It’s shocking that any of the emotional beats land, because this is a bloated bore of a film in every other way. Coogler is a talented director, but he bit off way more than he could chew. The underwater sequences are unflattering next to James Cameron’s work in Way of Water, and the political back and forth and the resulting violence all feel forced and unwarranted. The escalation towards endless violence all feels like bickering between two lesser countries.
This was also another one of those poorly lit, visually ugly movies. I know cameras these days can do it, but it looks bad! If only our current directors studied light.
Halfway through, I wished I was watching a Star Wars prequel — even Attack of the Clones! — or The Way of Water instead.