HCA Gradebook: “Halloween Ends”
May 12, 2023
HCA Gradebook: “The Menu”
May 14, 2023
Movie: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Plot: The people of Wakanda fight to protect their home from intervening world powers as they mourn the death of King T’Challa.
Cast: Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Tenoch Huerta, Angela Bassett, and Winston Duke
Director: Ryan Coolger
Release Date: November 11, 2022
Studio: Marvel Studios
Number of Graders: 38
HCA Overall Grade: A
Nikki Fowler says, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is absolute fire with incredible action, extremely refreshing and modern music, awesome landscapes, and a fierce and deeply emotional story paying homage to Chadwick Bosman. Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, Michaela Coel, Lupita Nyong’o and Tenoch Huerta are all epic. It was refreshing to see such amazing action sequences and fight scenes with so many Black female actresses proving again that they can hold their own in a Marvel film. Yes, please, we want more. Tenoch will woo audiences with his extraordinary acting skills giving powerful Thor, and Hulk vibes. His presence at times reminded me of my younger self seeing Zod, Ursa, and Non for the very first time in awe. He gave that much weight to his character, making him one for the books as he brings out the big guns in his overall presence in his action and underwater scenes. Rihanna’s new music will soothe your soul.”
Grade: A+
Lyra Hale says, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a balm to the very soul that puts Black healing front and center, while also inviting Latine people to the stage, so we can all move forward in this journey towards meaningful representation. It’s a movie about community. About all our people. And how once we process that loss, push through the grief, and hold onto those around us, we can move mountains.”
Grade: A+
Catalina Combs says, “The best film I have seen all year. The story, the acting, the music, the cast, the cinematography, the special effects…Everything is on point for an emotional and poignant film. The fact that it’s a Marvel comic book film is a bonus.”
Grade: A+
Kathia Woods says, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is about coping with grief but learning to move forward. It’s also about learning that you’re not the only one hurting. Many have felt loss but coming together to overcome pain and loss is the best medicine.”
Grade: A
David Gonzalez says, “Coogler makes the impossible possible with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. An emotionally powerful and cathartic cinematic journey of loss, grief, and moving forward. Tenoch Huerta, Angela Bassett, and Letitia Wright are the vibranium of the film: magnetic, powerful, and lasting.”
Grade: A
Michael Lee says, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is an emotional tribute dedicated to Chadwick Bozeman and sweeping superhero epic that expands the MCU in unimaginable ways. Though it’s slightly bloated in its exposition, it is a beautiful film that humanizes superheroes by examining how they process grief after a painful tragedy. Tenoch Huerta’s performance is astounding!”
Grade: A
Mike Manalo says, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ups the stakes on its predecessor by telling a rich and complex story about two civilizations that are neither right, nor wrong, yet serve as examples showcasing how the nature of grief, anger, and revenge can lead to a darker path, and yet understanding, mercy, and strength, can ultimately lead to growth and peace. Coogler along with his terrific ensemble enables you to feel for these characters, as your hearts break with them through this emotional roller coaster of a film. The beauty of the film is that, despite the loss of Boseman, his spirit is in every inch of this movie, which is about T’Challa as much as it is about the rest of Wakanda. And though it’s not as fun or breezy as its predecessor, for that reason above all, Wakanda Forever stands as one of the most powerful films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the best film in Phase 4, and a fitting tribute to the legacy of Boseman. Chad would be proud.”
Grade: A
Greg Russell says, “This movie was a tribute to Chadwick Boseman. Like a real family, it shows how we must pick up the pieces and move forward without forgetting our past.”
Grade: A
Nicole Ackman says, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a fitting end to a chapter of the MCU centered around grief and dealing with loss. It’s also an impressive sequel to one of the best Marvel films, with Ryan Coogler’s direction once again bringing it into the upper echelon of superhero movies. Performances are strong all around, but particularly from Letitia Wright and Danai Gurira, and the costumes and production design are beautiful. The film is a beautiful tribute to Chadwick Boseman’s passing.”
Grade: A
Vanessa Armstrong says, “In the wake of Chadwick Boseman’s death, Ryan Coogler did what seemed impossible – a story about grief that pays tribute to Boseman that is also full of humor, joy, and big comic book moments. It’s one of the best MCU films we’ve seen in a while, and one that’s also one of the better films of 2022.”
Grade: A
Aaron Neuwirth says, “It would be impressive for director Ryan Coogler to merely accomplish some of the goals required of him to get close to the success of 2018’s Black Panther, yet here we are with a large-scale sequel brimming with life, adventure, and the sense of wonder these Marvel films so rarely achieve. Even if the demands of a franchise can leave this 161-minute film feeling a bit overstuffed, the effort to deliver a sincere superhero feature gives further meaning to the chanting of “Wakanda Forever.”
Grade: A-
Ricky Valero says, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is the perfect follow-up to the original. It has everything a comic book movie needs, high stakes, a great villain, fun action sequences, and killer performances. I loved this movie and I can’t wait to see it again.”
Grade: A-
Maggie Ma says, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever not only deals with grief and loss but also continues its topic from the first film about diplomatic relations that asks the question is violence the only way to solve problems and fix anger? At the same time offered us a beautifully designed undersea world Talocan and a complex villain. I do think it’s the best film in phase four of the MCU.
Grade: A-
John Nguyen says, “Ryan Coogler has knocked it out of the park with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It’s a triumph and an emotional tribute to Chadwick Boseman. Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright, and Danai Gurira were phenomenal. Tenoch Huerta as Namor is a force of nature.”
Grade: A-
Nick Spake says, “Black Panther was an unprecedented phenomenon. Before Black Panther: Wakanda Forever even started shooting, it faced an unprecedented tragedy. If Wakanda Forever was even half as good as the first film, it would’ve been miraculous. Ryan Coogler pulls off a herculean effort, delivering a follow-up that honors Boseman while continuing Wakanda’s history.”
Grade: A-
Josie Meléndez says, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a sublime addition to the MCU’s filmography. While it does have its narrative issues by reminding us it is in fact part of a franchise, the film is strong enough to stand on its own, entertain, and deliver a shining tribute to not only Chadwick Boseman but to the cultures, it uplifts. The first Black Panther did a wonderful job of showing the possibility of people being unaffected by the harm of colonization, and they were able to add another thriving civilization with the same fate. It was difficult for me to come out of this film and not be mesmerized, especially by the showstopping performances of both Angela Bassett and Tenoch Huerta. Let’s not forget the astounding cinematography and hauntingly profound soundtrack. See it on the biggest screen possible!”
Grade: A-
Danielle Broadway says, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is more than the average comic book movie. It pays homage to the late Chadwick Boseman and everyone that has lost someone or something that’s a part of who they are. It delves into the complexities of colonialism, marginalized identity, and how Black and Brown people are often forced into conflict by structural forces in society. It hits some awkward snags, but is undoubtedly the highlight of Marvel Phase 4.”
Grade: A-
Anthony Digioia says, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a heartwarming journey and easily the most emotionally commanding film in the MCU. It celebrates life, explores the channeling of grief, and manages to seamlessly fit it all into a sequel filled with feverish action set-pieces, fantastic performances, and a menacing villain with compelling motivational layering.”
Grade: A-
Maggie Lovitt says, “Ryan Coogler delivers a welcome, yet somber, return to Wakanda with an exceptional cast to explore the many facets of grief, revenge, and the long-last effects of colonialism through a fantastical lens.”
Grade: A-
Alexander Robinson says, “Making a follow-up to a worldwide phenomenon like 2018’s BLACK PANTHER was not going to be an easy task, especially with the tragic passing of its lead actor Chadwick Boseman. However, Ryan Coogler, Kevin Feige, and the entire cast and crew managed to pull off not only a great sequel that is also the perfect culmination of Phase 4’s ongoing themes of loss, grief, and learning how to move forward after a tragic event. Every single actor in this movie gives it their all, especially both Letitia Wright and Angela Bassett who deliver Oscar-worthy performances. Tenoch Huerta as Namor makes for a great MCU villain that can stand toe to toe with Killmonger from the previous film. Though it might run a little too long and the inclusion of Riri Williams/Ironheart doesn’t feel completely organic to the rest of the movie, this is an incredibly powerful film that honors the legacy Chadwick Boseman left behind while also looking forward to the future of this sub-franchise of the MCU.”
Grade: A-
Clarence Moye says, “A touching tribute to Chadwick Boseman and a mostly entertaining push forward for the MCU. The film is a little too long, but many of the action sequences are truly stellar. The best MCU film of the year.”
Grade: B+
Terence Johnson says, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is certainly a lot of movie and a fitting tribute to the legacy of Chadwick Boseman. While some mileage may vary with the pacing and plottiness, the movie does provide a thrilling entry in the saga of Wakanda.”
Matthew Creith says, “The heart of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” comes from the comic book-driven storylines and deserved attention on its female performers. Coogler is at his best when the women around him drive the story forward in new and exciting ways, taking a blockbuster and forcing it to ponder profoundly on ancestry and moving on beyond heartbreak. This sequel acts as an uplifting reminder that grief is real and losing someone close doesn’t mean losing all hope in the power of community. While the film is packed with a few too many characters and extended narratives for my liking, it is one of the better entries to Marvel’s growing film catalog in recent years.”
Grade: B+
Mark Johnson says, “Drenched in vibrant color, every frame of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever feels like a masterpiece worthy of our gaze. Affecting, tender, and full of heart-pounding thrills and excitement, Coogler and the team have produced the rare sequel that not only lives up to the original but raises the bar in a tremendous way. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is the phoenix rising triumphantly from the ashes of Boseman’s tragic death, and includes, perhaps, the most powerful post-credit scene of any Marvel movie. It is such a beautiful moment and one that puts an exclamation mark on the decision to not recast T’Challa, but instead accept that death is a part of life, even in the world of superheroes.”
Grade: B+
Patrick Stoner says, “It has the emotional power of the original compounded by the loss of Chadwick, so its fans will be ready to like it. The money poured into it shows, but it’s largely sound & fury signifying sequel.”
Grade: B+
Zoë Rose Bryant says, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a super-stuffed sequel that’s a little too long, but it’s a miracle to see a Marvel movie this well directed and shot, and when it hones in on its central themes about how consuming and corruptive grief can be, it transcends. Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, and Tenoch Huerta are the standouts of an exceptional ensemble.”
Grade: B+
Abbie Bernstein says, “There is no forgetting Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa, who has screen time courtesy of retrospective clips. Here, director/co-writer Coogler calibrates well – we share a sense of heartbreak, but are not so overwhelmed by it that we can’t take pleasure in this imaginative adventure.”
Grade: B+
Sara Clements says, “I’m amazed at what was achieved without our Black Panther. Wakanda Forever is a beautiful and touching ode to Boseman. I love its emotional and universal themes of family, loss, and how grief can consume us. It does feel overstuffed which took me out of it a bit but the production design, performances, and action are superb.”
Grade: B+
Samuel Leggett says, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is easily the best Marvel film since Avengers: Endgame. The scope, the camera work, the acting, and the raw emotions on and off screen can be felt throughout! This is the Marvel I’ve missed! I had one word in my heart all night; “WOW…”
Grade: B+
Don Shanahan says, “Viewers and fans will contemplate whether Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was the best Ryan Coogler and company could have done with their tragic circumstances. They will wonder if this pivot and royal escalation was the right approach. At some point, all of those questions (and others) have dual contexts between what they mean on-screen and off. Those questions also do not have a universal best, right, or perfect answer. For better or worse, we are now past “must” and the show emphatically goes on.”
Grade: B
Ema Sasic says, “The quiet moments in this film are so powerful that you won’t be able to hold back tears. It’s a touching tribute to Chadwick Boseman and the impact he left on all of us with his role as the Black Panther. He’s absolutely missed, but the cast did a great job carrying on and moving us forward. The new world that’s been introduced is fascinating and a welcomed addition to the MCU. The look of the underwater nation is gorgeous. And the film poignantly tackles colonialism, which is still so relevant today. The film is a bit bloated and too long, but it definitely does cover a lot of ground and is still enjoyable nonetheless.”
Grade: B
James White says, “A busy sequel that tries to do a little too much, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever carries powerful emotion, but sees that diluted with an awkward conflict and a generic, murky big action finale. It’s disheartening to be so disappointed with a sequel to a movie from the team who made such an excellent original. There are parts of Wakanda Forever that shine, but they’re mostly ported over from the first film, brushing up uncomfortably against the less impressive additions of the new one.”
Grade: B
Tom O’Brien says, “A mostly-solid sequel to one of the MCU’s best films, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever handles the death of King T’Challa and its star Chadwick Boseman with grace, sensitivity, and efficiency, and it’s a testament to Ryan Coogler’s direction that, while he skillfully gets on with “Wakanda Forever’s” new story, the spirit of T’Challa is always hovering nearby. The performances by the film’s largely female cast may even more powerful than the original, though at 161 minutes the film is way too long, often interrupting the storyline with annoying intrusions setting up upcoming projects in the MCU. Why, after all, do we have to sit through Martin Freeman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus bickering in a kitchen when we’d rather be back watching the women of Wakanda fighting the good fight?”
Grade: B
Connor Petrey says “While delivering some true emotion when it comes to T’Challa’s passing, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever sticks to the usual formula. While many say they’re suffering from “Marvel fatigue,” I’m suffering from third-act fatigue.”
Grade: B-
Scott Menzel says, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is one of the stronger films in phase four of the MCU. While the film doesn’t recapture the level of Marvel magic that the original did, I do think the film works for the majority of its runtime, even if it is about 30 minutes too long. The opening scene which pays tribute to the late great Chadwick Boseman works exceptionally well but as the film goes on, it tends to get a bit boggled down as the plot continues to rely on that T’Challa’s arc instead of focusing more on Shuri. I also had some issues with Namor and didn’t like how the film handled his character. Overall, I found the performances from Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, and Angela Bassett to be the film’s greatest strengths and I hope for the third film that we get to really explore Shuri more than we did here.
Grade: B-
Kevin Taft says, “I’m going to be in the minority here, but despite good acting (hello Angela Bassett) and some stunning visuals, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was a bit of a bore. The villain Namor (a compelling Tenoch Huerta) didn’t feel like a villain especially when he bonds with one of our heroes. At one point I even asked – wait, why are they fighting him again? The battles feel like an afterthought to the drama in dealing with the death of Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther and the government’s desire for Wakanda’s resources. There’s a lot of talking and a lot of pontificating, but the questions and issues raised aren’t all that compelling. It’s superficial depth that has been explored time and time again in superhero movies to the extent that the film felt pointless. There are nice moments of remembrance for Boseman, but as a follow-up, it felt like it was flailing for meaning.”
Grade: C+
Demetri Panos says, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is at times, a moving, touching tribute to Chadwick Boseman. Then it rudely slaps you in the face to remind you that you’re watching a superhero movie. Washing all the warm feelings away to simply watch a villain with small wings on his ankles try and look tough. And yet another superhero movie with characters fighting over a vibranium. I’m going to start calling this hackneyed plot device – Oy-VeyNIUM”
Grade: C
Jana J. Monji says, “At the end of the film, it seemed that Black supremacy was the main theme, but is that where we really want to go? There were also questionable issues of ascension to the Black Panther leadership and, as with the first film, issues of cultural appropriation.:
Grade: C-
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is now playing in theaters everywhere.
