As many of you know, I’m a sucker for a superhero movie. Unfortunately, I’m so far behind in the Marvel Comic Universe (MCU) that I may never catch up. Still, with all the hype about Black Panther, I knew I had to check it out, even if it meant having to read a summary of events leading up to it that would spoil previous MCU movies. Thankfully, I learned that the movie is considered pretty much a stand alone in that it contains everything you need to know to follow the story.

I don’t know what got into me today, maybe my long weekend, but when I realised I’d be able to quit around 3:30 today, I decided that if Black Panther was playing at the cinema near my house, I was going to see it! It was and I had just enough time to catch the 3D showing at 4:30. I’m still not sold on whether 3D is worth the extra cost, but with movies being so inexpensive in Mexico, I figured I’d do better to watch it in 3D.

The name of the theatre, Cinemex Platino, should have been a clue that research would have been good before going to that cinema. I’ve never paid more than $55ish pesos for a first run matinée in Mexico, even in 3D, and this place charged me… $138. My reaction was HOLY SMOKES.

But when I was handed a blanket with my 3D glasses, I began to suspect that I’d inadvertently walked into a treat.

I was right. Look at these seats — they’re recliners!

I had the entire room to myself (!) so I was able to choose a better seat than the one I’d selected, right smack in the middle of the room.

And then began, bar none, the most amazing and wondrous cinematic experience of my life.

I don’t know if 3D technology has improved or this one has it better than most, but 3D in this movie felt like the way movies should be experienced. The 3D effect didn’t feel like a gimmick at all. Add in that the sound effects were all around me (to the point that if someone heard something behind them and turned around, I did the same!) and that my chair vibrated, no, not with too loud sound, but just like if you really were in the middle of stampede or whatever the action was on the screen.

All comfy in my recliner and tucked into my very necessary blanket (BRR!), I, a former cinephile who fell out of love with going to the movies, thought damn, this is going to get expensive, but I can’t wait to do it again!