My 30th MCU film! Looking back over it the whole situation is staggering really. And that’s not even counting the TV shows. Phase 4 has really struggled though; so much of it feels like exactly what it is – content. Fuel to keep the Disney+ fire burning. A lot of it doesn’t make much impact. For instance, I barely remember what happened in Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
The original Black Panther may not be one of my top MCU films, but it was very important to a lot of people. The tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman left me wondering if a sequel should even happen. But the MCU is a beast all of its own, so something had to be done.
Wakanda Forever mirrors real life, as it tackles the loss of one of the MCU’s heroes head on, acknowledging through it’s story and characters that Boseman’s passing is a massive loss. On that front alone I feel it deals with things with heart, compassion, and skill.
My issues with it stem from it trying to do several other things at the same time. Namor comes with a whole new world and culture to introduce; all of that needs time. But rather than be an important but trim part of the story, like T’Challa himself was in Civil War, Namor is a key part, which in turn bloats the run time. Perhaps with his intro out of the way, Huerta – who gives a strong, regal performance – will get more time to shine down the line without it dragging things out.
Namor’s introduction leaves an impact. Riri Williams on the other hand barely registered for me. She feels like a classic case of “show, don’t tell”, in that she’s absolutely the opposite. The audience is told she’s clever; and we see some results of it. But overall the whole thread feels like a clumsy backdoor pilot situation. I hope that when her show comes round we really get to see what makes her tick, and that she isn’t just a Tony Stark knock-off.
Wakanda Forever is commendable in how it deals with grief and loss. People can approach it in different ways, but that ultimately it must be faced. Not doing so, and clinging onto what was, is dangerous. There are powerful outpourings of emotion, in particular from Angela Bassett. I can see why felt a bit miffed about losing out on the Best Supporting Actress award. She’s so powerful!
So I’ve got issues with the film (there’s a really naff looking super suit), but at least it doesn’t feel like content. Wakanda Forever has something to say, even if it feels at times as though the “Forever” in the title is referring to how long it felt.
Be the first to comment