Short version: I suspect that Earth-2’s version of BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (the one starring a cancer-free Chadwick Boseman) isn’t nearly as good as this one. Instead, we get the movie where the director and writers of a popcorn superhero picture suddenly have to address themes like grief, anger, and loss. Lucky us.
Slightly longer version: I liked BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER, but there’s a lot of sadness in it, and the sadness makes the characters choose poorly at times. I’m not claiming that it’s an extremely deep movie, except by popcorn movie standards. The action is fun and the characters more so (they wisely gave Winston Duke more to do in this one, and he was up to the challenge), but cheerful, this movie is not. I also have some piddling objections to why the Wakandans didn’t simply start dropping depth charges (which is the endgame for any sapient water-land battle), but then it was obvious that the writers didn’t think in TTRPG terms. I can live with the results.
Moe Lane
PS: They explained the wing thing.
I am glad you enjoyed it. The Critical Drinker’s take on this movie suggested the sadness and dealing with grief were the best parts of the movie. He was much more critical about the rest of the movie, however.
I have to admit I am not too invested in seeing this one. If my nephews want to see it over the holiday I will go, but if I miss it in the theater, I don’t think I will mind.