I cried through the entire movie.
This movie, though a sequel to the 2018 blockbuster hit, is drastically different and more emotional than the first. It’s been two years since the untimely passing of Chadwick Boseman, the incomparable actor who graced our screens for over two decades as so many memorable characters. Ryan Coogler, the director of the Black Panther films, said in a recent interview with Rolling Stone, “Chadwick was so unique of a person that it’s actually hard to understand him if you had never met him or had a chance to see him work…He really was the most unique person that I’ve ever met.” Coogler said multiple times that he would never recast Boseman’s role of T’Challa. As time progressed, Letitia Wright, who plays his intellectually astute younger sister, took to the throne as the protector of her people. Â
Coogler makes this Marvel installment a heavy tune of irreversible mourning. We’re thrust into it almost immediately with the opening scene as T’Challa’s sister trying to save him from an illness and then his glorious funeral procession, with onlookers and family dressed in white regalia. Within the first five minutes, we see that this emotional memorial to Boseman/T’Challa is far from an acting performance. This is real. Â
At this point, the nation of Wakanda is more vulnerable than ever before. While still grieving, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Wright), and their army of supporters begin the fight of conserving Vibranium so that it doesn’t fall into the hands of the outside world. Though foreign countries are a big issue for Wakanda, they have a new enemy whose army is just as strong and fearless. In fact, they barely walk on land. Their King, Namor, is willing to go to war for his people who are descendants of a Meso-American nation who fled underwater to protect themselves against 16th-century Spanish colonizers. Nearly losing their entire population to smallpox and murder, Namor vows to protect the Talokan from all who threaten them. Â
As the audience, we get an incredible history lesson about the damnable oppression that people of color have experienced at the hands of government forces and colonizers. During the release of the first Black Panther, Cooger was interviewed by Rolling Stone and talked about his experience with making movies for the underrepresented. “I liked that feeling as an audience member when it felt like I went on a flight and felt out of breath and I couldn’t stop thinking about it days later. I wanted to make stuff that gave people that feeling – but I wanted to do it for people who look like me and people I grew up with.” Giving praise and accolades to those who aren’t properly represented or represented at all in film and entertainment is often missing from the film industry. Â
What isn’t missing at all from this film is detailed battle moments, Shuri’s astounding technological advancements with the aid of college sidekick Riri Williams/ Ironheart, and even an unexpected cameo from Killmonger himself, etc. There’s more than enough action to go around. There are more memorable characters introduced and more tears to be shed than ever before. Every moment is a gut-wrenching reminder that Boseman is physically absent from the film, but his impact is never diminished. We’re reminded throughout the film, through flashbacks, that his love of his people and the love of Wakanda is long-lasting. Â
Wakanda Forever is just that, Forever in the hearts of audiences across the world. Just as Chadwick Boseman’s life and legacy will forever be in the hearts and minds of the world, and his spirit firmly rested in the arms of his ancestors. Â