Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

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. (12/11/2022)

You can really feel the tribute to Chadwick Boseman in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and that's truly touching. However, the storyline itself feels weaker, almost unnecessary when you consider where it ultimately leads. It's also the second-longest Marvel film, which doesn’t help, especially with moments that drag and nearly put me to sleep. There are some beautiful scenes, showcasing how far Marvel has come in recent years, but it's not quite enough by today's standards. The film lacks a central hero and a compelling reason to invest in the conflict between two nations driven by inflated egos. (07/02/2023)

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. (19/11/2022)

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is spectacular and colourful – the characters, the production design, the costumes and the excellent arrangements by soundtrack composer Göransson. But it’s also inordinately long, with repetitive dialogue rehashing the same things, a mighty villain with a weak personality, an underwater world that’s not nearly as sophisticated as the one in Aquaman, and the borrowing of ideas from other Marvel movies that don’t fit here (e.g. Iron-Man costumes and flying in them). The first Black Panther was surprising with its distinctive soul and the compelling African mystique of the ethnic roots of a new, superbly functioning superhero movement. This is still a respectable Marvel formula, but altered only for effect. (06/03/2023)

Compared to the first one, the second film really falls short in many ways. First, the positives: the opening sequence emotionally shreds you, and the tribute to actor Boseman in the credits is a touching gesture. However, after that, it turns into a somewhat bland mix of various elements. The first film drew me in with its unique African atmosphere, but that didn’t resonate here. There’s also a lack of realistic action sequences (the only effective one was the bridge scene). It seemed to me there was an overuse of CGI clutter, especially towards the end. Additionally, the subplot with Namor didn’t work for me; the underwater world felt like a copy of Aquaman (I know that’s DC, but it didn’t fit). The ending was rather laughable. On the plus side, the post-credit scenes were enjoyable. I rate it 5/10. (15/02/2023)