Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Director: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Tenoch Huerta Mejia, Martin Freeman
Distributor: Disney
Runtime: 161 mins. Reviewed in Nov 2022
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc

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Rating notes: Mature themes and violence

King T’Challa is dead. His mother rules Wakanda. Foreigners want their element, vibranium. Then, Namor and his tribe of underwater warriors attack and Shuria, T’Challa’s sister takes command.

Chadwick Boseman made a strong impression as King T’Challa, the Black Panther, not only in the film of that name but appearances also in Captain America and two The Avengers movies. This sequel pays tribute to him with pictures and posters of him during the opening sequences, and more at the end to remind us of his pervading presence.

The kingdom of Wakanda is presented as Africa’s most progressive country, and the source of the element vibranium, much sought after by other entities, including some unscrupulous American authorities. The kingdom, after the battles in the previous film, is at peace, ruled over by the late T’Challa’s mother, Queen Ramonda (an always dignified Angela Bassett). Wakanda is also advanced in experimental technology, the realm of T’Challa’s, sister, Shuri (Wright). Eventually, this episode of Black Panther history and action will become hers.

In the meantime, a strange civilisation that can survive under water, led by a strong, sometimes vicious, warrior who can fly, project himself at speed, Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejia), confronts the authorities of Wakanda, especially as to possession of vibranium. (The creatures of this kingdom look as if they might be blue cousins of the realm of Avatar.) So, the scene is set for action-adventure, Marvel Universe-style.

The sequences in the kingdom of Wakanda are visually impressive. There are visits to the UN, Boston and Washington, all in connection with the ownership of vibranium.

While there is development of various characters in the kingdom, especially Shuri, and her friends, associates and the female military squad, the overall audience impression is likely to be continuous battle sequences.

Ultimately, the action moves into the realm of the superheroes, the attack by Namor and his cohorts, the death of the Queen, the mantle falling on Shuri, the technological experiments (including an ability to visit the after-world which includes a sequence featuring the deceased, from the previous film, Kilmonger, Michael B Jordan).

And, of course, this will mean a confrontation between Shuri and Namor.

The ending is not quite as anticipated – Shuri visiting Haiti, and she and the audience discovering more about T’Challa and his family, and the prospects of what future sequels will be like, especially when this story ends with an allegedly peaceful pact with Namor. And, after the final credits, the promise that Black Panther will return.