From the start, Wakanda Forever had big shoes to fill. Not only was it the final film in the phase four saga, but it also had to explain the canonical death of T’Challa as well as pay homage to the incredible Chadwick Boseman. I don’t think the film could’ve ever quite lived up to the expectations that Marvel films held, but it was able to excel in quite a few areas. Overall, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, while a bit problematic plot-wise, is an interesting look at grief and the choices we make when we feel like there’s nothing left to lose.
I’m not gonna lie—the first hour of this movie had me hooked. The first scene of Shuri desperately trying to save her brother, then transitioning to T’Challa’s funeral, then to the silent Marvel logo with a montage of Black Panther was something I’ll never forget. I also loved the scene introducing the Talokan people was suspenseful, intense, and really gave me hope that this would be an interesting new addition to the Marvel universe. But sadly, this intrigue was short-lived. By hour two, I really felt the plot of the film start to drag. The Talokan and Wakandan relationship was not well fleshed out, and Namor’s plan of having Shuri team-up with him to fight the rest of the world or basically destroy all of Wakanda didn’t make any sense. It was such a shame that a movie with such potential depth was bogged down with a weak story. There were a few scenes that would give me hope, like Queen Ramonda talking with Shuri about how to cope with her grief, but in the end, it wasn’t enough to save the pace of the film.
The thing I was most disappointed in, however, was the ending. My first major issue was Shuri’s transition into Black Panther. I was really expecting a moment where I would stand up and cheer, but I found myself feeling like the whole scene was rushed. I was also hoping for something besides the replayed Marvel CGI battle, but that’s exactly what we got. There was even a cliche “main-character protection” moment where Shuri gets stabbed, a clearly mortal wound, and inexplicably doesn’t die. It was so disappointing that such an interesting and unique premise for a film so quickly fell into the same plot faults as other films. Like so many other recent Marvel projects, I feel like this piece could’ve done with six more months of plot work at least.
That being said, I did enjoy the film overall. There were some great scenes tackling grief and loss, and I genuinely feel like the Talokan people could be a great addition to the MCU. I’m only being so critical because of the promises this film made, as well as the past history of Marvel’s great films. I feel like many are being kinder in their reviews toward the film due to the subject matter it tackles and Marvel’s previous disappointments, but it is definitely not a film without flaws. Overall, Wakanda Forever is one of Marvel’s more mature films as of late and although it’s not perfect, is a welcome addition to the MCU as a whole.
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