Movie Review: Black Panther Wakanda Forever

Wakanda and its characters are back in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The film hit theaters this past weekend as the final film in Marvel’s fourth phase. 

The film deals with the death of King T’Challa, following the death of real life actor Chadwick Boseman. The film centers around T’Challa’s sister, Shuri, played by Letitia Wright. This film is very much an emotional movie, focusing on characters rather than action. The film ties in with the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with several cameos and references, but maintains enough individuality to keep viewers engaged. 

Another great part of this movie is the villain, Namor. Played by Tenoch Huerta, he proves himself as one of the most powerful and compelling villains the MCU has to offer. His motivations make sense throughout the story and he provides a parallel between his kingdom of Atlantis and Wakanda. Winston Duke is great as M’Baku, but he gets a very limited amount of screen time. The movie also shines in its cinematography. All of the scenes are very well shot, and create a feeling of immersion.  

Unfortunately the movie lacks in several areas. Its two hour and forty-one minute run time leads to slow pacing and feels dragged out. The film is very emotional, but the predictable nature of the film leads to some of the emotional moments being easily predictable, and thus, less emotional. Additionally, the character of Shuri underwent a drastic transformation that leaves her feeling like a completely different character. In the first Black Panther she was a lighthearted quipster, but in this movie she is seemingly always upset or angry. The movie also barely utilizes the vast realm of Wakanda, which was one of the best aspects of the first movie.

Overall, the movie is decent. It wasn’t as good as the original Black Panther movie but it is still reasonably good. For those who enjoy emotional, character based movies, this movie is right for you. The movie also sets up several future Marvel projects, so if you follow the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this is a must watch movie. Lastly, if you are watching this movie, make sure to stay for the one mid-credits scene