Two weeks ago I watched Black Panther: Wakanda Forever for the first time and like four years ago with Black Panther, I was overcome with emotion by the power of seeing so many beautiful, smart, and powerful POC on the big screen. This time, the movie was laced with a new emotion though, grief. Grief and vengeance are at the heart of this movie in a way that could’ve easily felt overwhelming or mishandled. Instead, what transpires is a superhero epic that at times feels grander than most superhero movies.

Every action scene feels a little longer and a bit more visceral, especially compared to Black Panther. Every section of dialogue feels important and interesting, And the music in this superhero film is the best I’ve heard in any superhero movie ever. It’s astoundingly good.

Today I found myself quite often overwhelmed by how powerful this sequel is. After seeing it once already I was expecting to be entertained but ultimately devoid of that initial sense of wonder. Instead, I was even more swept up by this film which is filled to the brim with fascinating characters.

More importantly, what this movie does for Shuri, a character who lingered comfortably in T’Challa’s shadow, is brought to the forefront in an emotionally powerful way and Letitia Wright absolutely nails her performance. She’s not the happy little princess who’ll crack a joke at any second we met in Black Panther. In this movie, she is transformed into a woman molded by grief. Her story in this film is one long rollercoaster ride culminating in an emotional post-credits scene that’ll have you reaching for tissues as fast as you can.

People are celebrating Angela Bassett for her performance and rightfully so but I don’t think people are giving Letitia Wright enough props. What she does in this movie, the personal journey that she experiences, is honestly one of the most profoundly moving journeys I’ve seen for any superhero. The only superheroes that I can think of who had such a transformative journey in one movie have to be Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight.

Gosh, I’m going to be gushing out this movie for a while, and honestly, I’m happy about it. I didn’t expect the sequel to be better than its predecessor but it is! I’m still reeling.

I’m most likely going to see it again next weekend because I just can’t seem to get enough of this movie.

I thank you for reading and I hope you have a fantastic day.