[Seulssine] Saying Farewell with Love to 'Black Panther 2'... The Most Majestic Marvel Movie

[Lee Isul's Wise Cine Review] 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' Opens on the 9th

'Black Panther 2' still. Photo by Walt Disney Company Korea

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Women, mourning. The two words can sum up the movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The film was unveiled at a press screening held on the 8th at Megabox COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The gentle smile and passion of the late Chadwick Boseman are missed and longed for, and the return of the Wakanda empire is welcome. Marvel is Marvel. Although the drama has intensified and the thrill of the action has somewhat diminished, the film remains entertaining. A grand Marvel movie where sorrow and love coexist has been born. How will domestic audiences perceive this film?

The sequel to Black Panther, which was released in 2018 and attracted 5.39 million viewers, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (hereafter Black Panther 2) depicts a story that foretells a war for the fate of Wakanda, which faces a great threat after the death of its king and Black Panther, T’Challa (played by Chadwick Boseman), and the birth of a new protector. Actor Chadwick Boseman passed away in 2020 from colon cancer, and Letitia Wright, who played his sister, leads the story. Ryan Coogler returns as director.

The film begins with a funeral scene where the people and family of Wakanda, mourning King T’Challa’s passing, bid him farewell. One year after his death, Wakanda faces threats from powerful nations coveting vibranium. Queen Ramonda (played by Angela Bassett), her daughter Shuri (Letitia Wright), and warrior Okoye (Danai Gurira) stand strong to protect Wakanda. Each with their own mission, they defend Wakanda, the legacy of T’Challa and their ancestors, and their precious homeland. They then encounter the Talokan warriors living in a hidden underwater city. Talokan’s king Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mej?a) is revered as a living god called Kukulkan, the feathered serpent deity. He wears vibranium armor and possesses powerful abilities that allow him to traverse land, sea, and sky.

Namor strives to protect vibranium. When humans approach Talokan with vibranium detectors, he seeks out the scientist who created them. Shuri protects the scientist and tries to safeguard vibranium, confronting Namor. Eventually, Namor takes advantage of Wakanda’s turmoil to launch an attack.

'Black Panther 2' still. Photo by Walt Disney Company Korea

Black Panther 2 incorporates the real-life death of the actor into its narrative. Instead of replacing T’Challa with a new face, the film embraces Boseman’s absence as it is. The movie begins with the production team’s tribute to Boseman. Director Coogler removes background music from the iconic Marvel opening sequence and poignantly showcases Boseman’s achievements. The production team honors the late actor with the subtitle “Dedicated to our friend Chadwick Boseman” during the end credits.

The film moves beyond the world shaped by Chadwick Boseman to actively build a female-centric worldview. The queen, her daughter, the warriors, and even the villains opposing them are all female heroes. The opposing characters are also women. Men serve as supporting characters who uphold the female world. The action scenes featuring strong female characters are captivating. Shuri leads Wakanda, and the welcome return of Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) adds to the excitement. Okoye’s spear and sword action remains stylish and charismatic. New characters like scientist Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) further enrich the sequel’s female-driven universe. This reflects the director’s thoughtful approach. While it may not fully fill the void left by Boseman’s powerful presence, it is remarkable that the female worldview, hinted at in the previous film, is now front and center.

The underwater world of Talokan offers fresh visual appeal. It evokes the ancient Maya civilization. The Talokan people’s appearance?with blue skin, seaweed cloaks, and decorations of shells and beads?feels mystical. The various action scenes that traverse sky and sea add to the enjoyment.

The new Panther suit is revealed, and Ironheart, who succeeds Iron Man, makes an appearance. Ironheart is a genius scientist who entered MIT at age 15 and created her own suit. How appealing these characters will be to audiences remains uncertain. This challenge seems to be one Marvel faces as it closes Phase 4. Thoughtful consideration will be needed on how to portray them in Phase 5.

'Black Panther 2' still. Photo by Walt Disney Company Korea

The film ends hinting that Black Panther will continue. The line “Black Panther has not disappeared” can be interpreted in many ways. The meaning becomes clear after watching the entire film. Running time is 161 minutes. Rated 12 and above. Released on November 9.

Additionally, after watching the film, one might find themselves smiling as memories of Infinite Challenge and Avatar come to mind. Why that is will be understood upon viewing. Such is the charm of Marvel. Although the running time is long, it does not feel overly lengthy. The skill of making an entertaining film shines once again, but it remains to be seen how domestic audiences will receive the drama-heavy Black Panther 2.