickand must grow stronger and wiser.
What the film can’t do is capture the original’s magic, and its efforts flop when it becomes too strident trying to move on from Chadwick.
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
It’s a disappointing, grim, flatly delivered, ambitious and emotional narrative compared to the better made original 2016 Black Panther superhero/political drama, which grossed over a billion dollars and received mostly good reviews. Nevertheless this uneven blockbuster is well-crafted and entertaining. It’s nicely directed by Ryan Coogler (“Fruitvale Station”/”Creed”) and co-written by the Black Panther director Coogler and Joe Robert Cole. The comic book story from Marvel Studios suffers dearly from the death of its charismatic Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman, even as it pays homage to him and grieves his loss. The film never quite recovers from his death in 2020 from colon cancer at the ripe ‘young age’ of 43.
If you’re looking for a big plus about the film, it makes the viewer think in a serious way about dealing with grief in their own lives.
The returning characters are Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira), Ayo (Florence Kasumba) and Shiquita James (Dora Milaje), who fight on their own to protect their nation from intervening world powers due to the tragic loss of King T’Challa. He died in the film from an unnamed ailment, as he’s unable to be saved by his genius scientist sister Shuri.
A year after her son’s death, Queen Ramonda must find out what’s up in the underwater kingdom of Talokan (whose army is fierce). The country is ruled by the powerful mutant Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejia).
Queen Ramonda must turn her attention to confronting the vibranium possessing bloodthirsty Namor, who possesses the resource once thought only to be found in Wakanda.
Ramonda is also burdened with saving Riri (Dominique Thorne), an MIT prodigy, who has invented a vibranium-detecting device. Because of that invention, Riri is now vulnerable to being taken by the CIA.
All the characters must be prepared to expect no more help from the dead T’Challa, as Coogler rails against all the endless wars. He also relays to us how all the characters are now forced to survive without their leader, Chadwick, and must grow stronger and wiser.
What the film can’t do is capture the original’s magic, and it becomes too strident trying to keep the franchise going.
REVIEWED ON 11/10/2022 GRADE: B-