Black Panther Wakanda Forever [Movie Review]

 On Grief and Regeneration. A final tribute to Chadwick Boseman

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever takes the best approach to paying tribute to Chadwick Boseman. This sequel is able to describe the people of Wakanda's sense of loss without having to shed tears over King T'Challa's death.

With this decision, Black Panther 2 effectively depicts the continuation of Wakanda after T'Challa's departure. Director Ryan Coogler measures the right portion between the grief of the Wakandan people and their struggle to move from its lowest point. From the start, this film immediately shows the various changes in Wakanda one year after the king's death. The change was seen from all sides, from the country's political stability in front of the world, to the grief of those closest to T'Challa. Even if it doesn't feel like it's being conveyed smoothly in some parts, the method is effective enough to lead the audience to the central issue of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. If the first film was about the struggle for the throne, Black Panther 2 is about something much bigger. One of them is the existence of the Talokan nation, which is also the catalyst for a series of conflicts. Ryan Coogler beautifully depicts the tense relationship between Wakanda and Talokan, complete with foreign policy inserts such as geopolitics, conflicts of interest, and diplomacy wars. Even though it sounds heavy, this film can be enjoyed because of its straightforward storytelling. Coogler also introduces the Talokan people in an intriguing manner, gradually inviting the audience to understand the story of the nation that exiled itself beneath the sea. The Talokan people's introduction is even more impressive with such a beautiful visual presentation, complete with their sophistication in using vibranium. Nonetheless, Ryan Coogler's description of Talokan as a nation isolating itself did not leave a foreign impression. He deliberated carefully on the imprint left on the nation's design and architecture. Coogler also plays on the audience's emotions by showing Wakanda's fragility, while also introducing a 'competitor' who appears to be stronger than the nation that many Marvel fans adore. Furthermore, the film is driven by the grief journey of a mother and her younger sister, Ramonda (Angela Bassett) and Shuri (Letitia Wright). Ryan Coogler did not take the story of Shuri, who is expected to be Black Panther's successor, lightly. Letitia Wright delivers an excellent performance as Coogler. Coogler still has many ways to play with the emotions of the audience in this film. Through a scene, he starts the third chapter of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever with high tension until the end of the story. For me, it is this third act that provides a more satisfying viewing experience than the first film. The audience is treated to a battle between Wakanda and Talokan which is not only magnificent, but also involves complex moral considerations. The struggle between revenge and defending self-esteem with experience is still premature. However, Ryan Coogler does not forget how to smoothly close Black Panther 2, making this film a journey record of a new Marvel hero who has just reached maturity. To be honest, watching MCU films and series lately feels like 'aborting obligations' in order to keep up with the universe's big plot. Until, finally, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever arrives to offer another color that MCU fans are familiar with. I and the other viewers are once again treated to a spectacle with layered problems that frequently shift between moral and emotional compasses. Aside from that, the Black Panther universe doesn't appear to require crossover frills because it can be sturdy and satisfying on its own.