Disclaimer: We won tickets to an advanced screening of Marvel's Black Panther, due to a promo hosted by Allied San Diego. However, we were not compensated to write this review. All opinions are 100% honest and our own.

We were honored by an invitation from Allied IM San Diego to an advance screening of Black Panther this past February 13th, 2018. And of course I had to share my experience with all of you once I recovered my thoughts, because my mind was blown away by such a fantastic experience.

I'd like to start by sharing that, although I am a huge fan of comic-book superheroes, I really didn't know the story behind Marvel's Black Panther. The cool thing about the Marvel's Cinematographic Universe franchise, is that you don't have to worry much about not knowing the background of the characters when you go watch the movies. This is mainly because they are very good at creating the right introduction, so that you don't get lost while trying to understand the story. So with that being said, pay attention to the beginning of the film, and you'll know what you need to know, in order to understand the origins of Black Panther. The film also presents a series of snippets of Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Soldier, being this the first movie in which we got a glimpse of Black Panther's character, thus, reminding the viewer about events that have led to the story in this film. Nonetheless, these snippets are created in a way that if you didn't get to see that previous movie, you still understand what is happening.

I'd like to make a standing ovation to everyone, and I mean EVERYONE involved with the creation of this film. From the outstanding performance of the cast, to the remarkable work of the CGI artists; it was such an enjoyable experience. The attention to the smallest of details, really made this film come together, dare I say; extraordinarily. The sequence of the story is told smoothly, and fits perfectly well with the rest of the films in the franchise. I don't know the African Culture in depth, to be able to accurately identify certain aspects used within the context of the film. However, I was definitely able to appreciate the cultural influence throughout the work in; costume design, make-up art, and the music. I am a huge fan of movies that promote cultural diversity, so I was mostly looking forward to these attributes in the film. Talking about music, when is the soundtrack coming out? I really enjoyed it, and couldn't help but move with the beat a few times throughout the movie. I felt it really embraced the whole picture of what it was trying to convey.

I'd like to go back and talk about the costumes for a bit. They were colorful, looked very appealing to the character that was wearing them, and I really enjoyed how they all helped define the personality of each individual character remarkably. I thought they embraced the essence of diverse tribes that encompass the African Culture itself, while merging what could be interpreted as “old traditions” with a futuristic modern world.

Like in every previous movie of the Marvel Universe, humor is a distinctive feature that is to be expected, and this film does not disappoint. It had funny moments, and others which were plainly hilarious. The way in which humor is interconnected to the fighting sequences, even during those "life and death" battle scenes, is brilliant. I must say, this is one of my all-time favorite things about all Marvel movies, and definitely one of my favorite things about Black Panther.

I really enjoyed watching the interaction between T'Chala/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and his sister Shuri (Letitia Wright). It reminded me of my own relationship with my brother, making this, the aspect of the film I connected with the most.


There was a very strong and powerful presence with the female characters of this film (Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Angela Bassett, Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Sydelle Noel, just to name a few). I can't even begin to tell you how inspiring this was, considering that the main character is a male superhero. The fabulous female leads that presented both as warriors, and in other intrinsic societal roles of high importance to the story, left me with great expectations towards this type of energy in the future of the Marvel Universe. We want more of this please!

As a person born and raised in Mexico, I lack much of the understanding of the full spectrum of struggles that African-Americans have endured, other than what is shown in movies, documentaries, and in some books. However, the movie does portray strong messages about these struggles, which got to my emotional side. It gave me a deep sense of respect for those individuals, that despite the struggles, persevered with the hopes of a brighter tomorrow.

Dislikes? Not really. However, since we are not super huge fans of watching movies in 3D, this was the only part that we didn't really feel comfortable with. Mostly, because there are scenes in which the images that are popping out aren't fully appreciated when the scenes or characters are moving very fast. There were also a couple of scenes, in which, if you have a weak stomach like us, you could get a little nauseated. In one of those scenes, during the intro at the very beginning of the movie, I felt like if I was on a quick roller coaster ride, and in the other, almost by the end of the movie, my husband said he had to close his eyes because he thought he was going to throw up. Without trying to spoil the movie much, if you want to be aware of the possibility of getting dizzy by this second scene, you can identify it, because it's the only scene that starts upside down. So if you are watching the film in 3D, just be mindful that when a particular character's scene starts upside down, you might want to close your eyes for about 5 seconds. You will only be missing his entrance to the room. Now, if you think you can take it, by all means, enjoy the movie. And, that's it, no more spoilers. Other than that, we were very grateful for the opportunity to watch this movie earlier than expected, and thus be able to provide our online community with our thoughts about it.

About Stan Lee's Cameo; although I do not want to spoil this for you, know this; as always his brief appearance will be totally unexpected, and definitely funny: you can't miss it. 

Overall, we had a great start to our Valentine's Day celebration, because we got to watch a very awaited movie, that left us at the end, as excited as we were from the beginning. I was worried that I wasn't going to be able to write this review, because my emotions were all over the place. I just couldn't find the right words to match the experience while organizing my thoughts, because I felt like if they were in adrenaline overload. Yes, the movie is that good! We honestly can't wait for the film to come out in Blu-ray/DVD and digital, so that we can re-live all the action and excitement once again at our home. If I had to use only one word to define the movie, I would say: “Superb!”

Please don't miss the chance to see Marvel's Black Panther in the big screen. Oh, and before I forget; if you are of those individuals who like to get out of the movie theater before the film is over, let me tell you that you'll be missing on two post-credit endings, which I believe are crucial information to the next movie in Marvel's Cinematic Universe. That's right! The one that is coming this May (aaaah, only 3 more months). So don't be so impatient, and just wait a bit longer. You might just be surprised by what you'll see. Plus, I think it's always polite to read the names of all the hard-working and talented people that have brought the film to life. That way you can learn to identify their craft in future work.

I really hope you liked this spoil-free review, and that you find some of this information useful. I believe anyone who likes action packed superhero movies, especially those who are big fans of the Marvel's Cinematographic Universe, will truly have a great time watching Marvel's Black Panther. Remember Marvel's Black Panther arrives to theaters across the United States tomorrow February 16th, 2018. Do you have your tickets already? If not, what are you waiting for?

Let's get the conversation started

Let us know why you are excited to see Black Panther, and which other Marvel's characters do you think may appear in the film. We'd love to read you. Which is your all-time favorite Marvel movie, and why? For us, it's getting harder and harder to choose one, so we are going to stick to “we love them all, because they are all part of a whole”. And lastly, who is the biggest Marvel or Black Panther fan in your family? Thank you for sharing your comments with us, and for spending some time reading my review. I honestly hope you have a blast watching Marvel's Black Panther.

Until the next time, remember to smile—because it's contagious!

Find out more about the film at the official Marvel's Black Panther Website, and download the free activity packet inspired by the film here: LINK