Wakanda Forever Review [WORK IN PROGRESS]

It feels like Black Panther films always drop in the midst of turmoil in this country. Or, this country is always in turmoil, and Black Panther films drop and highlight said turmoil. Mind you, the state of the world and a megabudget movie sourced from comic books shouldn’t be this closely tied – but they are. The difficulty in reviewing Black Panther Wakanda Forever is that there isn’t just a film to talk about. Behind and all throughout the project are the hopes and dreams of people longing to see themselves in a future, any future. The current state of the world at large (and of Black and Brown people) is why Black Panther films, in particular, Wakanda Forever, is a cultural event. A fantasy set this close to reality transcends the art and embodies the politics of the time. In such a divisive political climate, movies like this can set their own fandom on fire, hence the ‘Killmonger is a misogynist’ and ‘recast T’Challa’ movements. Deeper still, the passing of Chadwick Boseman as the iconic and titular character echoes in many ways the many losses in the Black arts community. If you know about his approach to the craft, then you know what he meant to the culture. Symbolically, Chadwick and the role of Black Panther gave Black audiences a powerful vision of potential Black unity and excellence. Wakanda Forever mourns the loss of an avatar of artistic integrity who was intentionally aligned with their civic duty. It’s so much more than a movie. But, in light of all that, we’r…