Black Panther Wakanda Forever Review

Written by: Nicholas Gofas

Following the untimely passing of Chadwick Boseman, many people asked how a sequel to 2018’s Black Panther would shape out without its titular lead actor. After numerous rewrites and reshoots, not to mention a global pandemic, we finally have that answer. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever feels different from any other movie within the gigantic cinematic universe in which it takes place. It takes a more grounded and human approach to the story, mainly following the death of Boseman’s King T'challa, and how his family, and the people of Wakanda deal with the sorrow and grief. Director Ryan Coogler was dealt the worst possible hand while making this movie and I don't think anyone would have blamed him if the film turned out a mess. Yet somehow, against all odds, is able to deliver a beautiful movie that shines through its setbacks. Now, this film isn't without its flaws, some subplots are given too much screen time, the action is somewhat generic, recycling many concepts used in the first film, and with its 2 hour 45 minute runtime, it feels as if there could have been at least 15 minutes shaved off. The film feels as if it is juggling two separate stories, one is a heartfelt goodbye to Boseman and his character, and the other is a continuation of the Marvel universe and setting up future installments. Looking past all of these things, the movie is visually stunning, gorgeously shot to pair perfectly with the heavy emotional scenes. Cinematographer Autumn Derald does a fantastic job conveying emotion through her shots and showcasing the rich environment of Wakanda. Ludwig Goransson returns to deliver another incredible score to this film. What truly carries this film are the amazing performances. Angela Bassett is already receiving Oscar buzz for her powerful performance as Queen Ramonda and Letita Wright steps up huge and fills the shoes of Boseman as the lead perfectly. Newcomers Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams and Tenoch Huerta as the menacing Namor are welcome additions to the cast and I personally cannot wait for what they do next. Wakanda Forever is rough around the edges, not a perfect movie but it is an emotional one that is guaranteed to hit anyone in the feels. 8/10