So, I know we are more than halfway through February, but I can’t let the month go by without acknowledging and celebrating the significance of this month. If you do not know, February is not only the month of love but, it is also Black History Month. Being a black woman, I know firsthand how it is to grow up watching only a handful of both movies and shows that represent who you are. Networks such as BET and TV ONE were a safe space for black people to be represented in an authentic way.
Those networks have played a major part in my own creative development. But, it is not lost on me that many of the stories that we were exposed to on those networks and others alike, were rooted in misogyny and trauma. Now, do not get me wrong, the stories told needed to be said. A lot of them did and, still do, mirror the reality of many black people around the world.
But in this new age of cinema, I have to admit I am extremely excited about the emergence of new storylines. Stories that are mysteries, fantasies, sci-fi, and more. And that is exactly why I decided to review the movie Black Panther 2. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, this week.
The Black Panther’s character is just a black person until they consume a transcendental herb that enhances strength and agility, which in turn, gives the character superhero powers. The character originates from Marvel Comics and first appeared in the Fantastic Four #52.
Initial Reaction
As most of you may know, T’Challa was the original Black Panther, who was played by Chadwick Boseman. Unfortunately, Boseman passed away in August 2020 after a battle with colon cancer. So if I am to be genuine in my thoughts, my initial reaction to the new Black Panther was questioning two things. How are they going to honor Chadwick Boseman’s character, and how are they going to pull this off without him?
What I Enjoyed
First of all, let me just say… the beginning of the movie almost broke me down! When Shuri, played by Letitia Wright, was frazzled trying to make a cure for her brother and her mother, Ramonda, played by Angela Bassett entered the room to let her know he was gone???? I think I dropped a tear. That scene and the scenes immediately following it were not only raw but relatable to what grief can really look and feel like.
The sadness, anger, and confusion that come with losing someone, especially when it’s so sudden, really resonated. And I believe that the mourning was not just fictional for the actors, but a reality for them as well. Their true emotions reverberated throughout the movie. I liked that they included T’Challa’s character and did not awkwardly shy away from it.
I also enjoyed the historical references within the movie.
The Talokanil may be a fictional group of people, but the story of their ancestors living on the Yucatan peninsula and being pushed out is based on true history. There is someone out there whose ancestors experienced colonialism first-hand and, they could still be dealing with the ramifications of it, to this day.
The action scenes in the movie were also great. When the Talokanil people were first introduced, they were introduced as sirens, which are mermaids who lure man into death through hypnosis with their beauty and the sound of their voice. They were killing the workers who were helping extract vibranium from the bottom of the ocean. Then shortly after, when Dr. Graham, played by Lake Bell, tried to escape by helicopter, we are introduced to Namor and his close apprentices as they destroy the helicopter, without a sweat!
I assumed at first that the Wakandans were the ones destroying the ship because of the vibranium. But once it was revealed it was not them, I was officially invested because I just needed to know who are these new people? Why are they so strong? How was there vibranium in the middle of the ocean outside of Wakandan walls? And what was the passion behind these planned-out murders? That was a great scene!
The character’s development was also done really well.
For example, we not only saw Shuri go through many phases of grief. But, we also saw her mother going through it as well. The Queen of Wakanda had already lost her husband and now her son, and she still had to be a leader. She had to think of her daughter’s well-being and her kingdom’s. THEN to add insult to injury, Shuri goes missing! Ugh… my heart went out to her. Imagine that happening to someone in real life. That’s a lot to deal with at once.
What I Would Have Changed
Now what I would have changed if I were the writer would be the scenes with Everette, played by Martin Freeman, and Valentina played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Although I understand that the scenes between the two were helping move along the relationship between Wakanda and the US, they did not add much to the plot. We were left with a cliffhanger on how the US would proceed to move forward with Wakanda. As well as, the rest of the UN.
I also thought there could have been a bit more action directly between Shuri and the Talokanil people. When Shuri was given the mystical herb to drink and she saw Killmonger, played by Michael B. Jordan, it alluded to her having a more vengeful or evil spirit within. But I don’t really deem many of the scenes following that evil.
To hone into that side of Shuri, I would have had her side with Namor for a bit.
Have her emotionally manipulate him into thinking that he was right in his approach to take over the world and act as if she was afraid of him and his people and wanted peace. And then I would have her almost kill one of the people closest to him, in front of him.
It would be like a make-or-break moment for her and then the faces of her family would flash in her mind reminding her of who she truly is. I felt the fight scene between Namor and Shuri on that island was a bit lackluster, outside of one of his wings being ripped away.
Final Thoughts
All in all, I give the overall scoring of the movie an 8. I really did like it, it was a good movie. It was just missing some key elements that would have made it a great one. Rest in Peace to our forever Black Panther, Chadwick A. Boseman. And a job well done to our new Black Panther, Letitia Wright.
