Well, Wakanda had to be re-visited. For me, it was an event one must attend. Even though the circumstances are known & unknown at the same time. Chadwick Bosman as T'challa, Ruler of Wakanda & The Black Panther will not be there. What will this film be like at this point? Well, I sat in a theater and watched how. And I enjoyed it enough to give you guys the Good, the Bad, and the Diva (Head Nod to Andre, the Black Nerd Comedy) thoughts about it.
Good:
Fans of Marvel know that grief is a major character in All their films. I think it is the true Big Bad in some of their works. 98% of MCU characters need grief counseling (Can somebody make Wanda an appointment?). And in Wakanda Forever, Grief is addressed head-on. Even the plan of a traditional timeline of sadness is broken and not followed because, in life, grief does what it wants. T'challa & Chadwick were honored beautifully throughout. There were times the words could not give the sad scenes justice and that is where the actions of the characters livingly touched the heart. Because of death, the movie visits the Ancestral Plain. It was good to what it looks like because of your heart's true intention. This movie handles the importance of the Wankandan Leadership Throne & the Mantle of Black Panther separately. Can one survive if the other is gone? The World knows it & Queen Ramonda knows the World knows it. And the Queen powerfully & deliciously tells the World what it can do with its knowledge. We see a less aggressive but more conscious but still quick-witted M'baku, the leader of the Jabari tribe. I think that helps clear a path for his future. Speaking of humorous banter, the funny one-liners are good. There is even one cultural stinger that I put in my think bank for future reference. And finally, RiRi Williams is a refreshing introduction to the MCU. It was good to see an American that's not evil & greedy. She's just a talented black nerdy girl going to school. I know there is a supposed "known" perspective of what Africans think of Americans of African descent (aka Black) but it's good to see a "not all Africans" viewpoint.
Bad:
*sigh* Marvel missed a wonderful introduction of the X-Men to the MCU with the Mid-Credit scene. That scene also could have given a head nod to a relationship that we all know about. Between basic Marvel comic knowledge & the BET series, I don't understand how the Mid-Credit scene is anything but a failed opportunity. Shuri was not written as a strong lead in a movie. She's intelligent, seen everywhere, and emotional, but still needed a bolder presence. Shuri felt carried around. Also for this movie to be so long, I don't understand why things like the relationship between Aneka & Ayo, Everett Ross's personal life, & the balance of the diplomatic & warrior sides of M'baku weren't fleshed out more. I am not a fan of the anti-hero, Namor. He's a man emotionally stunted at the young age he met the world outside of his very beautiful home. And his view of that world is very limited & he was never truly regretful or learned from his actions. Speaking of actions, there is an unnecessary trope of a death. And it's used to push a character to be their full self. I think a coma or a disability would've been just as effective. I also wasn't a fan of the long but still insufficient plotline of the Talokanil. They were just extra blue people who live with Namor ready to fight when he said so.
The Diva:
African & African descent (aka Black) women are seen as strong, smart, and ruling as well as sad, vulnerable, and innocently confused. We are protectors but also safeguarded. We are counseling but also receiving much-needed advice And I LOVED to see it. I mean a 19-year-old was spoken about as a teenager, not as a grown-up several times. Also, a royal had to put on her HR hat and shift positions around Wakanda. If Ruth Carter doesn't get another Oscar for costume design I will be upset. The pallbearer dresses for Dora Milaje & Okoye's non-uniform fashions look like outfits from modern-day runways. Even the longer outfits on M'baku were chef's kiss. Speaking of covering up the best-looking man in Wakanda, in my opinion, we only get arm sightings from him. He has sitting moments but no "come hither" thigh & leg shots. And it is okay because we have his mental prowess & Namor's body & outfits to make up for that. Namor has a nice swimmer's body & his shorts made me blush. I blushed like I was watching professional hurdlers during a track & field race. Eye Candy won't disappoint.
As I said on social media, I give Wakanda Forever a 3.75. It gave Marvel a got good blueprint on properly dealing with grief (Don't think I didn't notice Phase 4 starts out mishandling grief with WandaVision. I see you Marvel) blueprints point forward. Maybe some professional therapy with be introduced at a later date. But here is the Big But. This movie is not made with Marvel fans in mind, in my opinion. As an MCU fan, I know Wakanda Forever was to close out Phase 4. But this door had a few loud creaks that seriously needed some WD-40. I think this sequel is for people who only like the original Black Panther movie & are very sentimental about the untimely passing of Chadwick Boseman. It is lovingly appreciated but just not balanced.
As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!



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