Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Is Ambitious but Disappointing
There's real grief in this superhero sequel. But it falls prey to too many Marvel movie problems.
On the one hand, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's most ambitious films. Although it doesn't have quite the multi-character scope of, say, Avengers: Endgame, it attempts a grounded, essentially political story of national character and international relations—Dan Drezner, call your office—set in a world of exalted, fantastically powerful characters. It aims to be a solemn domestic family drama, a succession struggle, and a parable about the dangers of American interventionism, as well as a rollicking superhero action movie, all at once. It was also made under genuinely trying conditions: Chadwick Boseman, who played the title character in the previous film and several other MCU installments, tragically died of cancer in 2020 as the sequel was being developed. In some ways, it's astounding and impressive that the film exists.
But the movie that resulted is, sadly, a mess; narratively convoluted and flat-out ugly at times, with sub-streaming-TV special effects and indistinct imagery throughout. The story is laden with subplots intended to set up or nudge along strands of the overall MCU plotline, almost entirely to ho-hum effect. And while there are several strong performances, the story's attempts at political relevance come across as half-hearted efforts to recreate the frisson of intra-national conflict that defined the first film. The result is a bloated, aimless, visually unappealing two-and-a-half-hour blockbuster that feels less like a distinctive vision and more like something cobbled together out of bits of Marvel movie detritus.
That's not to say there are no stirring moments, especially when the movie pays tribute to Boseman. The film begins with the death of his character, King T'Challa of Wakanda, the long-secret afrofuturist nation and the home of what is believed to be the world's only supply of vibranium. The somber funeral sequence—a march through the streets of Wakanda in the shadow of a mural of the departed king—is one of the most affecting moments in Marvel movie history, capturing a profound grief that is almost unheard of in comic book movies where death is rarely permanent.
But that grief struggles to assert itself through the rest of the film, which mostly plays like a grab bag of MCU sidequests and side plots. The plot is set in motion by an underwater machine that detects vibranium. The machine is invented by Riri Williams, a brilliant young scientist who, ah, yes, will become Ironheart, an Iron Man-like character who just happens to have an MCU series in development for Disney +, and who will presumably play a role in the forthcoming Iron Wars movie. And then there's Everett Ross (Martin Freeman), the Wakanda-sympathetic American intelligence agent who is back from the first Black Panther. This time it turns out he's the ex-husband of Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, the Julia Louis Dreyfus-played spy boss who has been turning up across the MCU for the last several years. It is probably not an exaggeration to say that a quarter of the film is devoted to setting up other movies and series in the MCU. It's a two-and-a-half-hour movie, give or take, but it might be better understood as an hour and forty-five-minute film with 40 minutes or so of integrated house-brand commercials.
I have nothing against corporate synergy, and crossovers are part of the fun of both comic books and modern comic book movies. But crossovers should primarily serve the story you're watching, not the one creators hope you watch next.
The film is on much stronger ground when it focuses on its trio of female leads: scientific prodigy Shuri (Leticia Wright), Wakandan military leader Okoye (Danai Gurira), and matriarch Ramonda (Angela Basset), who has taken the Wakandan throne. The trio made for a strong supporting cast in the first Black Panther; here, they carry the movie, not only powering through sometimes weak, sometimes disjointed material, but giving it heft and emotional impact. Wakanda Forever is deeply flawed, but the decision to let the supporting cast take center stage rather than try to find someone to replace Boseman's movie-making charisma was the right one.
As replacements go, the movie's flying, water-breathing antagonist, Namor, isn't quite as successful. Although actor Tenoch Huerta Mejía makes for an enjoyably menacing quasi-villain, he's stuck rehashing the anti-colonialist argument made more forcefully by the first film's baddie, Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan). Parts of his argument, particularly his case for war against Wakanda, don't make much sense, undermining the movie's attempts to bring more thoughtful forms of political conflict into superhero films.
Comic book fans know Namor as the cranky sometimes-villain, sometimes-hero Sub-Mariner, the King of Atlantis, but here he's been given a new history as the leader of the Mayan-inspired underwater nation Talokan. This might be intriguing except for the fact that it's so haphazardly developed, delivered mostly as rehearsed backstory told to the audience rather than experienced as part of the plot.
Talokan itself may or may not be an interesting place to explore. Honestly, it's hard to tell. The movie is muddy and dark and edited so that no image can linger or make an impression. I simply didn't care one way or another.
People have complained recently about the indistinguishable darkness of small-screen shows like Game of Thrones. But a TV or streaming series can always take refuge in the argument that the budgets are smaller and not everyone has a great TV. I screened Wakanda Forever in an IMAX theater, which should be a premium experience, and it frequently looked flat-out awful, with choppy action and unfortunate CGI that would look right at home on a streaming service. Marvel's movies are never exactly pretty, but this one looked especially rough.
The first Black Panther remains one of the strongest, most exciting entries in the MCU canon—many would argue the best. It succeeded by jettisoning just enough of the Marvel movie baggage and focusing on clear characterization, a discrete narrative with minimal extra-movie linkages, and an intriguing (at least for a superhero movie) political conflict.
But despite strong performances and moments of real feeling, Wakanda Forever often feels stitched together and kludgy, even tedious at times—as if its title is mostly an inadvertent attempt to capture how long it goes on. It's not an awful movie, exactly, but it's an exceptionally disappointing one.
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Black Panther was such a boring movie. So tired of the woke train making it ‘the best’ MCU movie. I doubt Woke Forever will redeem that storyline. Really BP is so at the bottom of the MCU films with the likes of Dark World, Age of Ultron, Winter Soldier, Captain Marvel, Multiverse of Madness, and Black Widow.
I love all of the retards that talked about it being historical for being a black lead super hero. I would inform them it’s not the first black lead superhero movie hell it’s not even the first Marvel black lead superhero movie. Marvel also made meteor man and the blade trilogy
Leonard, Part 6. Though I dunno if that’s quite “superhero” or just “James Bond-style”.
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Will Smith, Hancock.
Blade definitely has the majority of MCU crap beaten, and decades before all the woke requirements at that. How can that be?
^ Pretty much this.
Black Panther is a boring ‘hero’ outside the woke angle. He’s just a dumber minority version of Iron Man or Batman. Oh, he’s a super rich leader of an invisible kingdom that doesn’t even make his own gadgets? Cool, I guess. What exactly did he bring to the table, other than being from the right family? At least Iron Man and Batman came up with their own gear despite being filthy rich.
And now that the titular hero died in real life, they’re going to push this steamer out the door with lower budget effects and cram in all the secondary Marvel stuff that has to be released in this movie to stick to their multi-year plan. They literally don’t have a choice but to push this out the door.
I’d be willing to bet, without knowing anything about this film, that the ‘new’ Black Panther will be a black woman because…why the fuck not double down on woke when you have the opportunity. Source material be damned, even though if we’re totally honest the ‘source material’ in this case was written for children so it’s fascinating to watch grown-ass adults care so much about it.
“I’d be willing to bet, without knowing anything about this film, that the ‘new’ Black Panther will be a black woman”
of fucking course it will
“At least Iron Man and Batman came up with their own gear despite being filthy rich.”
Ya, it makes it worse in the context of those two.
“What exactly did he bring to the table,”
I think we both know the answer to this.
Also, I thought there was some meta fun to the “lets pit the Wakandan’s against a deadly enemy…one that can actually swim!” angle whether subconscious or not. I mean really, Namor? I had glossed over him long ago in the comics as being lame as fuck (people dont shit on aquaman for no reason, afterall) , and this whole plot is just them trying desperately as woke, incompetent writers to make a story happen with no foundation other than 1) Its black people! Its a cultural moment! Women of color! and 2) guilting people into caring about #1 even more due to the death of Boseman.
The sad thing is that these people really cant see it for how trash it is. I remember the scene of Jordan and Boseman at the Oscars, looking at one another, confused, as to why they didnt get the oscar being that every white liberal and critic pandered to them telling them they had created a culturally significant piece of high art, when in reality, it was formulaic copy/paste marvel sludge + more POC + remember slavery/colonization?! #2 will be more of the same. I would bet “slavery” or “colonization” comes up at least once, if not more. They really just cant help themselves.
I’m sure the author would prefer they produce ‘The Adventures of Suderman’. About an intrepid leftist propaganda columnist who transforms into the He/She-Hulk. Where Suderman TRANSforms into a gender shifting rage monster who advances woke narratives, while poorly maintaining a secret identity as a fake libertarian writer.
Everything after Deadpool is unwatchable. Black Panther sucked but it was the key to opening black wallets to merch. WF is just refreshing the profit center.
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This will bomb, and we’ll all be called racist in response.
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Is the film anywhere near as long and boring as this article?
2 hours and 41 minutes. The most entertaining part of the movie is the post credits teaser, but that is mostly so I don’t feel like a racist for thinking WF was garbage
I just want to watch Florence Kasumba.
She’s gorgeous.
Cringe
Social Justice Activist Says White People Must Skip ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ On Opening Weekend: “To Do Anything Other Than This Is Anti-Black” – Bounding Into Comics
Based on this “advice” I decided that I would skip it altogether to maximize the chances for black people to see this movie in the theater for as long as it runs.
Like you, I will skip it every weekend. And every other day.
Social justice activists may post their notes of “thanks” below.
Does vibranium power dildos? How does it compare to unobtanium?
Easier to find. Slightly.
I’m sure there will be a versions of this film covering that subject matter. Involving the BBC.
What, you mean a version involving Downton Abbey or a porn version? 😉
Avatar taught us that, if you have the good skin color, then instead of sharing something you’re not even using, it’s cool to send desperate people back to their homeland to starve to death.
Wokeanda Forever.
You’re welcome.
Oh, btw, when I saw the trailers for The Woman King, I literally thought it was the sequel to Black Panther. I didn’t realize it was supposed to be an historically accurate period piece.
If I were black I would not be happy with Wakanda. Their leaders are decided by ritual combat. What sort of regressive, backwards gov does that sort of thing?
Are you kidding ? I would love to see a death match between Sleepy Joe and the Orange Man. Same goes for the house and senate.
And staking a whole nation’s future on just one product? Where has this gone wrong before? Hint Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.)
They dropped that idea entirely. It was the only way they could get a skinny 20 year old woman into the role of King and Black Panther. So no more of that.
They’re really piling on with this new generation of knock off superheroes. I’m probably done with the MCU at this point, despite the fact it will eventually include the X-Men and Fantastic Four. Or maybe that’s exactly why I’m done; it’s almost certain they’re going to trash those characters. Especially disappointing that the FF will never get a good cinematic rendition at this point.
To be fair, Reed Richards is going to be a very challenging role to bring to a screen.
MCU should have folded after Deadpool and left us wanting more rather than loading up the buffet with steamed Brussel sprouts and riced cauliflower
It’s dumb that I have to log in every few days. This is not a damned banking system.
As for Wakanda, I can’t imagine why Disney didn’t just replace the dead black hero with a living white hero. No one would ever believe a bunch of chicks could lead a nation.
That would be as welcome as a superhero called The Conquistador who rides about bringing heathen societies into the Holy Roman Catholic enlightenment
Wakanda…another fake bit of black history much the same as the fake Kwanza.
It is a comic book so you should temper your petulant claims about a disappointing lack of realism
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