REVIEW: Black Panther Wakanda Forever, a dive into political conflicts

On Tuesday (8) the Press Booth of the new Marvel Studios movie, 'Black Panther Wakanda Forever' took place at Shopping JK Iguatemi in São Paulo, I was present representing Showmetech and was able to watch the film first hand to tell the experience for you (as spoilers).

The event had the illustrious presence of influencers from Geek culture and correspondents from the most varied news portals and, after the session, we had a productive chat with the Brazilian writer and activist of the black movement. Djamila Ribeiro and with the American filmmaker and journalist David Wilson.

Want to know more about the movie that opens November 10 in theaters? We have prepared a full spoiler-free review for you.

Synopsis

Directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige, we are taken to a Wakanda grieving after the death of its king and protector T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman). The story revolves around Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) and her daughter Shuri (Letitia Wright), facing the dilemmas of a fragile nation that finds it difficult to start a new chapter in its history while having to deal with international and political pressures for having exposed its precious technology and riches to the world. In the midst of so many conflicts, Namor (Tenoch Huerta) appears, king of a mysterious civilization that lives under water.

Dilemmas

Black Panther 2, as it has been called, carries with it complex issues and perhaps a little deeper than the first film. The issue of racism and representation here remains stronger and the script makes us dive into a serious and somewhat dark story - a change even noted in previous Marvel releases. We are no longer just talking about diversity, we are talking about politics, the massacre of cultures and, above all, ancestry. It's a story that doesn't just touch the wound, but drives a stake deep enough for the pain to be felt.

Eurocentrism and colonization

What would happen if a third world country located in a marginalized region proved to be as powerful or more powerful than European nations and the US? Would the world be ready for this shift in power prospects? The plot makes an interesting parallel to issues we already face in the real world: Eurocentrism, political sabotage, and, of course, an America excited to meddle in the domestic affairs of foreign countries.

Luto

The death of Chadwick Boseman in August 2020 raised many questions that put the fate of the hero and Wakanda in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in check. The writers were well aware of this and had to move to give a decent end to the chapter that began with T'Challa and start the next. In this regard, the film is not only respectful of the legacy left by the actor, it is also smart to introduce a realistic narrative about the stages of grief.

All characters suffer in their own way and it is clear on screen how realistic and delicately the feeling is; little by little we understand how this hole is being sewn up throughout the narrative until its conclusion.

character development

The first film, of course, focuses on T'Challa — after all, it's the hero's intro film — and while we're enchanted by the Wakandan nation and all its people, we know little about his day-to-day life and we have an overview surface of their culture, just enough to give us a good immersion.

The second film decides to focus on the inhabitants and each of their problems, their feelings and beliefs, all explored, as well as their worldviews and individualities, after all, they are all Wakandans, but not all Wakandans are the same.

heroes and villains

Here comes a question that can be somewhat ambiguous depending on who watches, as Wakanda Forever presents us with an interesting variety of villains, which can be people, other nations and even feelings. At some point it is necessary to choose a side, but maybe good and bad, right and wrong are not so easy to define, and that may not even be the goal. It is undeniable, however, that the protagonists need to fight a common evil, an imminent danger that they may take some time to understand where it is, and that's where the thing gets really interesting.

References to comics

We have the illustrious presence of the character Namor (Tenoch Huerta), who appeared in the Marvel comics even before Aquaman appeared in the DC Comics🇧🇷 He is the king of Atlantis and often seen as misunderstood, a neutral character who is neither good nor evil. In the comics he was once an ally of Captain America, but is an antagonist of Black Panther, a great choice to bring to the big screen.

The underwater realm of Atlantis is inhabited by a blue people similar to human beings, capable of communicating in and out of water and possessing superhuman strength. Namor means 'vengeful son' in the Atlantean language, but in the MCU they changed the origin of the name to 'loveless'.

Namor is a mutant with wings on his ankles, strength and exceptional healing factor, something that fans - myself included - very excited, rekindling hope for another X-Men saga to come.

Namor vs Black Panther

In the comics, the characters nurture a rivalry that grew over time and intensified. Enmity was born during the saga Avengers vs. X-Men, in it, Namor and other mutants are possessed by the force of the Phoenix and chase the Avengers, who decide to hide in Wakanda. The prince of Atlantis attacks the African country and completely floods it, from there begins a revenge clash between the two where one attacks the other's homeland.

T'Challa, however, was always more lenient and diplomatic, but things with Princess Shuri were different. When she assumes the mantle of the Panther, he begins to invest in more severe attacks, promoting a slaughter in Atlantis in one of the stories.

On movie screens, things were no different: the clash between Wakanda and Atlantis is breathtaking, two millennial nations with issues to resolve.

good surprises

It's a story full of twists and a constant tension, it is not known which direction it will take until it reaches the end, clichés are avoided all the time and even the obvious parts are very pleasing.

Verdict

Note that I didn't mention anything about the long-awaited successor to Black Panther, the truth is that by far this is the least important point of the film, there is so much to pay attention to, so many feelings that are delivered to the viewer that the script would be bullshit worry and find a 'substitute' all the time. Sometimes you even forget about it.

It's an exciting two hours and forty-two minutes from start to finish, you don't get sick, you don't get tired and you feel immersed in a deep narrative full of layers. Marvel is determined to go all out in this new phase and be prepared for a drastic change.

The plot at the beginning is worrying because of the amount of problems that appear in the first half hour of the movie, but, in the end, you have a closed plot with no loose ends. The characters sometimes take questionable attitudes, feel angry and quarrel all the time, but it's a necessary aspect that doesn't become tiring. Another point to highlight is the feeling of gratitude that the film exudes for the figure of our beloved T'Challa and his unforgettable portrayal of Chadwick Boseman, it is a beautiful tribute even in the least important details: he is there, with presence and soul and you feel positive energy all the time, you can't help but get emotional.

It is by far, in my opinion, the deepest, most complete and captivating film of phase 4 of the Marvel and honestly, I can't find if there's a point where I haven't been hit in a positive way, just a warning to prepare your heart and take a handkerchief when you go to watch.

Hey Marvette! Don't forget to check out others news about your favorite heroes and villains and tell me your expectations about the movie.