Superhero films have become the norm in the Hollywood film industry this day and age, and that has much to do with the success of Marvel Studios' Marvel Cinematic Universe - which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year after beginning an ambitious and daring project of uniting several films together under one shared continuity. That began with 2008's "Iron Man", which bore fruit as Robert Downey Jr. took to the skies as the armored alter ego of Tony Stark and helped inspire the events that led to the assembly of the Avengers. Today the MCU is in the middle of "Phase Three", and this year will bring three more films that will add more stories and characters to the growing film dynasty of the Marvel Universe - including the long awaited solo movie of the fictional superhero known as the Black Panther - the identity of the protector and defender of the fictional African nation known as Wakanda.
Thanks to Marvel Philippines and Walt Disney Studios PH, I had the chance to see one of the most anticipated films for this new year a few days early before hitting theaters - which is on Valentine's Day in the Philippines! As a dedicated comic book collector and follower of the MCU, I've been looking forward to T'Challa's solo film for a long time - more so with the recent raving reviews brought about by critics and viewers alike who got to see early premieres and screenings c/o Marvel. Now that the movie is about to debut this week everywhere worldwide, I can honestly say without spoiling that this is a VERY DIFFERENT kind of superhero film - culturally significant for an African based superhero like this and transcending the basic premise of good versus evil as tradition and ideology clash in a battle for a nation and the future.
