Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever premiered over the weekend and thousands of fans flocked to theaters to witness another epic house blockbuster that brought us top-grossing superhero films such as Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: No Coming Home.
The long-awaited sequel offers cultural richness, an emotionally charged storyline and an exceptional cast. The film, which is made memorable as a tribute to the legacy of the late Black Panther himself, Chadwick Boseman, also features a new location specifically designed for wakanda forever.
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The origins and inspiration of Talokan from Black Panther 2
Talokan is based on the mythical Aztec kingdom Tlālōcān where Namor of Tenoch Huerta resides and rules. The Marvel team decided to change the realm of Namor from Atlantis to Talokan, and those who died from lightning or drowning are said to come to rest here. The place is also inspired by the Aztec culture.
Like Atlantis, Talokan is a highly advanced empire brimming with cultural abundance and deeply tied to Aztec mythology. While Atlantis has been depicted numerous times in other films, such as Atlantis: The Lost Empire and Journey to the Center of the EarthTalokan is a new concept that allowed Marvel to put its own creative spin on it.
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Fans Criticize Talokan’s Visuals, Call It ‘Unfinished CGI’
Of course, people will always have something to compare things with. Some fans trolled black panther 2‘s Talokan with comments such as “Unfinished CGI” due to its dimly lit atmosphere. In rebuttal, Marvel fans responded in the most fashionable way, backed by facts and science. Check out these tweets:
Let’s be honest now.
Atlantis>>>>Talokan. As 90% of underwater scenes in Wakanda Forever are black to hide the unfinished cgi. https://t.co/NbYHssACYa pic.twitter.com/lSeztXViaN
— Sharon ⚡️#FlashPack (@Sharito742) November 14, 2022
I agree that Atlantis looks flashier, but Talokan is what a real underwater civilization would look like with just one light source. God, this app has so many worse takes. I know filmmakers use black to hide flaws in CGI (American Godzilla movies, I see you), but that’s not the case. 2/2
— Jeet Laha (he/him 🇮🇳 🕉) Wakanda Forever era (@laha_jeet) November 14, 2022
Unfinished CGI?
Talokan was magnificent.
Namor & Talokan DID NOT WANT TO BE DISCOVERED BY HUMANS.
So why would it be all shiny and shiny.
Swear you’re not paying attention. https://t.co/mAbLyoXSnL
— Jimmy Folino #WhoDey 🐅-BLM, StopAsianHate 🏳️🌈 (@MrNiceGuy513) November 15, 2022
Talokan being mostly dark it’s realistic to see how dark the deep ocean is and in the context of the movie they don’t want to be found so it doesn’t make sense to be lit up like a Christmas tree lmao
Stupid to say it’s unfinished CGI https://t.co/gem9IavR48
— The Vishanti (@OwnerOfVishanti) November 15, 2022
Talokan actually looks like a beautiful city at the bottom of the ocean. Atlantis looked like a pure CGI show. Nothing about it felt real or personal. The competition isn’t even close https://t.co/HzpfzGS671
— Med School Ash (@Miss_AshG) November 15, 2022
Atlantis, indeed, looks too colorful and flashy for an underwater location. No matter AquamanCGI editors intended to do with this style should have a specific explanation. Ultimately, fans just want to enjoy a really good movie paired with realistic visual effects that won’t compromise the story.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is now playing in theaters around the world.
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