Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is playing in theaters at the time of writing. Rated PG-13. Common Sense says 12.
STORY: A-
T’Challa is gone. Killmonger has burned the sacred gardens. No longer a secret to the world, Wakanda must forge a new path forward without its protector, the Black Panther. And to prove that indeed when it rains it pours, a new dangerous threat is rising from the ocean’s depths.
It’s an epic story that explores a boatload of topics. Grief. Loss. Sacrifice. Protecting those around you, and protecting yourself. It’s a lot. But above all else, the story is a “we need to figure this out” story. How do you figure out how to deal with the loss of your son or brother while protecting your kingdom at the same time? What are you willing to sacrifice when you’ve already sacrificed all you can imagine? How do you take care of yourself while taking care of an entire nation?
My only nitpick with the story is that at times it feels like a repeat of the original movie’s struggle: Are you Team T’Challa or Team Killmonger”? I thought the first film answered that question beautifully. I don’t know if this film needed to do it again.
PEOPLE: A-
The Queen rules over all. Angela Bassett is regal, tenacious, and commanding. Letitia Wright (Shuri) carries the majority of the film’s load, and she handles the majority of that load superbly. Winston Duke (M’Baku) fills the role of Wakanda’s alpha male with humor and charisma. Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia) paints the screen full of grace and power. Danai Guria (Okoye) is fierce and passionate as ever. Marvel newcomer Tenoch Huerta (Namor) dazzles and convinces us he’s something unthinkable - a legitimate threat to Wakanda.
FILM GEEK STUFF: A-
Can any other crew create a more authentic, gorgeous world than this one? I sincerely doubt it. We’ve seen Wakanda before, but its vibrancy bedazzles us just as much as it did the first time, if not more. And as if to say “Shh!” to any doubters, the production team designs a second incredible world. They achieve one of the most magical feats in moviemaking: they make something we know is impossible feel stunningly real. The underwater kingdom of Talocan is spectacular.
A point or two will be deducted for the few times the CGI fails to impress.
CHADWICK (Elective Class): A
Writer-director Ryan Coogler (along with co-writer Joe Robert Cole) handle the loss of T’Challa incredibly well. The film is bookended by two unforgettable scenes that manage to simultaneously punch and hug my grieving heart. The scenes don’t look away from the pain of losing a king, but they’re not cruel. They’re necessary for the characters - and us - to heal.
But this category isn’t named T’Challa.
Chadwick was kind. He was strong. He was full of grace, both physically and emotionally. His spirit was as strong as the earth is wide, a spirit most of us didn’t know the magnitude of until he passed away.
The movies are littered with examples of parts we can’t imagine being played by anyone else. Could anyone other than Tom Hanks have been Forrest Gump? Could anyone other than Judy Garland have been Dorothy? Could anyone other than Harrison Ford have been Indiana Jones? We can say the same about Chadwick, but there’s something else that separates him from a list like this.
None of these other roles meant as much to the world as this role did. Kids didn’t dance on lunch tables because they got a free movie ticket. They danced because they were crashing the biggest party in Hollywood: Marvel at the height of its powers and influence. This means a lot to you when you are a person whose people aren’t always invited or welcomed everywhere. This was Sydney Poitier crashing the Oscars. This was Beyonce at Coachella. This was Obama in the White House. And who better to play the King of Wakanda than a bona fide king of a man? Who better to show you what you can be? Who better to open more doors? Who better to inspire the world? Who better than Chadwick Boseman? It’s the greatest casting choice in film history.
FINAL COMMENTS:
I completely recommend this film.