Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

It’s 7:52 p.m., a couple of minutes before the movie starts. I’m both anxious and nervous. Despite the sweat on my hands, the almost empty popcorn, and the urge to urinate, I remain determined to persevere. The last time I felt this way, I was watching Avengers: Infinity War opening night. The crowd in the theater seemed just as anxious as me—a fantastic sign. I cried a lot. First and foremost, the film is a tribute to Chadwick Boseman, a love letter, if you will. Without going into much detail, this film captures the emotional journey grief and loss can take us through. This film masterfully carries on the narrative of Black Panther. I’m still in shock. Some were clapping and others crying. It felt so great to be among fans. But what really stuck out to me was Angela Bassett's performance. In every scene, she commanded the room with elegance and finesse. She was already one of my favorites, but the way she navigated her character (Queen Ramonda) took guts and showed her range as an actor. Everything from the costumes to the music felt correct and only continued to get better throughout the movie. Like with most Marvel Studios productions, I have to call out the poor and seemingly rushed visual effects as well as the superhero formula we’ve seen time and time again. I left my seat, and this wave of relief overwhelmed me. I’ve never felt this way leaving a movie before, not even for Avengers: Endgame. As I was leaving the theater, I saw a Latino family. Dressed in a Black Panther costume, the child, who looked no less than 10 years old, was flexing for his parents in front of the poster. I shed a few more tears of happiness upon witnessing someone who shares my passion for the Black Panther. As always, go and watch for yourselves. This writer gives this movie 7/10 stars.