Following up the groundbreaking, astonishing success of a film like the OscarⓇ-winning BLACK PANTHER already seemed like a nearly impossible task even before the sudden, tragic passing of its star, Chadwick Boseman, in 2020. Yet, even in the king’s heartbreaking absence, co-writer and director Ryan Coogler has still managed to craft a sequel that is just as good as – if not better than – the original with BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER, especially in terms of its aesthetic.
One could even make the argument that the sequel – which sees the titular African nation at odds with a powerful, adversarial force as they continue to mourn the loss of T’Challa – is the most visually stunning installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe yet and an event that is best experienced in IMAX. There are countless reasons to see BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER this way at your local AMC Theatre, but we have narrowed it down to just three below.
Wakanda Has Never Looked So Vibrant
Among the three Academy AwardsⓇ BLACK PANTHER won in 2019 – also including Ludwig Göransson’s rousing score and Ruth E. Carter’s costuming – the production design by Hannah Beachler and Jay Hart was clearly a shoo-in. In bringing the powerful, fictional nation of Wakanda to life on the big screen, the artists created a gorgeous utopia beyond your wildest dreams that could not have been more beautiful… or so one would have thought.
One of the strongest takeaways from BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER is just how invigorating it is to return to the world of Wakanda and see how much bigger, brighter and even more real it appears this time around. Credit goes to production designer Hannah Beachler’s return, the breathtaking cinematography by Emmy nominee Autumn Durald Arkapaw, the stellar special effects and, of course, the immersive power of IMAX.
Namor’s Kingdom
A definitive sign of a truly great sequel is the way it expands on the world of its predecessor in new and compelling ways. BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER earns that distinction most profoundly by introducing us to new worlds beyond the central characters’ home, and does so through the long-awaited introduction of a fan-favorite character from Marvel Comics.
BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER marks the first appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe of the aquatic anti-hero Namor – played by Tenoch Huerta Mejía – whose Atlantean origin in the comics has been reimagined for the film as the underwater city of Talokan, for which he serves as king. Letitia Wright’s Princess Shuri dons a sub-suit and is guided through the underwater kingdom by the fellow royal himself in a spectacular sequence that words cannot justifiably describe and is made especially grand in IMAX.
More Exciting Action Sequences
Out of the many reasons why BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER is such a visual treat, one key factor is the one definitive element that all superhero movies are unified by: kick-butt action thrills. Ryan Coogler and co. really outdo themselves this time with camera angles, fight choreography and environmental choices that greatly improve on the original.
For instance, there is a brutal, heart-stopping scene in which the Dora Milaje – Wakanda’s special forces unit led by Danai Gurira’s Okoye – lay waste to a group of violent attackers. Later, Okoye, Shuri and Riri Williams – a young genius who comic book fans should recognize as Ironheart, and is played here by Dominique Thorne – engage in a three-way chase against a group of federal agents. That is about all we can discuss before getting into spoiler territory, but they are all well worth waiting to see in IMAX.
BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER is a film that exceeds average comic book movie expectations – not just in the emotional journey it takes the audience on, but also by the transfixing visuals on display. Immerse yourself into the world of the Black Panther on an IMAX screen at your nearest AMC Theatres location.
BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER
