Revered on screen as Black Panther and much loved as a person and an actor, Chadwick Boseman’s death due to cancer in 2020 left a void in our hearts. The onset of a global pandemic at the time added to the emotional trauma and distress. Ryan Coogler’s second Black Panther movie draws that grief and brokenness from life and infuses it onto screen. The last Marvel film that was as emotionally charged and soul-stirring was perhaps Endgame. The sequel is a heart numbing, visually engrossing, spectacular blend of action and emotion. A special Marvel Studios logo dedicated to Chadwick sets the mood for the film, which is a poignant and spectacular tribute to the actor and the legacy of Black Panther.

Unlike MCU’s excessive obsession with comedy these days, Wakanda Forever evades Marvel stereotypes and tropes. Of course, there are some funny one-liners but they don’t dilute the gravity of the situation or its emotional conflict. Substance isn’t sacrificed for saleability and frivolous is not mistaken for fun. Along with dishing out some nail-biting action sequences, the film dares to delve deeper. It addresses healing, co-existence, humanity and conscience. Queen Ramonda, daughter Shuri and warrior leader Okoye (Danai Gurira) must conceal their sorrow and personal tragedies to protect and empower their kingdom. Their weaknesses are as brazen as their courage and they must find strength in the face of pain. Spirituality also lies at the core of this story.

While there’s not a single dull moment, you can feel the weight of the enormous length (2 hours, 44 minutes) in portions and an interval helps. An extremely significant post credit scene will bring a smile to your face so make sure you don’t miss that. All the women — Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira and Lupita Nyong’o are compelling in their crucial roles. Tenoch Huerta gets to play an accidental powerful nemesis. Music has always been a highlight of the Black Panther movies and it scores yet again, which includes Rihanna’s ‘Lift Me Up’.

The writing is thoughtful and piercing. At one point a grieving Shuri is told, “The world has taken too much from you for you to be considered a child.” You are bound to get teary-eyed several times. To cut to the chase, Ryan Coogler delivers one of the best MCU films in a long time. Wakanda Forever!