Wakanda Forever mourns loss, develops new protagonists, explores political conflicts, establishes a new villain, and connects to the MCU. Some of these goals tonally clash, but Wakanda Forever finds a balance. Specifically, T'Challa's passing is graceful, especially the moments of silence that transcend the film. Meanwhile, the politics are more intentional, conveying an earned theme of pacifism. Furthermore, because it opens with loss, Wakanda Forever sincerely builds off of drama. Consequently, characters are motivated, acting is vulnerable, humor is restrained, and relatability is enhanced. The script is bloated and momentum is slow, but emotions and messages are surprisingly clear.
Technically, Wakanda Forever is proficient. Its visuals use continuation, focus, and lighting for intimacy. The CGI is inconsistent but elaborate. The production design of Wakanda is more thorough and the new civilization is decent. The thinner cast remains experienced and progressive. Its music is experimental, sober, and employs a siren lullaby. The sound design is emotional, symbolic, and complex, adding distortions, stings, heartbeats, echoes, and voiceovers. Finally, the editing is overstuffed and the runtime is lengthy, but intercuts, passing cuts, inserts, cuts to black, and cooldowns soften those problems. Ultimately, Wakanda Forever is too ambitious, but its heart is well executed.
Writing: 7/10
Direction: 7/10
Cinematography: 7/10
Acting: 8/10
Editing: 6/10
Sound: 9/10
Score/Soundtrack: 9/10
Production Design: 8/10
Casting: 9/10
Effects: 7/10
Overall Score: 7.7/10
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