The world was shocked when Chadwick Boseman passed away in 2020 at the tender age of forty-four, just two years after finding superstardom as King T’Challa in “Black Panther.” His passing left the future of the “Black Panther” franchise in flux. Would it be possible to make a “Black Panther” movie without the Black Panther?
The second film in the series, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” answers the question. The new film has all the action you expect from a blockbuster Marvel movie, but also acts as a eulogy of a sort to the late actor and his most famous character.
“Wakanda Forever” begins on a sombre note, acknowledging the passing of T’Challa. “Your brother is with the ancestors,” Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) tells daughter Shuri (Letitia Wright). After a grand funeral fit for a king, director Ryan Coogler moves the action forward by one year.
Queen Ramonda, still healing from the wound left by T’Challa’s passing, is forced to defend her kingdom from international poachers intent on stealing their most valuable resource, a rare metallic ore with energy-manipulating properties called Vibranium. “We mourn the loss of our king,” she informs the United Nations, “but don’t think for a moment that Wakanda has lost its ability to protect her resources.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. military discovers a cache of Vibranium, previously thought to only exist in Wakanda, at the bottom of the ocean. But before you can say “Wakanda Forever,” the expedition is attacked by sea people, led by Namor (Tenoch Huerta), “feathered serpent god” of an ancient race of teal-skinned underwater people who look like they could have been extras in James Cameron’s “Avatar.”
Namor’s kingdom of Talokan also has Vibranium, and now that Wakanda has made the ore’s awesome power public knowledge, his nation is under threat from people who want what they have. That puts Wakanda at odds with an enemy unlike any they’ve fought before, an army outfitted with Vibranium weapons.
With a 2-hour-and-41-minute runtime, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” takes on a lot. It’s a study in loss and grief mixed with big time Marvel action set pieces. In addition, Coogler and co-screenwriter Joe Robert Cole have woven an indictment of colonialism into both the history of Wakanda and the Mayan-influenced backstory of Talokan. It makes for rich subtext in the storytelling, even if the movie occasionally has a rough time balancing all its elements.
If those missteps can be forgiven, its simply because “Wakanda Forever” isn’t a typical Marvel film. It exists outside Marvel Cinematic Universe. That means there is no connection to the other Avengers films, and it is better for it. Instead of feeling as if it is a puzzle piece of a larger picture, it is its own thing, a movie able to walk a different path and get away from the increasingly rigid structures of the late period MCU movies. The mix of the intimate and epic is what makes this movie work, both as a tribute to Boseman and as blockbuster entertainment.
The ensemble cast is very strong, but it is Bassett who leaves a mark. As Queen and T’Challa’s mother, she is majestic and melancholy, a woman attempting to balance duty with grief. “I am Queen of the most powerful nation in the world,” she says in anguish, “and my entire family is gone. Have I not given everything?” It’s a powerful moment and a poignant exploration of the weight that comes with loss coupled with obligation.
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” has a few draggy moments, but its determination to be its own thing makes for compelling viewing.
Crouse moderates the show’s lively panel discussions – set in the POP LIFE bar – featuring actors, journalists, and entertainment personalities debating hot topics in pop culture and the arts.
“My first radio boss told me something I’ve never forgotten,” said Crouse. “People want to hear about people. It’s simple and true and that’s what we’ve brought to POP LIFE, the chance for some of the most interesting people from pop culture – actors, musicians, newsmakers and authors – to share their personal stories and opinions. We keep it conversational and you never know what people will say. I can’t wait to share this season with our viewers.”
Tune in Saturday nights, 8:30 pm (ET) on the CTV NewsChannel and again at midnight on CTV or watch the whole thing HERE!
Film critic and pop culture historian Richard Crouse shares a toast with celebrity guests and entertainment pundits every week on CTV News Channel’s talk show POP LIFE.
Featuring in-depth discussion and debate on pop culture and modern life, POP LIFE features sit-down interviews with celebrities from across the entertainment world, including rock legends Sting and Meat Loaf, musicians Josh Groban and Sarah Brightman, comedian Ken Jeong, writer Fran Lebowitz, superstar jazz musician Diana Krall, stand-up comedian and CNN host W. Kamau Bell, actors Danny DeVito and Jay Baruchel, celebrity chefs Bobby Flay and Nigella Lawson, and many more.
The words “most-anticipated movie of the year” get tossed around a few times every season, usually describing a beloved fan sequel or an Oscar hopeful riding a wave of good press.
After “Avengers: Endgame” we can retire those words until January 2020. Before it played on one public screen the follow-up to 2018’s “Avengers: Endgame” smashed records. Demand for tickets crashed AMC Theatres’ website and app, it became Fandango’s top-selling pre-sale title and in China, advance sales topped a record one million tickets in a matter of hours. Someone in the United States paid a staggering $15,000 on-line for a pair of tickets (I hope that includes popcorn) and box office prognosticators predict forecast a domestic debut in the $260 million range.
Most-anticipated indeed but the question remains, Does “Avengers: Endgame” deserve all the hype?
In the spirit of #DontSpoilTheEndgame I’m cribbing the synopsis of the movie from IMBD.com: “After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to undo Thanos’ actions and restore order to the universe.”
“Endgame” is, first and foremost, a fan service movie. From the sheer number of returning Marvel faves—characters number in the dozens, if not the low hundreds—too deep character backstory—superheroes have mommy and daddy issues too!—to the crew’s biggest world-saving mission to date, it indulges every aficionado’s story hopes and desires. It may leave the casual superhero fans feeling overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the film but people willing to line up for hours to see the movie on opening weekend will be rewarded for their patience.
It is epic in the terms of length—it’s three hours so get a snack—location—infinity and beyond!—but it feels like “a lot“ rather than epic.
The story begins on a minor chord, spending much time with the characters grappling with the loss of friends and family before finding a way to right the world-destroying wrongs of Thanos. There is humor, some action but mostly character work. Hulk is in a form we haven’t seen before, Rudd and Downey still have a way with the line and it’s a whole new Thor than any other movie. As the story hopscotches through time and space directors Anthony and Joe Russo keep the focus on the characters fans have come to love.
It’s in the third hour the movie loses its human touch, becoming a noisy CGI orgy that must’ve required the power of 1 million networked computers working overtime to render the frenetic images we see on screen.
As for who lives and who dies? (SPOILER ALERT WITH ABSOLUTELY NO REVEAL) You’ll get no hint here. Suffice to say one of the characters says, “part of the journey is the end,” and I can tell you there will be unsigned contracts and actors suddenly free to do other movies that do not require the wearing of spandex.
“Endgame” feels like the end of the old cycle, the beginning of a reset. Old favourites gone, passing the mantle to others before they go. We even see a poster that reads, “Where do we go, now that they’re all gone?” I’m sure the next several Avengers movies will point the way but it is worth noting there are no hints in the post-credit scene because there is no post-credit scene (at least at the screening I saw).
The film has a sense of self-importance that fans will love, giving the characters the respect that franchises owe characters who have made them billions of dollars.
Episode Five of the “Pop Life Podcast” sees “Black Panther” star Danai Gurira and “Workin’ Moms” creator and star Catherine Reitman stop by the Pop Life Bar to discuss diversity in art.
On this episode of “Pop Life” actor Danai Gurira speaks about the significance of Black Panther, her work as an African playwright and the need for powerful storytelling. Then the “Pop Life” panel, “Black Mirror” and “12 Monkeys” actress Lisa Michelle Cornelius,artistic director of the Toronto International Film Festival Cameron Bailey,and “Taken” and “Kim’s Convenience” star Simu Liu,speak about the changes they’re seeing in the entertainment industry when it comes to diversity.
Crouse moderates the show’s lively panel discussions – set in the POP LIFEbar – featuring actors, journalists, and entertainment personalities debating hot topics in pop culture and the arts.
“My first radio boss told me something I’ve never forgotten,” said Crouse. “People want to hear about people. It’s simple and true and that’s what we’ve brought to POP LIFE, the chance for some of the most interesting people from pop culture – actors, musicians, newsmakers and authors – to share their personal stories and opinions. We keep it conversational and you never know what people will say. I can’t wait to share this season with our viewers.”
Crouse is the resident film critic for CTV News Channel and CP24. His syndicated Saturday afternoon radio show, THE RICHARD CROUSE SHOW, originates on NEWSTALK 1010 in Toronto. He is also the author of nine books on pop culture history including Who Wrote the Book of Love, the best-selling The 100 Best Movies You’ve Never Seen, its sequel The Son of the 100 Best Movies You’ve Never Seen, the best-selling Raising Hell: Ken Russell and the Unmaking of The Devils and Elvis is King: Costello’s My Aim is True. He also writes a weekly column for Metro newspaper.
In addition to airing Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. ET on CTV News Channel, POP LIFE also airs Saturday nights at 12 midnight ET on CTV and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. ET on CTV News Channel. Encore presentations of the show air Saturdays on Gusto (see local listings).
POP LIFE can also be seen on demand at the show’s official website, through Bell Fibe’s TV On Demand, and on the CTV NEWS GO mobile app (visit CTV.ca for local television listings).
Crouse moderates the show’s lively panel discussions – set in the POP LIFE bar – featuring actors, journalists, and entertainment personalities debating hot topics in pop culture and the arts.
“My first radio boss told me something I’ve never forgotten,” said Crouse. “People want to hear about people. It’s simple and true and that’s what we’ve brought to POP LIFE, the chance for some of the most interesting people from pop culture – actors, musicians, newsmakers and authors – to share their personal stories and opinions. We keep it conversational and you never know what people will say. I can’t wait to share this season with our viewers.”
Crouse is the resident film critic for CTV News Channel and CP24. His syndicated Saturday afternoon radio show, THE RICHARD CROUSE SHOW, originates on NEWSTALK 1010 in Toronto. He is also the author of nine books on pop culture history including Who Wrote the Book of Love, the best-selling The 100 Best Movies You’ve Never Seen, its sequel The Son of the 100 Best Movies You’ve Never Seen, the best-selling Raising Hell: Ken Russell and the Unmaking of The Devils and Elvis is King: Costello’s My Aim is True. He also writes a weekly column for Metro newspaper.
In addition to airing Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. ET on CTV News Channel, POP LIFE also airs Saturday nights at 12 midnight ET on CTV and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. ET on CTV News Channel. Encore presentations of the show air Saturdays on Gusto (see local listings).
POP LIFE can also be seen on demand at the show’s official website, through Bell Fibe’s TV On Demand, and on the CTV NEWS GO mobile app (visit CTV.ca for local television listings).
– Second season of POP LIFE to feature in-depth interviews with celebrities from across the entertainment world, including Randy Bachman, Jim Cuddy, Jann Arden, Danai Gurira, Scott Borchetta, Lena Waithe, and many more –
TORONTO (March 5, 2018) – Drinks and conversation are flowing at the POP LIFE bar as CTV News Channel presents another round of the pop culture talk show hosted by film critic and pop culture historian Richard Crouse. The second season of POP LIFE features Crouse hosting celebrity guests and entertainment pundits for in-depth interviews and discussions each and every week, premiering Saturday, March 10 at 8:30 p.m. ET on CTV News Channel. POP LIFE also airs Saturday nights at 12 midnight ET on CTV.
Season 2 sees celebrities and newsmakers from across the entertainment world open up to Crouse about their work, their lives on the road, the creative process, and more. This season’s feature interviews include Canadian music legend Randy Bachman explaining why his phonographic memory led him to trade in his violin for a guitar, singer-songwriters Jim Cuddy and Jann Arden on the creative process, Black Panther star Danai Gurira on role models, and international music mogul and co-creator of Bell Media’s THE LAUNCH, Scott Borchetta, on the value of music. The new season of POP LIFE also features interviews with Irene Sankoff and David Hein, the co-creators of smash musical hit Come From Away, EMMY® Award-winning screenwriter and actress Lena Waithe, celebrated British novelist Martin Amis, royal biographer Andrew Morton, and many more.
The second season of CTV News Channel’s POP LIFE features host Richard Crouse chatting with newsmakers from across the entertainment world, including Canadian singer-songwriter and Blue Rodeo frontman Jim Cuddy
Crouse moderates the show’s lively panel discussions – set in the POP LIFEbar – featuring actors, journalists, and entertainment personalities debating hot topics in pop culture and the arts.
“My first radio boss told me something I’ve never forgotten,” said Crouse. “People want to hear about people. It’s simple and true and that’s what we’ve brought to POP LIFE, the chance for some of the most interesting people from pop culture – actors, musicians, newsmakers and authors – to share their personal stories and opinions. We keep it conversational and you never know what people will say. I can’t wait to share this season with our viewers.”
Crouse is the resident film critic for CTV News Channel and CP24. His syndicated Saturday afternoon radio show, THE RICHARD CROUSE SHOW, originates on NEWSTALK 1010 in Toronto. He is also the author of nine books on pop culture history including Who Wrote the Book of Love, the best-selling The 100 Best Movies You’ve Never Seen, its sequel The Son of the 100 Best Movies You’ve Never Seen, the best-selling Raising Hell: Ken Russell and the Unmaking of The Devils and Elvis is King: Costello’s My Aim is True. He also writes a weekly column for Metro newspaper.
In addition to airing Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. ET on CTV News Channel, POP LIFE also airs Saturday nights at 12 midnight ET on CTV and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. ET on CTV News Channel. Encore presentations of the show air Saturdays on Gusto (see local listings).
POP LIFE can also be seen on demand at the show’s official website, through Bell Fibe’s TV On Demand, and on the CTV NEWS GO mobile app (visit CTV.ca for local television listings).
