Wakanda forever

Black Panther 2 astonishes audiences

By Aadya Kuruvalli | Opinions Editor

“Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever,” released Nov. 11, is a beautiful tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, who played the titular character in the original “Black Panther,” as well as an homage to the women of the first movie, who put on the performance of their lives.

“Wakanda Forever” centers around the lives of the supporting cast of “Black Panther” after the death of King T’Challa, the Black Panther.

At the end of the first move, the Black Panther opened up his nation, Wakanda, to the rest of the world. By doing this, he inadvertently unleashed a race between other nations to find vibranium, the most powerful metal on Earth, found only in Wakanda.

In the new movie, Americans discover vibranium under the ocean, away from Wakanda. However, they soon discover a new kingdom under the sea, led by a brutal king named Namor. Namor asks the Wakandans for help protecting his country from other nations seeking vibranium.

The production quality of the movie was one of its most alluring aspects. The cinematography was on par with the first movie’s, and the music was an amazing addition to many of the scenes. I enjoyed hearing Rihanna sing again in the end credits.

Another aspect of the movie I enjoyed was the acting. Angela Bassett brought the character of Queen Ramonda to life so vividly she had the audience grieving right alongside her. Another notable actor in the film was Tenoch Huerta, who delivered a beautiful performance of Namor, a brutal and complex antagonist.

Of course, Letitia Wright stole the show. Her performance as Shuri was so raw and moving that some of the friends I watched the movie with were in tears.

“Wakanda Forever,” at its core, is about grief and the consequences of revenge, a theme carried on from its prequel. Wright’s portrayal of Shuri beautifully captured the grief of losing a loved one, but also brought to life a strong woman in the princess and carried on the Black Panther’s legacy.

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” is not only an astounding tribute to Chadwick Boseman but also a beautiful depiction of culture and tradition. From Namor’s backstory, set in the age of Columbus, to the funeral traditions of Wakanda, “Wakanda Forever,” puts lesser-known cultures into mainstream media, much like the original “Black Panther” did.

As an avid fan of superhero movies, which tend to be hyper-focused on America and white superheroes, I loved seeing these cultures done justice in a blockbuster film.

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” is a must-watch film and one of the best of the year. The soundtrack, cinematography, acting and storyline make it a movie anyone, Marvel superfan or not, should watch.

I think this documentary had its flaws because it did not answer the question of who Gomez remains close with, but overall, I enjoyed “My Mind & Me” because it gave me an inside look at someone I used to watch and idolize.

I grew up watching and loving Gomez as Alex Russo on Disney’s “Wizards of Waverly Place.” Seeing a child star I used to love speak so openly about her struggles with mental health made her seem so relatable.

As Gomez opens up, viewers feel more connected to her and finish the documentary better understanding their own trauma and struggles. While the normal viewer is not a famous pop or movie star, the last few years have left few of us untouched by crisis, anxiety and suffering. In this vulnerable documentary, Gomez gives us great storytelling that hopefully will move viewers to examine their own power and the depth of their roots as we all work to understand ourselves a bit better.