Follow-up to the 2018 original bids farewell to the protagonist of that adventure (played by the late Chadwick Boseman), the sovereign of the imaginary African nation of the title, and introduces an antagonist (Tenoch Huerta Mejía) with whom both the deceased king’s mother (Angela Bassett), who now reigns as queen, and his scientist sister (Letitia Wright) must contend. Their adversary is not so much an outright villain as a leader determined to save his race of deep sea-dwelling descendants of the Maya by any means necessary. Like the Wakandans, the people of his civilization have access to an element that gives its possessors prosperity, technological advancement and superior weaponry and both groups have clashed with ordinary humans desperate to get their hands on the stuff. As the two female leads try to decide whether to ally themselves with the powerful newcomer or oppose him, director and co-writer Ryan Coogler uses this Marvel Comics-derived epic to explore how a sense of solidarity can steer characters away from aggression and the desire for vengeance and point them toward peaceable cooperation. But the inclusion of a vague form of ancestor worship into the proceedings makes the film unfit for the impressionable. Look for: Themes of mercy and human dignity. Look out for: Frequent stylized violence, nonscriptural beliefs and practices, glimpses of partial nudity, a couple of mild oaths, at least one rough term, several uses of crude or crass language. The Catholic Moviegoer’s guidance is M – suitable for mature viewers. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
