Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

A more sweeping and darker sequel. It was similar with Captain America: Winter Soldier, but the more expansive story and the varied motivations of the main characters worked better there, it was tighter and more dynamic as a whole. The second Black Panther has a massive runtime. It wants to say a lot, give lots of emotions and show different worlds and the characters that inhabit them. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t. Most of the time it felt like a mix of Avatar, Aquaman and any random adventure movie set in Africa. It is bearable, but not worth a second visit to the cinema. (11/19/2022)

Flamboyant costumes, set design, make-up, dancing, performances, and all this over and over and over again. The plot begins as simply, unnecessarily and built on scripted crutches as it is resolved in the finale. And it doesn't really matter, because Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is nothing more than another padding link that has no significance to the franchise other than introducing new characters that can be used in the future. The 160 minutes are a total blowout, because Ryan Coogler practically got a blank check to do whatever he wanted. To its credit, it doesn't try to throw in a joke every 5 seconds like Thor: Love and Thunder, but even so, the little bits of humor here are embarrassing to the point of sticking out like a sore thumb over the rest of the film. Visually it's nice and it can entertain the audience, but for me it's a largely useless film, or nothing more than the essence of the whole lame Marvel Phase IV. Useful note: There’s no post-credit scene, go home. (11/10/2022)

I admit that I am giving it the fifth star mainly for how touching it is, and in memory of Chadwick Boseman. Objectively, the second Black Panther is slightly worse than the first, and it's not because T'Challa is missing, but because something is superfluous. The running time seemed to me too generous (read excessive) for what actually happened. Yet a few dozen minutes (and some not so good CGI) less would have made for an excellent action film with a believable political plot and memorable scenes such as the Queen's speech at the UN. Nevertheless, the production design is a feast for the eyes, the music is a feast for the ears, and the new characters certainly have a lot to offer the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the future. (11/12/2022)

Black Panther died from COVID and his mum and sister have to look after Wakanda. Coogler presents a sprawling project with many supporting themes in a very terse way. He jumps from scene to scene and the plot rushes instead of flowing. T'Challa's absence is especially noticeable in the moments when the film needs to breathe. The lighthearted jokes and would-be catchphrases of the girls during Iron Heart's introduction, in the context of Bossman's death, feel like a caress against the grain. Everything of course is saved by Namor and his Atlan... Mayas. Tying the new empire to Central America and their rich culture was a very cool idea. Huerta is awesome and I'm really looking forward to his next stint at Marvel. The final scene, where Kukalkan explains that those dickheads will eventually antagonize Wakanda, and then the fun will begin, is very impressive. The sister's scene from beyond the grave is chilling, and the action and the one-to-one fight works quite well. So it's a shame about the inconsistent introduction. The music is a chapter unto itself. Goransonn outdoes himself, the theme of the new Panther is unexpectedly brutal. (11/15/2022)

A modest, sensitive, and respectful tribute to an icon, who for inexplicable reasons appears in a movie that lasts three hours. Sometimes less is truly more, and I could have done without several of the action scenes. Whether it was due to budget constraints or the difficulty of filming, the first half of the film practically takes place in darkness, shadow, or underwater every time there's a fight or something particularly dramatic happening. I can't explain how a last farewell to Chadwick Boseman, a therapeutic guide to coping with the loss of a loved one, a political thriller, a battle of empires, and an effort to overcome one's own shadow can all work together, but somehow it does. Maybe thanks to the phenomenal Angela Bassett, maybe thanks to the long-awaited, but inevitable, appearance of the titular suit. 70% (07/07/2023)