Surf & Turf: “Wakanda Forever” Review

SPOILERS AHEAD, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!

Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a flawed but ultimately satisfactory follow-up to the 2018 smash hit Black Panther. Following the unfortunate passing of Chadwick Boseman, who was exceptional in his role as Prince T’Challa (Black Panther) in the first film, the studio opted not to recast the character but rather give T’Challa an off-screen death from a mysterious undisclosed illness. 

While I respect the tribute to Boseman and respect the writers’ beliefs that Boseman truly defined the character of T’Challa, this decision prevents a further exploration of T’Challa’s rich and expansive comic history. I would’ve liked to see T’Challa fighting alongside the Avengers in the upcoming Secret Wars or appear in another MCU iteration of the Illuminati, both of which seem unlikely to happen any time soon. In Black Panther (2018), T’Challa encountered Erik Killmonger, an American of Wakandan descent whose struggles led our hero to the realization that Wakanda could create global change using their abundance of resources. The story arc ended in the conclusion that the nation should stop being so isolated. Wakanda Forever effectively nullifies the lessons of Black Panther within the first 30 minutes of the film, when Queen Ramonda firmly reiterates Wakanda’s refusal to mingle with the outside world. 

Awkward transitions aside, the film itself is a compelling coming-of-age story that follows Princess Shuri (Leticia Wright) and her journey from “teenage tech genius” and “sister of T’Challa” to becoming Queen of Wakanda and ultimately the next Black Panther. Wright does an astounding job of capturing the witty and rebellious mindset of a princess who is ready to finally leave the kingdom and make her mark on the world. Shuri began the story in the shadow of her royal peers and seemed to like it that way. However, when Tenoch Huerta’s Namor threatens the safety of Wakanda, and ultimately the entire world, the young princess enters the heat of battle. 

Shuri’s development feels natural and justified, primarily due to her friendship with newcomer Riri Williams, a 19 year-old MIT student who just so happens to be one of the brightest innovators in the world. Dominique Thorne’s Williams is swept up in the Wakandan conflict after Namor and the Talokanil discover her Vibranium detection technology.

Her character provides an interesting parallel to Shuri. Both young women are brilliant inventors wise beyond their years, but while Shuri prefers to work in private, Riri values her life as a university student and operates in the outside world. Shuri notices Riri’s desire to return to the world and becomes more willing to branch out. 

Another highlight of the movie is the cinematography. Whether it was the deep water city of Talokan, the colorful, busy markets of Wakanda, or the nighttime FBI chase through Cambridge, Massachusetts, each scene had beautiful visual composition. I especially enjoyed the scene when Shuri goes to the ancestral plain. The purple and pink skies are gorgeous and the recreation of the Wakandan throne room with the surprise reveal of Erik Kilmonger is a wonderful correlation to T’Challa’s scene in the first film. 

Overall, while the handling of Chadwick Boseman’s death leads much to be desired, the movie is Marvel’s best of 2022 and brings a compelling plot, exceptional acting, and superb camera work and VFX.