One of many good things about being an intern at VOX ATL is doing movie reviews and fortunately 20 VOX ATL teens got to see Marvel’s “Black Panther” at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre 10 days before it came out to the world. We even had Samuel L. Jackson and Congressman John Lewis flew in from Washington D.C. to speak to us about the importance of a movie like “Black Panther.” This was actually my very first movie screening so I was very lucky to have this experience. Marvel never disappoints when it comes to the action and the emotional scenes, but this, in my opinion, is by far the best movie Marvel has ever produced mostly because of the message of world unity and black power behind the movie.

Over the years there has been so much separation in black culture and a movie like this is just what we need to help bring us back together to become one again. This was one of the first movies that gave a mainly black cast a real role in a film instead of a slave or street-tough gang banger. Here we have superheroes such as Chadwick Boseman playing Black Panther and king of Wakanda. We also have Letitia Wright as a scientist and sister of the king who builds and designs all of Wakanda’s technology. Last but not least, we have Florence Kasumba who works to fight with and also protect the king of Wakanda. These are all super intelligent, strong female leads.

In the movie, they talk about how Wakanda is a city with strong weapons and the world’s most advanced technology, but they hide it from the world because they believe that the world will use it to advance them in warfare instead of using their inventions for peace. But when a new leader (Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger) takes over the throne after an epic fight, he wants to change things to help other less fortunate cities become stronger.

In a world where all we do is prepare to fight one another, it was nice to see someone wanting to help and bring us together to become a more peaceful world just by lending a helping hand. “Black Panther” is an eye-opening movie that still has all the characteristics of a fantastic Marvel movie. It’s about bringing our world together to work as one and achieving equality, told through the lenses of an action-packed movie which is why it will be one of the greatest movies in Marvel history.

Here is all of VOX ATL’s “Black Panther” coverage:

• Packing a Political Punch, ‘Black Panther’ is More Than Just a Superhero Movie by Erin Davis
• The Hairstyles in “Black Panther” Gives Young Black Girls Something to Celebrate by Isley Chapman
• “Black Panther” and “Thor” Are More Alike Than You Think by Chris Jordan
• How Will ‘Black Panther’ Fit Into the Marvel Cinematic Universe? by Chris Jordan
• The 7 Ways ‘Black Panther’ Stands out in the Marvel Cinematic Universe by Taj Tillingham
• Fierce Female Leads in Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’ Prove Women Can Be Superheroes Too by Zakirah White
• A ‘Black Panther’ Review For Someone Who Isn’t a Fan of Superhero Movies by Bethlehem Zerihun
• “Black Panther” Is a Film Made for Everyone, but with Black People in Mind by Kenneth Franklin
• VOX Teen Poetry: “Finding Wakanda” by Alia Holt
• Kendrick Lamar Blends African and Mainstream Rap on “Black Panther” Soundtrack by Mack Walker
• VOX Poetry: “Right On Time” by Ogechi Ofodu

Photo by VOX ATL Senior Editor, Rich Eldredge