Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever has already earned 330 million dollars at the box office, making it the highest-grossing opening in November and beating the previous record holder, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (per Box Office Mojo).
Overall, Wakanda Forever has had good reviews, and it is quickly becoming a fan favorite, at least among the phase four pieces. However, the film is not perfect, and in spite of being a stunning tribute to the late actor Chadwick Boseman, there are some faults that Redditors noticed that certainly have validity..
Chadwick Boseman's Palpable Void
Wakanda Forever delivered a powerful and gorgeous tribute to Chadwick in the first minutes of the film, and the fallout of his loss is a major driving theme throughout the film. However, Redditor unsullied69 spoke for many when they said, "replacing Chadwick was impossible. They really did the best they could, but the absence of his presence is just too massive to overcome at times."
T'Challa's void was inevitable, and while the inclusion of Boseman's ing is handled with as much delicacy and care as possible, the switch to a more ensemble-cast focus didn't work for everyone. Shuri becomes the closest the film has to a true protagonist, but it simply didn't work for everyone.
It Bits Off More Than It Can Chew
Redditor Unapologeticmistake commented, "I think the movie had too much on its plate," which is a fair observation. As the Redditor mentioned, T'Challa's death, Shuri's Black Panther mantle inheritance, and Namor's introduction were more than enough for one film. Nonetheless, Wakanda Forever tries to squeeze in other storylines - like Riri's and Everett's, among others - that overflood it.
With at least 12 movies and shows coming in phase five, the Redditor accurately adds, "I don't blame the writers or the directors, I think they just had to include those things to pave the way for other MCU projects." Nonetheless, many feel that the movie could have cut a few side-plots to better flesh out the central conflict between Wakanda and Talokan.
Riri's Introduction Feels Forced
Redditors discussed Riri's character, and while most can agree that she was affable and interesting, it is undeniable that her introduction to the MCU felt a little forced. A lot was happening in the movie, and the context didn't seem appropriate for her entrance, at least according to some viewers.
Maloonyy added, "I'm so tired of these "watch their show later on disney+!!!" characters," and although harsh, they definitely had a point. Riri was covered superficially, and it became evident that she was introduced to promote her character in projects. This would have been fine in any other context, but in a film that emotionally addressed an iconic actor and superhero's death, it felt inadequate.
It Has A Messy Script
Redditor DriveSlowHomie commented, "I think the general consensus is that it will be a visually spectacular film that nails all the emotional beats, but probably a bit messy when it comes to the script," and this prediction did end up being fairly spot on.
Without a doubt, Wakanda Forever, just like Black Panther, has beautiful cinematography. Nevertheless, given the many characters and storylines, the film does come across as messy in places and feels more like an attempt to sort everything out for the next projects. However, the core narrative is engaging and does work, which helps balance the parts that don't quite fit as well.
Wakanda Forever Is Too Long
The observation about Wakanda Forever being too long was not uncommon. Like many other Redditors, Cyke101 said, "It could have been trimmed by 10 - 20 minutes," and gamesgar0 added, "There’s a great 130-minute movie in there somewhere," which is fairly true.
It is still one of the best phase four releases, if not the best, but Wakanda Forever may feel unnecessarily long. There are some scenes that could have been shortened or skipped, mostly surrounding Everett Ross and Riri Williams. However, it is also understandable that with so much on its plate, its length was unavoidable.
Some Scenes Are Too Dark
There appears to be a trend among recent movies and series where scenes are so dark that audiences can't see a thing, and Wakanda Forever is definitely guilty of following it. Not even a big screen like the one in the movie theater could stop fans from squinting.
least convincing CGI scenes in the MCU, and maybe the darkness was trying to cover some of the less developed visual effects.
