My previous post is about the current box office blockbuster sequel, AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. It's made billions of dollars worldwide and is the 4th highest-grossing film in our box office history. James Cameron directed the visually stunning sci-fi fantasy with animated blue characters interacting with human actors. The story was pretty predictable and, to me, some action scenes with the blue natives went on too long -- basically to draw "oohs" and "ahhs" from Cameron's amazing filmmaking technology. I dozed off a couple of times during Cameron's epic fantasy that clocks in at 3 hours and 15 minutes. AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER is an Oscar nominee for Best Picture.
I would take AVATAR 2 out of the Best Picture Oscar race and replace it with BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER directed and co-written by the wonderful Ryan Coogler. I streamed it over the weekend. Wow. What a movie. That's a movie I wish I could have seen on the big screen. This sequel has a lot of action, a lot of heart and a lot of good acting. It's a sci-fi fantasy too. However, Mr. Coogler brings out a complicated humanity in the story. It surprises you. Also, he brilliantly blends in the death of BLACK PANTHER star Chadwick Boseman into the story. The loss of his character causes a deep grief that motivates surviving characters to make certain choices. We can emotionally connect to their heartbreak and challenges and also be awed by the special effects and action scenes. The movie is dedicated to Chadwick Boseman.
Angela Bassett is the heartbroken Queen drawn into a battle. Bassett totally deserves the Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination she got. She commands the screen. This is a gorgeous production in set design, costume design and cinematography. It runs 2 hour and 40 minutes. Did I doze off? No. If there was a cineplex near me, would I pay to see it again -- only, this time, on a big screen? Yes. In a heartbeat. Ryan Coogler is one of the most gifted directors currently working.
Coogler gave us the critically acclaimed 2013 independent feature, FRUITVALE STATION and the groundbreaking international box office blockbuster, BLACK PANTHER, in 2018. And now BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER.
I repeat: Director, writer, producer Ryan Coogler is wonderful and BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER should be an Oscar nominee for Best Picture.
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