Last weekend, I finally had the opportunity to see the film for myself, armed with high expectations after reading positive reviews online and hearing enthusiastic praise from my colleagues. To my surprise, my own assessment of the film differed greatly from that of those around me, leading to lively debates with my coworkers. While I have decided to bid farewell to Marvel Studios, I have fond memories of the Marvel Cinematic Universe phases 1-3, which remain their greatest works in my opinion. However, I hold high hopes for the upcoming release of "Blade" in 2024, and eagerly await the opportunity to see if Marvel does justice to this legendary franchise.
"Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" is an American superhero that is produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures which is the second sequel to "Black Panther" (2018). It is directed by Ryan Coogler, who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Joe Robert Cole. The movie features a talented ensemble cast, including Tenoch Huerta Mej铆a as Namor, Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Florence Kasumba, Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena, Martin Freeman, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The movie revolves around the loss of King T'Challa and how the people of Wakanda unite to defend their homeland against the threat of invading foreign forces.
So the movie was set a year after the passing and mourning of king T'Challa, Wakanda faces pressure from the rest of the world to share its vibranium resources, with some attempting to steal it by force. Queen Ramonda pleads with Shuri to continue her research, but Shuri is reluctant, believing the Black Panther to be a figure of the past. However, when Wakanda is threatened by blue-skinned, water-breathing superhumans led by Namor.
With nations around the world seeking to acquire Wakanda's precious vibranium, the CIA led an expedition, searching for vibranium and the teams Involved with this encountered Namor's people which led to the killing of the CIA teams. This attack was pinned on the Wakandans. Shuri and Okoye embark on a mission with the help of CIA agent Ross, to track down the scientist, Riri Williams, at MIT who is responsible for building a vibranium detector.
The trio is pursued by the FBI and Namor's warriors, leading to a confrontation between Namor and the Wakandans. Shuri is taken to Namor's underwater kingdom of Talokan, where he proposes an alliance with Wakanda against the rest of the world. Nakia helps Shuri and Williams escape and Namor retaliates with an attack on Wakanda which results in a devastating loss for the Wakandans. Now, the responsibility falls upon Shuri to take up the mantle of the Black Panther and defend her home, will she?
Negatives
It is unfortunate to say that my expectations for the latest installment in the Black Panther franchise were not met. Despite my high hopes at the outset, I found myself feeling bored and unsatisfied throughout the movie. I had anticipated a thrilling and exciting experience, but it fell short of my expectations. Although Ryan Coogler put in a great effort, it was not enough to win me over. I understand that the movie holds significance and meaning for many, but it simply did not resonate with me.
The script and plot were unfortunately lacking. The story felt incomplete and filled with plot holes, with key moments given little explanation. The death of T'Challa was a pivotal moment in the story, but it was handled in a rushed and detached manner, not allowing for the necessary emotional impact. I understand that this was a difficult scene to portray, but it would have been a powerful moment that would have added depth to the movie.
The Talokan/Atlantis storyline in the movie was a source of confusion for me and felt disconnected from the Wakanda narrative. This aspect of the film left me feeling unsatisfied and underwhelmed. The re-introduction of Black Panther was weakly executed and lacked the impact it could have had. I felt that the film focused too much on ceremonies and fantasy elements, taking away from the development of the plot.
On a positive note, I appreciated the introduction of Riri Williams and found it to be a compelling aspect of the movie. However, I was disappointed with the portrayal of Ironheart, who was given limited screen time and relegated to a secondary role despite her promising introduction.
In terms of the script, I appreciated humor found in other Marvel movies wasn't much in this movie. However, there was an over-reliance on voiceover narration, taking away from the necessary character development. Mbaku brought some much-needed levity to the movie with his accent and jokes. Some of the characters in the movie, such as Ramonda portrayed by Angela Bassett, were well-developed and made for a much more enjoyable viewing experience. Bassett's performance was incredible and she truly deserves the recognition she has received for it.
The character of Okoye was the only one that truly resonated with me and made a lasting impression. However, her role in the movie was surprisingly reduced about a third of the way through, which was a missed opportunity to enhance the movie.
In terms of graphics, I have to say that I was underwhelmed compared to the first sequel. The CGI and green screen work was not up to par with the previous sequel and did not meet my expectations. Additionally, the contrasts and color palette in both Wakanda and Talokan lacked appeal and made it difficult to fully appreciate the visual elements of the movie.
Although some of the action scenes were thrilling, others felt prolonged and dragged on. Okoye, portrayed by Danai Gurira, was a standout with her intense fight scenes keeping me engaged throughout. However, the ending of the movie left me frustrated. The confrontation between Shuri and Namor felt unrealistic, and I was disappointed that Shuri had to don the Black Panther suit rather than T'Challa himself. The resolution between the two characters was also unsatisfying and left me feeling unfulfilled.
Positives
This movie was a mixed bag of some noteworthy highlights and a few drawbacks. The emotional scenes were impressively written and performed, and some actors really shone. Angela Bassett, Namor, Mbaku (despite some limited screen time), and Shuri, in particular, delivered fantastic performances. The soundtracks were an exceptional aspect of the movie, with intense and thrilling music that made a lasting impression. Lastly, the costumes were breathtaking, adding a great deal to the overall experience.
In conclusion, I would rate this movie a solid 3 out of 5 stars. I will recommend it for superhero and Marvel fans. The phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which includes; "Black Widow," "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," "Eternal," "Spider-Man: No Way Home," "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," "Thor: Love and Thunder," and "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," ends on an average note with this phase.
Rating all the movies in the phase 4 of MCU, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) goes on the top list for me followed by Spider-Man: No Way Home and the rest goes down the list.
All images above are from the movie screenshots
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