My Black Panther Wakanda Forever Review.
So I saw Black Panther Wakanda Forever, and here's my review of it...this film was emotional, and I will be honest, it wasn't as good as the first one. Now I know this film was a tribute to Chadwick Boseman. I understand what Marvel was doing, but I disagree with them killing off the character.
(Google Image)
Now the film's opening reveals T'Challa's death, and it will get a very mixed reaction from viewers. However, it did an excellent job of paying tribute to him at the film's ending.
Now the film focus on grief and the kingdom of Wakanda struggling after the death of the T'Challa. The film focus on Shuri, this time as our main lead. Wakanda lost without its ruler and protector, and now they have to face off against Namor and the kingdom of Talokan.
Now I thought Letitia Wright did a fantastic job in this film.
She's one of the best characters in the film.
It's about her dealing with her's brother death and how she couldn't save him.
I loved her storyline in the movie, and she stood out in this film.
She is the new Black Panther. It's not a spoiler if it's not obvious.
I also got praise from Angela Bassett as Queen Romania, who was terrific, and Danai Gurira as Okoye was great too. She had some great fight scenes in the film, and she's one of the best characters in the movie. Also, there's a scene between these two which is a very intense scene.
M'Baku is one of the best characters, but he doesn't have much screen time in the movie, which is disappointing. Still, he's hilarious in the film.
Lupita Nyong'o returned as Naika, and she was great.
You understand her pain of losing the love of her life.
The other cast members, like Martin Freeman, Michaela Coel, and Florence Kasumba, did a good job.
Now the film introduces one of Marvel's first characters, Namor the Submariner, or in the movie, he is called the feathered serpent god.
"Only the most broken people can be great leaders."
I liked that quote.
Now I think Tenoch Huerta did a good job as Namor.
I wasn't a big fan of them changing his origin, but I get it, Aquaman. It's similar to Aquaman's
even Namor came out first before Aquaman. It's a real thing. Look it up.
Plus, Atlantis is not owned by DC. Atlantis is in the public domain. They could still make it Altantis, but I hear it's also because of film rights since Universal still owns the film rights of Namor for another two years.
I was also disappointed that he didn't call himself Submariner, and they changed his name's meaning.
Namor means Avenging Son. His mother named him Namor, not his enemies. It's just lame how they changed that.
Still, Namor had some cool moments in the movie, and he came off as both villain and hero.
Overall I had issues with Namor, but I thought Tenoch did a good job, and I'm glad they revealed he was a mutant. The First Mutant.
The one disappointing thing is we never got to see this.
T'Challa and Namor have one of the greatest rivalries in Marvel.
Sadly Ryan was going to have this in the original script of the second film.
Sadly we know that didn't happen after Chadwick's death or if they took more time to heal.
They still could have done with a recast.
Also, the Talokans were pretty cool, and I loved how Attuma epically introduced himself.
I know some people will make avatar jokes, but hey, this is what they look like in the comics.
Namora didn't do much in the film. Maybe she will appear in a future movie, and I can see Attuma becoming a villain in the future.
Namora was played by Mabel Cadena, and Attuma was played by Alex Livinalli.
Now, this film introduces Riri Williams, aka Iron Heart.
I thought the actress Dominique Thorne did a good job, but I don't think her character needed to be in this film. Now, if you liked Iron Heart in the movie, that's fine. I just feel like she didn't need to be in this film. It was more about setting her up as the next Iron Man.
If you ask me, the movie should have introduced either Storm or Kasper Cole, aka White Tiger.
Now, these characters have more history with T'Challa than Iron Heart did.
Storm has more history with T'Challa because they both had a romance and got married in the comics.
If you look at my Black Panther 2 Fan Cast and Ideas. Storm was in the film, and she would be set up for both setting up the X-Men and the mutants of the MCU. Eventually, marrying T'Challa and having a son with him.
Sadly we won't get this. To be fair, it would feel out of place if you introduce Storm, but there's no T'Challa.
Still, Storm would have been awesome in the film because she's one of the best X-Men, and it would have been a cool way to set up the X-Men. Which I know is working on not till phase 6, no doubt.
If you look at my Black Panther 3 Fan Cast and Ideas or My version two of Black Panther 2.
Kasper was one of those ideas as either White Tiger or the new Black Panther.
I think Kasper would have been an exciting idea to have. The idea of having a non-Wakanda as the new Black Panther would have been a cool storyline to adapt. You could have had a romance between him and Shuri, or he could have filled in as another big brother. If they wanted, they could have made him White Tiger in the film, and he goes back to New York, leading to a White Tiger spin-off.
Now, if you liked Iron Heart in the film, that's fine. No worries.
I feel this character didn't need to be in the film.
Now before Chadwick died, the original script focused on T'Challa
grieving over the past five years since Infinity War. The film would have him struggling as a ruler, and he would have to face Namor too. I wish we had gotten that film instead, but we lost Chadwick. Even though I think recasting would not have been an insult to him but it would honor him.
The film's special effects and action scenes were good, but the pacing was off, and it did drag on a bit. I will admit the movie is not as good as the first one. I don't hate this film, it's a good film but not as good as the first one. Still, this film was a tribute to Chadwick Boseman, but I still wish they hadn't killed off T'Challa. I give this film a 6 out of 10. This is the last film of phase 4, and I will be honest I haven't liked Phase 4 at all, and I'm hoping phase 5 will be better.
In memory of Chadwick Boseman.
The film's tribute to him was the best thing in the whole film.
SPOILERS AHEAD DON'T READ UNLESS YOU SEE THE MOVIE.
Here's what I want to see in the next Black Panther films.
Recast T'Challa with a new actor, but this will be T'Challa is from a different universe.
As I mentioned in my review, I still believe Marvel needs to bring back T'Challa in a future film. Derek Boseman has said his brother Chadwick would want a recast of the role. Winston Duke has also said he's open for a recast only if it's a variant from a different universe. I know Lupita Nyong'o has said no to a recast, and she doesn't like it, and Letitia Wright understands why fans want a recast of T'Challa.
Ryan Coogler made a comment about a recast. He almost considered the idea but couldn't do it. According to him, even if the character was recast and the actor did a great job, it still feels like that's Chadwick's role. I understand where he is coming from, and he is still grieving over Chadwick's death, and that's all right. We all have lost someone very close to us, and we all know that pain. Nate Moore was asked about recasting, and he responded that it's a mantle, but everyone is entitled to what they think of this film.
Nate doesn't look down at the Recast T'Challa petition. That's good because he's not demonizing fans for supporting this petition. He respects and understands why they want a recast. I have so much respect for Nate Moore. I will admit them creating a son of T'Challa did work I actually liked that scene with Shuri and Prince T'Challa.
I think Marvel could have delayed. Again I stand by what I say; I respect the people who made this movie, but I don't think killing off T'Challa in this film was the right way to honor Chadwick, and I have admitted I'm not a big fan of phase 4. Don't get me wrong, the tribute in the film was amazing.
I support the Recast, and I believe in what Derek Boseman said
that Chadwick would have wanted a recast of T'Challa because he saw the importance of this character to fans. As well as I have a lot of respect for the cast and crew who made Wakanda Forever.
Again I have nothing against Ryan Coogler or this film's cast; I respect them all. I disagree with what Marvel did in the movie, and I will admit I haven't liked Phase 4 of the MCU. Except for this movie and Spiderman No Way Home.
Still what Marvel should bring back T'Challa but with a Variant from a different universe who plays a significant role in stopping Kang.
I think a good idea to bring back T'Challa is The Kang Dynasty film.
This film will be about Multiverse, and we will see variants of all the characters.
I think what they could do is introduce a T'Challa who lost everything in his universe.
Kang has destroyed his universe, or he lost his family and kingdom to Namor or something.
This T'Challa is more of a Batman-type character like he's influenced by the Man Without Fear Arc.
He's also known as the King of the Dead, for the spirits of the dead go with him.
He is rescued by Iron Lad, who likely be the only good Kang.
He ends up in the MCU and warns them about Kang.
We see how Shuri, Naika, and the others react to this T'Challa, and he's not like the one they knew.
He's more dangerous, but he's got a good heart, lost a lot, and doesn't give up.
This is a second chance for him to be with his family and be a father to his son from a different universe.
However, I would not have him become King of Wakanda at the end of the Kang Dynasty. He decides not to take the throne because it's not his throne, so he takes Naika and their son to New York, and we see him become a Street level hero because he must prove himself for the throne.
This T'Challa is more warrior than a king, so he must prove himself, but the throne is in good hands with Shuri. However, I can see in the next film that Dr. Doom will be in the next movie, and this T'Challa has a chance to redeem himself and save this Wakanda, unlike the one from his universe.
As well this, T'Challa learns about how the MCU T'Challa, and he does research, reveals that it was not a disease but more of a poison and recognizes it as that form of poison. It's from Latvertia. Thus, this would reveal that T'Challa was actually poisoned by Dr. Doom.
The Doomwar would work as the third film.
If you look at my Black Panther 3 Fan Cast, you'll know what I mean.
Also, if I were to cast this T'Challa, I would cast
John David Washington as T'Challa/Black Panther
John, to me, is the right actor to take over the role of T'Challa, not as a replacement but as a proper successor to the role of T'Challa and to continue Chadwick's legacy. Not to mention his dad helped Chadwick a great deal with acting school. I chose John because of his performances in Blackkklansman and Tenet. This T'Challa, unlike the MCU version, is more of a street-level hero. He's lost everything, his family and his Wakanda. However, he still's a strong warrior, and he is named the King of the Dead because the spirits of the dead go with him wherever he goes.
So that's what I want to see in future films to see T'Challa return, and who knows, it could happen. If it's a variant from a different reality, I can get behind that, and so can everyone else. However, if you liked what the MCU is doing with the franchise, that's fine. Some people like the idea of a son, and hey, they might skip a time and age him up to become Black Panther.
Just giving out my ideas. Let me know what you think.
