KIDS FIRST! News Feature Film Reviews
The Woman King is the remarkable story of the agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African kingdom of Dahomey in the 19th century with skill and ferocity the world had never seen before. Inspired by true events, The Woman King follows the emotionally epic journey of General Nanisca (Oscar® winner Viola Davis) as she trains the next generation of recruits and prepares them for battle against an enemy determined to destroy their way of life. . there are things worth fighting for….
children first! film critic eshaan m. comments, “The Woman King is a stunning portrait of powerful female protectors driving change at one of the most pivotal and often harrowing moments in world history: the era of the transatlantic slave trade. however, even through the beautifully shot and well-choreographed battle scenes, the moments of love triumph and make this movie worth watching.” Zoé C. she adds, “girl power at its finest! The King Woman is a vibrant celebration of the fierce determination and courage of women. This action film combines a powerful story, vibrant characters, humor and melodrama and, believe it or not, is inspired by true events.” See the full reviews of her below.
the king of eshaan m., children first! film critic, 16 years old
The Woman King is a stunning portrait of powerful female protectors driving change at one of the most pivotal and often harrowing moments in world history: the era of the transatlantic slave trade. however, even through the beautifully shot and well choreographed battle scenes, the moments of love triumph and make this movie worth watching.
Set in the 19th century West African kingdom of Dahomey, the Woman King follows the group of Agojie warriors and their general, Nanisca (Viola Davis), as they battle not only against rival Oyo and Mahi tribes, but foreigners who want to destroy your way of life and take your people. Along the way, Nanisca must deal with her past… and Nawi (Thuso Mbedo), a young woman among the ranks of the Agojie who turns out to shape Nanisca’s future.
director gina prince-bythewood outdoes herself. Beyond being a film that does its part to rectify the historical exclusion of African narratives in Hollywood, The Woman King is a crowd pleaser, with familiar thematic rhythms of moralism, love, and community and a fresh enough take on “war.” historical”. film.” The sets transport viewers to pre-colonial Benin, and the cinematography, especially the use of light (inside the palace barracks) and color (the earthy tones of the Dahomey villages), further enhances the experience visual. the background score by lebo m. and terence blanchard is based on the traditional music of west africa. it is simply chilling to watch the agojie charge into battle accompanied by soulful singing and the djembe and marimba.
gosh, viola davis can’t do anything wrong? the renowned actress is perfect for the role of a ruthless, defensive and protective leader; the emotional depth davis taps into is downright impressive. she hits all the notes: trauma survivor, grieving mother, sister in arms, flawlessly. the more conservative, regimented, and typically “high-end” attributes of davis’s character are beautifully offset by tzuso mbedo’s portrayal of nawi, the newest recruit who seems to defy all the rules so carefully enforced by nanisca (and isn’t afraid to confronting nanisca as “arrogant old lady”). nawi and nanisca’s relationship blossoms in a way that will make viewers go “aww” and although the two bicker from time to time, the duo becomes the most lovable part From the Movie: Stiff Competition. A close second favorite is Izogie (Lashana Lynch), a more experienced member of Agojie, who is equal parts hilarious, insightful, and sweet. My favorite line from Izogie is essentially, “We all have a lot to what to cry; it is better to laugh.”
the king woman promotes freedom, being true to oneself, standing up for what is right, holding your head high (but controlling arrogance), obeying authority while making wise decisions for yourself and protecting your loved ones. loved ones. Nanisca fights against King Ghezo’s (John Boyega) vision of selling his prisoners of war to Europeans in exchange for weapons and other “valuable” goods, acting as a strong voice against racism and the commodification of humans.
I give the king woman 5 stars out of 5 and recommend it for ages 12-18, plus adults. The King Woman opens in theaters on September 16, 2022.
the woman king of zoe c., children first! film critic, 14 years old
girl power at its best! The King Woman is a vibrant celebration of the fierce determination and courage of women. This action movie combines a powerful story, vibrant characters, humor and melodrama and, believe it or not, is inspired by true events.
In the early 19th century, an all-female military regiment fought the slave trade and protected the African kingdom of Dahomey. they were called agojie and served their king. although they were the wives of the king, they were confined to remain celibate. Leading the group of valiant warriors is General Nanisca, gracefully played by Viola Davis. a young woman, nawi (thusi mbedu), decides to join the army and through her journey we discover how the agojies operate. She develops an intriguing relationship with Nanisca, who trains the next generation of fighters and reminds us of a mother figure to the entire brave army. When the Kingdom of Dahoney faces the imminent threat to their freedom from European colonialism, they must fight for their lives.
In a film industry replete with latex-clad superheroes, the realistic tone and naturalistic cinematography encourage us to stay connected to the story. the score immerses us in an epic adventure while the audience vibrates with the sounds of the orchestra. the performances in this movie were absolutely captivating and energetic. the set of actresses embodies diversity and personalities, some more charismatic and strong; others more vulnerable and fun. Viola Davis is the perfect actress to play Nanisca and her mannerisms bring all the seriousness needed to play this role. Asíi Mbedu plays Nawi with fragility and forcefulness, and Lashana Lynch as Izogie refreshes the screen with subtle humor and impeccable charisma. Dana Stevens’ screenplay is based on a story by actress Maria Bello; Together, Stevens and Bell remarkably find the most fascinating facts in true events and deliver a powerful story with fictional poetic license. director gina prince-bythewood delivers an entertaining if somewhat overwhelming film with some crowd-pleasing elements that can propel the film as a huge commercial success.
king woman shows that women can serve their own passions, such as loyalty to their own country and principles, and not focus on pleasing men. the message of the film is that we can decide our own destiny and that some things are worth fighting for. there are some strongly violent scenes and brief nudity.
I give the king woman 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12+. The King Woman opens on September 16, 2022 in theaters.
