Wakanda Forever ‘Could’ve Been’ Great
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the sequel to the successful Black Panther, is genuine. However, the whole thing has a contrived feel to it. The proceedings start with King T’Challa’s recent death and funeral. Following the black casket with the crossed arms of the Wakanda salute and the silver insignia of the Black Panther mask.
Shuri (Letitia Wright) and Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) are clad in white. Slow-motion tracking views of dancers joyfully dancing in honor of their assassinated king provided a stark contrast to their melancholy parade as it winds through the country. We segue to an earnest and tearful montage of Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa as the coffin arrives at a clearing and ceremoniously soars to the sky.
Wakanda Forever ‘Could’ve Been’ Great
Where it started
Black Panther was set outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, similar to the beautiful and remote African nation of Wakanda. This is the key to the film’s success. The humor existed between the characters rather than as sporadic allusions to another work. The characters, with Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue as the exception, the movie mostly stood on its own without the crushing requirements felt by every other film. Concerns rarely veered toward franchise-building aspirations.
Ironheart must be established
With this somber sequel, though, writer-director Ryan Coogler and his writing partner Joe Robert Cole do not enjoy the same level of flexibility. Some restrictions, like the terrible death of Boseman, are beyond their control. Others resemble a surrender incorporated into a film.
The massive script remains jam-packed with concepts and themes. The movie must explore the cultural pain that still exists as a result of the historical eradication of Central and South America’s Indigenous kingdoms. Instead of fighting their common enemy (white colonists), two kingdoms led by people of color are pitted against one another.
The Marvel TV series Ironheart, in which Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams will feature, must be established. The Snap must be acknowledged, Boseman’s death must be mourned, and a new Black Panther must be found. In the end, this movie tries to create the future through Shuri.
When given strong material, Wright is a gifted actor who can carry a movie emotionally. But, she consistently goes against the grain in this situation. She perseveres through a cringe-worthy cameo, awkward gags, and an overly tidy conclusion.
Lousy post-credit scene
A significant naval battle follows, new yet flimsy technology is used, and loose ends are clumsily tied. You can take comfort in the fact that it starts and finishes on a positive note. Up until the corny post-credit scene, that is.
I’m unsure of Coogler’s thoughts. He carried more of the burden for this film than any director should. Nevertheless, as this scenario took place, I openly sighed at what amounted to a weepy, treacly moment that was entirely superfluous, emotionally manipulative, and largely unjustified.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever may have the right intentions. But, it remains situated in the wrong frame of mind and the worst location—at the core of a fabricated canonical universe.
