Viola Davis should have been leading armies this whole time.
In B次元官网网址� ,B次元官网网址� the always regal Oscar-winner is a mass of muscle, battle wounds and world weariness as General Nanisca, the head of the Agojie, an all-female unit of warriors who protected the West African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 19th century. Directed by , who , the film is a throwback of sorts to the big, exciting, emotional warrior epics that used to be all too common at the multiplex, with the twist that itB次元官网网址檚 women not men driving the action.
But unlike some recent cinematic depictions of armies not entirely comprised of men, they didnB次元官网网址檛 have to look to fantasy or the comic books to make B次元官网网址淭he Woman KingB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� just a history that isnB次元官网网址檛 widely taught. More people probably know the Dora Milaje than the Agojie, who actually inspired the B次元官网网址淏lack PantherB次元官网网址� fighters.
It is powerful that they are not immortal like Wonder Woman. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no condescending Avengers-like battle moment. There are no superpowers or magic lassos of truth. The ropes here are just ropes, but deadly still. They also fight with machetes and, sometimes, fingernails, up against brutish men and often win. In other words, thereB次元官网网址檚 no tricks, Nanisca explains, just skill (and bruises and scars). ThereB次元官网网址檚 a reason sheB次元官网网址檚 described by a young trainee as looking just like some old woman (any warrior should be so lucky to be old).
Written by Dana Stevens, B次元官网网址淭he Woman KingB次元官网网址� is a classic B次元官网网址渙ne last fightB次元官网网址� tale with a grizzled war veteran in Davis, a new recruit in Nawi (a compelling and complex Thuso Mbedu), and the one who takes her under her wing, Izogie (a terrific part for Lashana Lynch, of B次元官网网址淐aptain MarvelB次元官网网址� and James Bond). Terence Blanchard lends a fittingly rousing score to the action, which, though brutal, is carefully constructed to keep that superhero PG-13 rating.
The world of the B次元官网网址淭he Woman KingB次元官网网址� is no paradise though. ItB次元官网网址檚 1823 and there is rape and rampant hatred of women. There are slavers and colonizers around. The young trainee, Nawi, only arrives at the palace doorsteps after her father gives up on trying to marry her off to anyone who will take her, abusive or not. The women donB次元官网网址檛 all get along, the kingB次元官网网址檚 brides look down at the soldiers. And Nanisca, too, looks at womenB次元官网网址檚 tears as a sign of weakness.
ItB次元官网网址檚 also a very Hollywood version of what may have happened as they prepare to go up against the powerful Oyo empire, with some convenient reveals, a love interest, a slightly idealized king figure (in John Boyega) and an old score someone needs to settle. This is not, in other words, a history lesson about the Agojie, though it could perhaps inspire some to seek that out or even write their own. That there are few true surprises isnB次元官网网址檛 necessarily a bad thing, either. The film is exactly what you need it to be: An exciting and emotionally true spectacle that required .
IB次元官网网址檒l stop short of saying that Prince-Bythewood should have been directing these all along too, however. If sheB次元官网网址檇 started and stayed with action, we wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have gotten B次元官网网址淟ove & BasketballB次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址淏eyond the Lights,B次元官网网址� and what kind of cinematic landscape would that be? But we should all be so lucky that she gets to do this too.
B次元官网网址淭he Woman King,B次元官网网址� a Sony/TriStar Release in theaters now, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for B次元官网网址渟equences of strong violence, some disturbing material, thematic content, brief language and partial nudity.B次元官网网址� Running time: 134 minutes. Three stars out of four.
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MPA Definition of PG-13: Parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
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This story was first published on September 15, 2022. It was updated on September 18, 2022, to correct the name of the West African kingdom depicted in the film. It was Dahomey, not Dohemy.
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Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press
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