MARCUS CHEONG watches the long-delayed follow-up to Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’…
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (M)
In a Word: Challenging
Angela Bassett stars as Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
The first Black Panther was a resounding success. Grossing well over a billion US dollars and establishing its star, Chadwick Boseman, as an icon. The sequel to this mega-hit has faced substantial hurdles. Most significantly was the death of Boseman in 2020, and then there were the delays caused by COVID-19. After four years, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is finally here and it is a very different film from what was originally planned.
Rather than recast the title character, Marvel wisely decided to allow both audiences and the characters in the film to mourn the death of their star. The film opens with the burial of King T’Challa and his loss is felt throughout the story that follows. The women of Wakanda take centre stage this time as T’Challa’s sister, Shuri, (Letitia Wright), his mother Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), his lover Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and general Okoye (Danai Gurira) lead the nation as they face a new enemy. This threat comes in the form of Namor (Tenoch Huerta), the King of an advanced underwater kingdom that seeks war with the world above.
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a worthy sequel that overcomes the challenges of it production and manages to honour the loss of its star by creating space for us all to mourn.”
Another newcomer, further focusing the feminine energy is Ironheart (Dominique Thorn), a brilliant MIT student who looks set to continue the legacy of Iron Man. When Namor decides to kill Ironheart to keep his civilization hidden and protected, Shuri and the Wakandans have to choose whether to risk war or be complicit in the death of the innocent. This plot contrivance is a convenient tool to drive forward the conflict, and is now a familiar trope. The heroic imperative to save one person even though it will lead to a costly battle has been seen in Civil War (to save the Winter Soldier), Avengers: Infinity War (to save Vision), Multiverse of Madness (to save America Chavez) and many more.
Wakanda Forever layers the conflict with a theme that explores the consuming cycle of hatred, revenge and death. Namor explains that his name literally means “no love”, a moniker that encapsulates his hatred for the conquistadors that conquered his Mayan ancestors. He tries to seduce Shuri to his world view and for some time she becomes consumed with hatred at the loss of her loved ones. Ultimately Shuri needs to find the strength to show mercy as it is the only way to forge peace.
We rely on our readers to fund Sight's work - become a financial supporter today!
For more information, head to our Subscriber's page.
As is to be expected, there is no shortage of action, ranging from high octane chases, brutal martial arts, aerial dogfighting and a large scale final battle between the nations. The exotic locations of Wakanda, Haiti, and the underwater city, Talokan are gorgeous in all their CGI glory. Then there are new costumes, gadgets, vehicles and weapons to complete the visual spectacle.
At the film’s heart, however, is a message of overcoming loss, anger and grief. Shuri begins by shunning the spiritual and relying on logic and science. In the end, healing for herself and her nation comes from a spiritual transformation that allows her to show grace to her enemy.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a worthy sequel that overcomes the challenges of it production and manages to honour the loss of its star by creating space for us all to mourn. In doing so, the legacy of the Black Panther has a worthy successor which sets the stage for the future of Wakanda to continue forever.
