Viola Davis, Lashana Lynch, Thuso Mbedu, and John Boyega discuss the film The Woman King. The hosts share their thoughts on the movie, its historical inaccuracies, and lukewarm reception. They also discuss the portrayal of women characters, skepticism towards another slavery movie, and the role of Portuguese slave traders. Critiques include confusion over proximity, underdeveloped pacing, and the villain's depth. They also discuss competition scenes, the need for story tightening, and scene placement.
The Woman King showcases the strength and resilience of black women warriors in intense action sequences.
The bond between Nahway and Isogi demonstrates the power of mentorship and overcoming fears.
The inclusion of certain storylines and characters in the film detracted from its overall quality, but the portrayal of strong black women warriors and the performances of the cast were praised.
Deep dives
The Ajogay warriors ambush the Oya Empire
The Ajogay warriors, led by Viola Davis, ambush the Oya Empire, showcasing their skills and prowess in battle. The action sequences are intense and showcase the strength and resilience of the warriors.
Nahway joins the Ajogay and undergoes training
Nahway, a young girl, joins the Ajogay and becomes mentored by Isogi. She witnesses the strength and unity of the warriors, and develops her own martial arts skills. The bond between Nahway and Isogi becomes evident as Isogi inspires and motivates Nahway to overcome her fears and doubts.
Oba captures the Ajogay and plans to sell them as slaves
Oba, a villain from the Oya Empire, captures and plans to sell the Ajogay warriors as slaves. The warriors face danger and adversity as they fight for their freedom. A rescue mission is set in motion as Nahway and Isogi come together to save their fellow warriors and take down Oba.
The Storyline and Character Development Felt Underdeveloped
The podcast hosts express their disappointment with certain aspects of the movie, particularly the pacing, character development, and missed opportunities. They feel that certain storylines, such as Nanesca's traumatic experience and her relationship with Oba, could have been better explored and developed to create a more impactful narrative. They also criticize the inclusion of a romantic subplot involving an unnecessary white male character. Overall, they believe that these decisions detracted from the overall quality of the film.
Positive Elements - Strong Black Women, Action Scenes, and Performances
Despite their criticisms, the hosts also highlight some positive aspects of the movie. They appreciate the portrayal of strong black women warriors, particularly Nanesca and her Agoji warriors, and the thrilling action sequences in the film. The performances of the cast, especially Leshaun Lynch, are praised, with the hosts expressing a desire to see her in more prominent and diverse roles. They acknowledge the impact and significance of seeing black women being celebrated and taking charge on screen.
This week on Black on Black Cinema, the crew returns to discuss the 2022 film, The Woman King, starring Viola Davis, Lashana Lynch, Thuso Mbedu, and John Boyega. The film is a historical epic inspired by true events that took place in The Kingdom of Dahomey, one of the most powerful states of Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries.
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