Released: 11th November 2022 (UK and US)
Length: 161 Minutes
Certificate: 12A
Director: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Angela Basset, Dominique Thorne, Martin Freeman and Tenoch Huerta Mejía
Marvel’s Black Panther drew a ton of fanfare in 2018, being widely praised for its blend of tradition and historical trappings. Following the unfortunate passing of Chadwick Boseman, Wakanda Forever was forced to strike out in a different direction. Luckily, Ryan Coogler and company have crafted an enjoyable follow-up that makes the most of the remaining pieces.
After the passing of their king from an undisclosed illness, the people of Wakanda face growing challenges protecting their country and the precious vibranium resources within. When the underwater nation of Talokan, lead by King Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejía), causes trouble on the surface, their warriors start to push into the African territory. Thanks to a clash of motives and Namor’s desire for war, a dangerous inter-ethnic conflict erupts between the two nations. It’s up to Shuri (Letitia Wright), her mother Ramonda (Angela Basset) and newcomer Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) to put a stop to it. Wakanda Forever continues the themes of colonialism, applying them to a different civilization and generating an effective springboard for the narrative. Not every plot element connects fully; the brief interventions of Agent Ross (Martin Freeman) feel rather pointless and have little to do with the greater conflict. His scenes are there as an obligation to both the original film and to give the film a half-hearted connection to the wider MCU. We do receive an origin story for Namor’s world, but because we don’t see the location for very long, it doesn’t have an opportunity to develop. Admittedly, the film does outstay its welcome with the first act slowly building towards the central battle; many of the establishing scenes could have been cut out as they become irrelevant over time.
Letitia Wright has a lot on her shoulders from start to finish; it’s her first leading role for a big blockbuster and the actress does a great job embracing the part. Grief hangs over Shuri, underpinning and influencing her choices. She’s also exposed to temptation at several moments, connecting the sequel to the events of the original. When she does take up the mantel of the famous superhero, you believe in her conviction and technical skills. Wakanda Forever places a lot of focus on its women; Angela Basset brings another commanding presence as Queen Ramonda and her desire to show strength often brings unforeseen consequences. Okoye (Danai Gurira) finds herself tested at the hands of a strong opponent and while Riri’s backstory feels very rushed, she plays off Shuri with her own intelligence and technical ability. Rounding off the set is Winston Duke’s M’Baku who picks up much of the comic relief. Namor is placed in the same vein as Killmonger; a villain with understandable motives; Tenoch Huerta Mejía draws you into the character’s backstory, though his reasoning does take a backseat once the action starts.
The sequel continues its blend of techno sci-fi and tribal traditions, though the latter has been reduced for this outing. The settlements are undoubtedly the highlight of Wakanda Forever; a new set of environments will remind you of both Aquaman and the upcoming Avatar sequel; while we don’t see much of Talokan, the transitions between the surface world and the aquatic lands are presented brilliantly. The fight scenes measure up well with a climax in the Atlantic ocean being particularly effective alongside the pounding war drums of the soundtrack. In terms of presentation, this sequel sticks to the tried-and-true.
Wakanda Forever sits in the upper tier of Marvel’s fourth phase; the film is able to write itself out of a difficult situation and create a worthy sequel. Several plot threads needed more justification and development but the production succeeds for the core narrative and conflicts. The adaptability of the filmmakers and the dedication of the cast remain on full display.
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars (Good)
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