The Mosley Review: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Phase 4 of the MCU has been filled with a lot of uncertainty in direction. The common theme that has been ever present since the series WandaVision, was how we as human beings deal with loss. It has never been more clearer than the work that has been done to honor not only a hero, but a good man. 2 years ago we lost a shining star that not only inspired others, but also devoted himself to putting out the message of "The suit means nothing if the person wearing it doesn't do good with the power of responsibility it brings." This film pays tribute to the great Chadwick Boseman and lays to rest T'Challa in such a beauitful and compassionate way. It was one of the most respectful and emotional funerals to ever grace the silver screen. What transpires after is the rest of the stages of grieving and too say it was powerful is an understatement. The story continues for the titular character's legacy and although it may not have been perfect, it was a great continuation and exploration of the world underneath our soil. The many times this film addresses the themes of colonization, the constant attempts by ours and foreign governments to depower minorities and black pride is all the more palpable. I loved every bit of it and I liked that the film had so many layers in between the otherwise predictable moments of the story. Even with all of that, there were some glaring flaws that kept the film from being something on the same scale of quality the predecessor was and it suffered heavily. The actors in this film did an amazing job carrying the legacy forward in such a difficult time.

Letitia Wright reprises her role and takes the lead as Shuri. I loved that there was so much conflict within her soul as her world was turned upside down from the passing of her brother. Her growth throughout the film was expertly performed and emotionally charged as she navigates her grief and the growing power vaccum. Letitia gives Shuri so much more depth this time around and she rises to the task of carrying the Black Panther legacy forward. Angela Bassett returns as Shuri's mother and Queen of Wakanda, Ramonda. Angela has been a powerhouse of an actress for 40 plus years and she once again proves why she is the best of the best. The weight of Ramonda's sons’ passing, governments and other outside entities attempting to take away from her nation was devastating to witness and you feel it in every scene. Her chemistry with Shuri was the strongest part of the film and I loved her commanding presence in the face of danger. Danai Gurira was awesome yet again as Okoye and I loved her strong presence and humor this time around. It was well placed humor and her relationship to Shuri and Ramonda was enhanced 10 fold. Winston Duke was yet again fun to watch as M'Baku. He still manages to steal a number of scenes, but this time around M'Baku is more wise and thoughtful than reactionary. It was an evolution of the character that I did not see coming. Lupita Nyong'o was great as Nakia and it was good to see her back, but she almost felt like an after thought once her bit was done when the story needed her. Martin Freeman returns as Everett K. Ross and his loyalty to Wakanda is another highlight of the story. Tenoch Huerta Mejía makes his presence known as the new antagonist Namor. I liked his charisma and backstory, but I felt he was not as intimidating as he could've been. He is basically the master the ocean and he should feel more dangerous, but I didn't get that from him. His chemistry with Shuri was good and I liked the design of the character. Dominique Thorne was not bad as Riri Williams. She was fun at times, but ultimately unnecessary to the plot of the film. She was very one note and really didn't have an arc. She suffers almost the same problem America Chavez in the recent Doctor Strange film. She is being pushed to open a new window in the MCU, but without any sense of depth or relevance to the story she was introduced in.

The score by returning composer Ludwig Goransson was amazing and creepy at times with the siren song of Namor's people. This film is visually stunning and I loved the new landscapes and underwater kingdom that is showcased. Like I said the film opens in such a powerful way, but then the film starts to dwindle in quality of storytelling and stretched out action sequences that are very questionable and messy in execution. There's a character that gets impaled by a spear and they pull themself free from it and there's no blood on the other piece of the spear. I get it that its PG-13, but lets be a little more realistic if you want these films to be so grounded and represent our world in some form. The morality tale within the film sometimes get muddied and forced with certain character choice that felt weak and unworthy. That's basically all I can say without spoiling anything else. Overall, this film was a wonderful tribute to a great man whose life ended way too soon. The rest of the film was messy at best, but still better than the worst of what the MCU has to offer. The 1 end credit scene does leave on a heartwarming note with a bright possibility for the future. Let me know what you thought of the film or my review in the comments below. Thanks for reading!