I'm going to save my usual pre-amble nonsense and just jump into my review of the movie while it's fresh in my mind. Did I love the movie? Yes! Was it better than the first one? Well, no, but that's not a bad thing. It's different. I would give it a 9/10 if we want to put numbers on things. That first movie was fueled by the unmistakable charisma of the late Chadwick Boseman.
We are at a unique moment right now. I've never recalled an actor being so closely tied to a character that his actual death was tied into a movie that felt like a loving eulogy. Chadwick Boseman is clearly missed and this movie does not shy away from it. There is such a palpable sadness in the beginning of this movie that is really a gut punch. There is a long moment of silence for when the Marvel logo pops up and I want you to pay attention to it because it is different.
Let this be a warning to you, there is a lot of emotional, gut punches in this movie. Did I cry a bit? I would be lying if I said I didn't. Beneath this sadness, there is a beautiful movie with a lot of poignant touches. I re-watched the first Black Panther movie before this and I forgot how many themes were running through it. In this movie, that trend continues. This movie has something to say and it is way more than just a super hero movie to some of us. I can't properly express the depth of sadness we feel watching this movie that almost becomes too much at times. It is painful to watch our people suffer because we know that suffering. We feel what the actors feel in this one.
In the story, we have two uniquely ancient and powerful nations that come to odds with each other. I LOVED what they did with Namor and his origin here. Tying him to Aztec culture and history makes him more relatable and gives another chance for marginalized people to see themselves represented in a big budget movie. There is a rich and sad history for Namor's people and you will empathize with him. This movie is secretly a Namor origin story and launch point. Tenoch Huerta is a delight on the screen. Equally charming and menacing.
My hope is that indigenous people have a chance to see themselves represented on screen the way we as black people did in the first movie. Also, each of us have our own signature greeting we can use in real life.
This movie deals with loss and how one can rise above it. All the characters deal with it in their own way. Wakanda and the newly introduced city of Talokan, Namor's city. Each setting is beautifully rendered and represented.
I would be remiss if I didn't call out the outwardly strong, black female cast in this movie. They all get to shine and it was one of my more favorite aspects. Angela Bassett is still out here doing her thing and reminding you who she is. She is fantastic and a force to be reckoned with. You can not take your eyes off her when she is on the screen and seeing her go toe to toe with many different invading nations, on the battle field or in a political setting. The movie is also about Shuri's arc, as she deals with the death of her brother. Then we have Okoye and Nakia, not to be outdone but also get a chance to truly shine in this movie. Last, but certainly not least. The Dora Milaje. A fighting force like none other. The Black Women are front and center here and all the men are pushed to the back and it is refreshing. M'Baku is fantastic as usual, but he is more of an advisor to Shuri as she goes on her journey.
There is so much more I want to say, but I want to keep this as short as possible so that you all get to see it. The battle scenes are sweeping and beautifully shot. I'm deliberately ignoring all the extra characters we get introduced, not because they're not important, but I don't want to color your opinion. This is another cultural moment and Ryan Coogler should be celebrated as a genius for the way he respectfully shows each of these cultures, giving them proper space to breathe and bringing up different topics that can lead to poignant discussions. It opens the door for more characters to be birthed from this rich tapestry he's created. This man deserves his props and so much more.
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