“Wakanda Forever!”

That phrase is chanted several times throughout Black Panther (2018) and is the name of its long awaited sequel.

When I first saw the trailer for this movie, I wasn’t sold. Usually, sequels tend to be overhyped and always leave me wanting more, but this one was just depressing. 

I love how they honor the late Chadwick Boseman at the beginning and end of the film by integrating his death into the story, but I think they go a little too dark with the film overall. There are very few bright moments, and they are usually the fight scenes.

I mean, I couldn’t even cry at the end of the movie. Not because it isn’t sad, but because it is more of a deeply depressing put-you-in-a-funk kind of movie.

The movie has very little substance and feels like a far cry from the prequel. It opens creepy with the people of Talokan attacking boats searching for vibranium. 

This movie also has a major issue with closure. First off, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) firing the lovable warrior Okoye (Danai Gurira) is probably the worst part of this movie. I mean, how could she do that? Okoye has been there for the royal family for years. Then, at the end of the movie when Princess Shuri (Letitia Wright) takes over, she calls upon Okoye for the fight. Still, we never find out if the warrior was reinstated. If the movie isn’t bad already, that move just makes it worse. 

Second, what’s with M’Baku becoming the king? The move now sets the stage for a whole new Wakanda that I’m not comfortable with nor ready for.

This isn’t to say that this movie does not have any positives. It does, but only a few. The scenery is beautiful and awe-inspiring, and the two highly developed cities of Wakanda and Talokan running completely on vibranium is amazing to witness.

The way Wakanda Forever humanizes the enemy is powerful, and it feels like the way they team up at the end of the movie is the perfect resolution (if you ignore the set-up for a third movie where Wakanda is attacked yet again and the people of Talokan are waiting for it to happen). 

But honestly, those are the only two positives I can find.

Let’s just say this: the people up at Marvel Studios better make another movie because there’s definitely some business they need to rectify, I rate this movie a 5/10.

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