First impressions: Black Panther 2 is “fantastic,” “poignant” and “heartbreaking”
By Dan Selcke
The original Black Panther came out in 2018 and went on to become one of Marvel’s biggest hits, which is saying something. It was even nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars! The sequel, Wakanda Forever, was delayed by both the pandemic and because star Chadwick Boseman, who played King T’Challa, died on colon cancer in 2020, necessitating a huge pivot.
First clip from #WakandaForever pic.twitter.com/HIYsO3CMwV
— ScreenTime (@screentime) October 27, 2022
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever held its world premiere the other night. Can the new movie hold a candle to the own without Boseman a part of it? Full reviews won’t be out for a while, but first impressions are coming in. Let’s take a look:
#WakandaForever is fantastic! Coogler delivers a soulful, wondrous sequel that packs an emotional punch & effectively explores relevant world themes. A beautiful tribute to Boseman’s legacy. Letitia & Tenoch are great, & the mid-credits scene is really moving. #BlackPanther pic.twitter.com/dqoSSfnTR9
— Fico Cangiano (@FicoCangiano) October 27, 2022
He’s referring there to Letitia James, who plays T’Challa’s sister Shuri; and Tenoch Huerta, who plays the villain Namor.
Black Panther: #WakandaForever is Marvel's most poignant and powerful film to date. It's heavy and dark in the way that it needed to be, and mostly abandons the studio's trademark tone. The craft work levels up in every conceivable way, and the performances rise to the occasion. pic.twitter.com/aAK7jjRMra
— Brian Davids (@PickYourBrian) October 27, 2022
The movie will deal directly with the absence of T’Challa rather than ignoring it or recasting the part, so a heavy tone is not expected. Wakanda Forever is about grief.
Another reason I’m so impressed with #BlackPantherWakandaForever is #RyanCoogler had the impossible task of trying to make a sequel without #ChadwickBoseman & make it feel respectful but also keep the franchise going and he hit a home run. Going to be HUGE hit for @MarvelStudios. pic.twitter.com/mMd9WFjung
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) October 27, 2022
No spoilers. Wakanda Forever had so many emotions!!! It was creepy and BRU-TAL in parts. Heartbreaking and beautiful. And the fight scenes were WILD. I’m in awe of the care put into representing these cultures. #WakandaForever pic.twitter.com/HHSClXcxoY
— Dani Fernandez (@msdanifernandez) October 27, 2022
WAKANDA FOREVER is a beautifully cathartic tribute to the legacy of Chadwick Boseman. Reminds us of his monumental impact & that he's truly still here with us. Great performances from Gurira, Bassett, Wright & Thorne. Huerta was INCREDIBLE. Loved Rihanna's song & Ludwig's score. pic.twitter.com/9eW6uFwP3S
— Kevin McCarthy (@KevinMcCarthyTV) October 27, 2022
#WakandaForever is outstanding. It handles loss, grief and revenge with a maturity and seriousness rarely seen in the MCU. Black Panther continues to be their crown jewel. Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett and Tenoch Huerta all bring some of the best acting I've seen all year. pic.twitter.com/ECqGxfEyFi
— Lando (@orlandoenelcine) October 27, 2022
Without Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever “sometimes yearns for a heartbeat”
Obviously, most of the impressions are glowing. Even if critics had bad things to say, best keep them to yourself until the embargo lifts. That said, some attendees at least dipped their toe into the water of critique. For instance:
Black Panther: #WakandaForever is as epic as Marvel sequels get. The story is hugely ambitious & thematically rewarding with gut-wrenching twists and turns throughout. You feel the length but it’s fun, wildly beautiful and has the best credits scene in Marvel history, no contest. pic.twitter.com/zD8nYIFKXC
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) October 27, 2022
Black Panther 2 is two hours and 41 minutes long, and apparently you “feel the length.”
A couple of critics noted that the absence of Chadwick Boseman is hard to escape, which is probably part of the point:
Wakanda Forever will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. While Chadwick’s absence is felt, the cast’s performance is phenomenal. The journey and mourning each cast goes through is felt through the film. Tons of action! Namor is fantastic. #BlackPantherWakandaForever pic.twitter.com/C4X6CicZCG
— Wendy Lee Szany (@WendyLeeSzany) October 27, 2022
Black Panther Wakanda Forever makes it clear how precious Chadwick Boseman and T’Challa were to the MCU. Without him, the film sometimes yearns for a heartbeat. It finds it at just the right moments, and it’s exhilarating. I can’t wait to see it again.
— Erik Voss (@eavoss) October 27, 2022
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will drop into theaters on November 11.
Next. HBO Max Green Lantern show pivots to focus on John Stewart. dark
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