Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

After Chadwick Boseman’s unexpected passing in August 2020, director Ryan Coogler found himself faced with the mammoth task of trying to craft a soulful send off for a true king, while also building off the success and world of 2018’s “Black Panther”. The acclaimed director steps up to the seemingly impossible challenge of trying to make a film without its most integral character, but Coogler manages to exceed expectations, crafting a poignant and thoroughly entertaining film. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” draws out stellar performances from its cast and introduces marvel audiences to new threats these beloved characters face.

After King T’Challa’s death, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), and the entire kingdom of Wakanda find themselves mourning their admired leader. But with world powers becoming increasingly frustrated with Wakanada’s refusal to share their precious Vibranium, they decide to take matters into their own hands. Their search inadvertently angers Namor, king of an ancient underwater kingdom known as Talokan. Determined to keep his kingdom safe and hidden, Namor asks Wakanda to find the scientist responsible for creating the machine finding the Vibranium. But, as tensions rise between the two nations, will Namor’s desire to wage war on the surface world, and keep his kingdom and his people safe, wipe out Wakanda as we know it?

Ryan Coogler directs a moving depiction of grief and loss with such tenderness that solidifies him as the perfect man to direct the film. Coogler takes Boseman’s absence and builds off of it in such a way that audiences wouldn’t think possible, delivering an outstanding sequel to one of last decade’s most culturally significant films. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” manages to escape Marvel’s curse of mediocre sequels, majorly surpassing films like “Thor: The Dark World” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron”. With its ability to juggle its multiple themes and its duality of being an entertaining action flick with a suitable send off for a king, the film is a strong way to end phase four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Angela Bassett reprises her role as Queen Ramonda and delivers a powerful and vivid performance. Bassett flawlessly proves she deserves the Oscar nomination she received for her performance as the Wakandan queen, and quickly asserts herself one of the highlights of the film. Letitia Wright also delivers a fantastic performance, not only does she shine as Shuri, but the BAFTA nominee also brilliantly steps into the role of Black Panther with ease. Both women do a stellar job encompassing their characters’ intense grief and emotion Tenoch Huerta makes his MCU debut in the film, bringing the aquatic character of Namor to the screen. The “Narcos: Mexico” actor brings the menacing villain to life with an assured performance that allows Namor to be an ominous new threat while also introducing audiences to a whole new part of the Marvel Universe. Huerta’s turn as Namor benefits from Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole’s impressive worldbuilding when it comes to the underwater world of Talokan. As well as introducing audiences to a new villain, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” also finally brings the character of Riri Williams (a.k.a Ironheart) into the MCU. Dominique Thorne (“If Beale Street Could Talk”) easily slips into the role as the gifted MIT student, injecting energy into the character even if at times her inclusion seems like a bit of a plot device.

Much like its 2018 predecessor, the film features stunning cinematography that brilliantly highlights both the intricacies of the costumes as well as the elaborate sets of Wakanda, while also making the film a visual feast for the eyes. Autumn Durald Arkapaw (“Loki”) crafts stunning imagery that rivals the cinematography of the first film, while also escaping the curse of Marvel’s bland cinematography. Ludwig Göransson returns to the world of Black Panther with yet another incredible score. Working his magic once again, the Swedish composer, who won an Oscar for his work on the first Black Panther film, composes a score full of the work of talented African and Latin artists alongside grand classical pieces. Like “Black Panther”, this film is accompanied by a soundtrack comprised of songs specifically written for the film by a myriad of artists from across the globe. Artists like Stormzy, Future, and Rihanna have their songs included in the film, with the latter writing two songs for the film.

As well as being technically impressive, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” also ends up managing its complex themes with remarkable ease. Ryan Coogler weaves ideas of loss, grief, family and legacy into the narrative without allowing them to overpower the film, but including them in the film in such a tasteful way. The film is both an affecting send off for a king, and a stellar instalment in the ever-expanding MCU. In typical Marvel fashion, the film does include the standard mid-credit scene but departs from the tradition of using it to set up a future film or introduce a new villain, instead choosing to carry on the legacy of Boseman’s character in a heart-warming and unexpected way.

Ryan Coogler directs an outstanding film that manages to thoroughly entertain viewers, while also showcasing a fitting send off to Chadwick Boseman. Despite the hefty runtime, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is loaded with intense action and heart-breaking emotion that keeps audiences engaged throughout, and sticks with you long after the credits have rolled.