Review by Ruth Aman
28 November 2022
One of the year’s highly anticipated films, Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever officially premiered in theatres worldwide on November 11, 2022. After the tragic death of the original Black Panther Chadwick Boseman in 2020, many were eagerly waiting to see this new film and wondering how Marvel would go about honouring Boseman and continuing the Black Panther story. With an abundance of new characters, settings, and battles, this film was packed with more excitement than one could’ve ever expected. Directed by Ryan Coogler and accompanied by a soundtracked produced by Rihanna featuring tracks from some of Black culture’s most celebrated artists such as Burna Boy, Stormzy, and Tems, this film immersed viewers into a vibrant world where community and family triumphs all hardship.
Following the death of Wakanda’s king T’Challa, the nation is now left without a protector of the vibranium and it’s people are left helpless. King T’Challa’s remaining family, mother Queen Ramonda (Angela Basset) and younger sister Princess Shuri (Letiticia Wright) are at crossroads, being pressured at every side, as the people and government demand for a change to be made. Meanwhile, Western nations have now perceived Wakanda as a threat due to the significant amount of vibranium available within the nation. According to them, vibranium is a weapon that can lead to the destruction of humanity. Therefore, the only choice that leaves Western nations is to take over Wakanda and extract all vibranium in order to subdue the threat.
As the royal family of Wakanda attempts to strategize ways of shielding their nation against the West, a new nation emerges with a leader seeking allyship with Wakanda or hostility if Wakanda does not agree to the leader’s terms. And here we have our first introduction to the character Namor. Namor (Tenoch Huerta), also known as Kukulkan, received the ability to fly and survive underwater after his mother ingested vibranium as part of a traditional ritual, all while he was in his mother’s womb. His underwater kingdom is located in the Atlantic Ocean and he has ruled over the people for thousands of years.
The beauty of this film is its uniqueness in showing the connection between Hispanic, Mayan, and African cultures. Especially as stories and legends of old are shared among the Wakandans and Talokans. In regards to the realities that many people of color have, the storytelling and passing down of traditional legends is one thing that many can relate to. We also see the celebration of Afro-Latinos through this film as the incorporation of Talokan into the story allows for more diversity and representation of all Black identities.
Another beautiful aspect of the film is the level of detail and design that was seen in the landscapes and settings that played the backdrop of all that had occurred throughout the film. As one watches the movie they are taken on a visually captivating journey. With an enchanting tour of the underwater city of Talokan and action scenes in settings ranging from air, on land, and in the middle of the sea, the film is sure to encapsulate the attention of audiences of all ages.
In regards to the audience’s opinion, many individuals, Marvel fans and the like, have differing opinions. Some have said that this film succeeded all their expectations and that it properly gave the honor that was due to the legacy of the past Black Panther. Yet, others say that as visually refreshing and as emotional the film was, the plot was average at best. It had some great moments of intense action with many somber moments that all audience members could easily relate to. However, in comparison to the previous movie, there were some occurrences that seemed anti-climatic and did not bring forth the desired outcome that may have been intended.
Each time a Black-led film premieres, discourses arise focusing on the topics of race, gender, Hollywood and more. This was true in the months leading up to the premier of Wakanda Forever. Controversy surrounded the casting of the new Black Panther as many debated whether another man should have taken that role or if letting Wright fill the role was the best choice. Many also were waiting to see how choosing Wright to be Black Panther would benefit the story line. What would be her motivations? What would she have to do to return the honor to her nation? Many are familiar with Shuri as the nerdy girl who creates and invents science for the nation. Therefore, to see her as a superhero was something out of the ordinary.
In my opinion, the choosing of Wright to fill this role forced Marvel to become more creative in their approach to this new phase of the Black Panther saga as they would not be able to rely upon previous comics. Better yet, their final decision led to a stronger sense of representation for Black woman this year in Hollywood. From Black Panther’s Shuri to Woman King’s Nawi black women were seen as powerful, strong, and determined warriors, both mentally and physically.
Ruth Aman is a Project Officer with Black History Ottawa. She holds a Bachelor of Global and International Studies (Honors) degree, with a specialization in Law and Social Justice from Carleton University.