Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
Wakanda Forever is an impressive movie, even if it doesn’t soar quite as high as the first Black Panther.
That the movie can’t quite surpass the sky high expectations after Chadwick Boseman's untimely death, doesn’t make it anything less of a cathartic experience.
The funeral at the beginning makes it quite clear that this is a story that deals with grief. A grief that is not only felt throughout the movie, but which also informs most of the action.
Apart from their inner turmoil Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright) and Okoye (Danai Gurira) have a lot to contend with. Together with M’Baku (Winston Duke) and the Dora Milaje they have to protect the peaceful African kingdom of Wakanda from world powers that are interested in its natural energy source vibranium.
All the actors deliver great work. This also includes Namor (Tenoch Huerta) who leads an underwater civilization that also produces vibranium, which also makes him a target to outside enemies.
Namor, however, believes that attack is the best defense, which brings him into conflict with the outside world.
How will Wakanda respond? Can our heroes, with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and CIA-boss Everett Ross (Martin Freeman), forge a new path for their great nation?
The movie was written and directed by Ryan Coogler, who has been very succesfull with the Creed movies and ofcourse the first Black Panther. An added value element to the movie is Lift Me Up, the song that Rihanna has recorded for the soundtrack.
Wakanda Forever (161 min.) is a big movie that takes a long time to tell its story. It’s darker, obviously, than the first one, even if it does contain some lighter moments.
Some scenes look incredible, but as with a lot of Marvel movies, some look quite murky, which is a shame.
Still, the emotional impact of the movie cannot be denied, and this is why it is still on track to become one of this year’s mega blockbusters.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is expected to open with grosses of around 180 million dollars in the North America alone. The global total will be much bigger. Together with Avatar: The Way of Water and the already released Top Gun: Maverick it will fight the battle to take the box office crown for the year 2022.