‘Black Panther’ sequel nearly matches the original

Above : The haunting presence of the late Chadwick Boseman permeates “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” (Photo/Walt Disney Studios)

In 2018, the Marvel Studios universe expanded with the release of the superhero film “Black Panther.”

Directed by Ryan Coogler, and starring the late Chadwick Boseman, “Black Panther” was a phenomenon, taking in – to date – some $1.3 billion in box-office receipts.

Even more surprising, it garnered a 97 percent Fresh Rating among the 529 reviews listed on Rotten Tomatoes.

Now, these four years later – and following the death of Boseman in 2020 – we have the sequel, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” which opens on Friday. It, too, was directed and co-written by Coogler, who focuses on the kingdom of Wakanda’s attempts to survive in the face of those forces that covet its precious lodes of vibranium .

Though it isn’t scoring as high as the original, the sequel is still doing well enough at (as of today) an 88 percent Fresh Rating .

Noting that the film is “overlong, a little unwieldy,” Associated Press critic Jake Coyle added that “Coogler’s fluid command of mixing intimacy with spectacle remains gripping.”

Variety’s Owen Gleiberman is of the same opinion. “The movie doesn’t have the classic comic-book pow of ‘Black Panther,’ and it’s easily 20 minutes too long,” he wrote. “Yet ‘Wakanda Forever’ has a slow-burn emotional suspense. Once the film starts to gather steam, it doesn’t let up.”

“You watch superhero movies for the action scenes,” wrote Seattle Times critic Moira Macdonald , “and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ offers some epic ones.”

As always, you who purchase tickets are the final arbitors.

I’ll update as the week progresses.