In Wakanda Forever, Ryan Coogler has created a sequel under difficult circumstances that is superior to the first film and also somewhat different to the usual Marvel fare (rather more complex than the standard superhero/antagonist formula). The loss of T'Challa/Chadwick Boseman runs deservedly deeply through the film, not least in the powerful and emotional opening and closing scenes that had some audience members audibly weeping. Surviving grief is indeed the overwhelming theme here, but the interesting thread of responsibility and consequences of choices (developed from the first film) drives the well-constructed narrative in interesting and compelling ways. With T'Challa gone, Wakanda Forever belongs to the female characters, who are formidable talents to watch in this film: Angela Bassett is simply extraordinary, Danai Gurira is an utterly magnetic presence, and Letitia Wright steps up absolutely in her expanded and more mature central role that displays an excellent blend of lightness and depth. It is interesting to use this closer to MCU Phase Four to look back at the first phase of the Infinity Saga; if this group of films has drawn criticism for its lack of evident cohesion, it functions in a similar way to that first MCU batch by introducing new key players that will (most likely) form the next planned Avengers ensemble. However, here the introduction of new antagonist Namor in this final and solo outing Phase Four film is a bold move that pays off, with Tenoch Huerta giving real substance to the character, not just in his physicality and power in the role but also the excellent moments of calm, measured and understated menace as a somewhat more nuanced villain than usual. The introduction of Namor also allows for a new and creative visual palette (for the underwater kingdom and its denizens) to be utilised together with the addition of its South American heritage perspective. It pushes towards three hours but never feels overlong, taking its time to allow the characters and plot developments to breathe in a careful way but always engaging in its storytelling. The film is inevitably more serious and calmer than Black Panther but it still has some well-placed wry moments, and the action sequences are again sharp and energetic, leading to an epic concluding battle that still manages to focus on very personal choices and emotions. To nit-pick, some weak CGI Wakanda backgrounds in particular are distracting like in the first film, but by confronting the sad circumstances of real life head-on, Waklanda Forever is an admirable and very worthy sequel indeed. Note: there is one mid-credits scene (after the beautiful Rihanna song) that is significant for the (presumably very long-term) future of the MCU!
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