Viola Davis

Thuso Mbedu

Lashana Lynch

Sheila Atim

John Boyega

Jordan Bolger

Hero Fiennes Tiffin

Jimmy Odukoya

Masali Baduza

Jayme Lawson

Adrienne Warren

Chioma Antoinette Umeala

Siyamthanda Makakane

Shaina West

Sivuyile Ngesi

Riaan Visman

Seputla Sebogodi

Angélique Kidjo

Wanda Banda

Lethabo

Kekole Mathabathe

Daniel Hadebe

Kgomotso Moshia

Zozibini Tunzi

Makgotso M

Thando Dlomo

Zeaf Ejama

Julius Tennon

Pumla Ndlazi

Bonko Khoza

Sne Mbatha

Boitumelo Makgalemele

Bongo Mbutuma

Kwanda Tim Dlamini

Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi

Didi Ledwaba

Chumani Pan

Cebelihle Mbambo

Chris Ncekana

Tuks Tad Lungu

Yannick Brand

Nancy Sekhokoane

Joel Mukadi

Princess Elmore

Terence Blanchard

Nadine Theron

Filip Ciprian Florian

Trevor Kingston Frost

Daniel Hernandez

Usisipho Nteyi

Grant Powell

Jénel Stevens

Matthew Van Leeve

Stuart Jacob Williamson

Clint Jacobs

Dana Stevens

Maria Bello

Peter McAleese

Terilyn A. Shropshire

Polly Morgan

Alex Jay

Tshepiso Chikapa Phiri

Akin McKenzie

Christophe Dalberg

Tarryn McCann

Moray McGregor

Catherine Palmer

Malwande Sigabi

James Collett

Birrie le Roux

Di Sole

Gersha Phillips

Jeremy Dell

Cindi Keitumetse

Lesley Ann Kleinhans

Sergio Lopez-Rivera

Maiphephi Moitang

Tsholofelo Montshiwa

Babalwa Carol Mtshiselwa

Giovanna Perry

Minke Swart

Francois Rademeyer

Michaela Young

Chicco Cardoso

Catherine Makgati Carroll

Mark O'Donovan

Amidou Fombe Tiku

John Trafford

Hector C. Gika

Tony Lamberti

Kevin O'Connell

Becky Sullivan

Jay Wilkinson

Alysia Wildman

David Sadler-Coppard

Andrew Morley

Joss Flores

Claudia Dehmel

Sara Bennett

Lynn Paulsen

Farooq Peterson

Jodi Bowers

Alex-Ann Keppie

Tristan Makka

Terence Norman

Babalola Jean-Michel Hervé Akimbola

Mickey Strumwig

Storm Solomons

Kami Nkurunziza

Sisipho Ngodwane

Khuselo Mxenge

Ashraf Mustapha

Samkelisiwe Mgadi

Mpho MacChambers

Claudia Lima

Ananda Law

Fairuz Khan

Kyle Hyde

Ulrich Fritz

Kyle N. Davy

Josh Clark

Angela Beccaro

Morag Cameron

Iegsaan Isaacs

Gareth De Breuyn

Neville Botha

Kelsea Williams

Jess Phillips

Loan Phan

Obinna Robert Onyeri

Sashnie Moodley

A'sia Horne

Kristin Graham

Emma Escamilla

Aldine Bronkhorst

J.P. van der Merwe

Vanessa Toll

Ben Tjibe

Christa Schamberger

Richard Lothian

Action

Drama

History

The Woman King

TriStar Pictures

JuVee Productions

Entertainment One

Welle Entertainment

TSG Entertainment II

Canada

United States of America

English

Português

africa

arranged marriage

warrior woman

based on true story

slave trade

duringcreditsstinger

woman director

military unit

aggressive

19th century

mother daughter reunion

freed slave

female warrior

west africa

weapons training

factual

reminiscent

admiring

celebratory

commanding

exhilarated

Nathan

The Woman King is a touching film that balances the dramatic tone with high octane action delivering a compelling experience. With a powerhouse cast, there is plenty of fantastic performances throughout the entire film. Lashana Lynch was brilliant in this film, she presents herself with a hard exterior but is able to touch into her more emotional and caring self her relationship with Thuso Mbedu's character. Their chemistry was great and one of my favorite parts about the film. 

The action in this film was really well done. The choreography was great, and the scope was vast. I loved how multiple shot led into each other. Although, part of me wish this had been rated R so that the fight scenes could have the blood and gore that this movie was wanting to deliver so desperately. I really feel like they had to cut even greater combat moves due to keeping the PG-13 rating. But even with that limited scope, that action delivers.

There are some pacing issues, with the middle section of the movie dragging on a little too much for my tastes. The ending ramps everything back up again and delivers a great resolution that concludes the film wonderfully.

**Score:** _74%_ |
**Verdict:** _Good_

CinemaSerf

Viola Davis offers us a compelling and emotional performance as the general of the highly trained and deadly, all-woman, bodyguard of the King of Dahomey (John Boyega). Increasingly embroiled in the ambitions of the European slavers and, to a certain extent, complicit in that trade themselves, the Agojie must face encroaching and modernly armed soldiers of the Oyo empire. On a personal level, this great warrior clearly has demons of her own and as she is introduced to the headstrong and courageous "Nawi" (Thuso Mbedu) she sees more of herself than she anticipated. When serendipity now plays it's hand the hitherto unshakable mettle of "Nanisca" faces an whole new series of perilous and personal challenges. The cinematography is beautiful, as is the whole look of the film in general. The political and social elements of the narrative are there to be seen but any comments made about them are levelled gently and at both sides who indulge, permit, and/or profit by the activities that made many very wealthy. The action scenes, the ensemble dancing, the singing - all are excellently presented in a colourful and plausible fashion; illustrating the sophistication of this legendary African nation and the shameless brutality of those who would be the exploiters. Lashana Lynch contributes well too, as the personable and feisty "Izogie" as do Sheila Atim ("Amenza") and Sivuyile Ngesi as the nemesis general "Migan". Annoyingly, I could not quite place the "Santo" actor until I realised it was none-other than the star of the truly mediocre "After" films - Hero Fiennes Tiffin - and he adds very little. It really benefits from the big screen experience, if you can - and is well worth a watch.

The Movie Mob

**The Woman King is a powerful action epic with fantastic fight choreography, dynamic, strong performances, and a compelling story rooted in history.**

Viola Davis crushes brutal action heroine! The entire cast was powerful, vicious, strong, and exciting. The action explodes right out the gate and feels so raw, with the jujitsu, Kali, and Chinese Wushu all blending with the machete and spear fighting to feel like the sword version of John Wick's gun-fu. Viola Davis' steely strong portrayal of Nanisca delivers a mighty yet caring warrior general, creating the genuine and dynamic atmosphere of the film. The entire cast gave stellar performances, but the stand out was Lashana Lynch as Izogie. Lynch was as over-powering, unstoppable, and skilled as any warrior in the film while also serving as the heart, humor, and strength of her Agojie sisters. The film was a fantastic adventure epic but lagged a little in the middle as it focused solely on character development and exposition. Yes, I know I'm complaining about character development, but it was just solid discussion and characters without much to keep me engaged for that hour-long middle section. But that is nitpicking. The movie is fantastic! Watch it!

Peter McGinn

I liked The Woman King okay: the scenery and acting were fine and the music glorious, but why did I sometimes feel I was watching a different “King” movie by Disney? They danced as well as they fought; though to be fair, is it much different than the complex marches used by more modern armies? There was a bit too much violence for my taste, but perhaps it is needed for the target audience.

The story was stereotypical in places, though for this progressive white guy, it was refreshing not to see white faces shoehorned into the story to placate the (only) White Lives Matter crowd, who were out in force with negative reviews. Here is a tip: if a four-star review points out positives but throws in complaints about historical accuracy and not enough Caucasians for the movies’ setting— okay, maybe. But if a one-star review screams about the issue, welcome to the Keep Movies White World. Are they just as offended by the thousands of movies that ignored or appropriated stories and roles of people of color in all white movies though the decades? I think not.

So while this movie won’t make any of my lists of favorites, I am glad it was made available to women and girls and other less-thin skinned caucasians like me to enjoy.

Manuel São Bento

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/the-woman-king-spoiler-free-review

"The Woman King shares an immensely captivating, culturally significant story about the Agojie, a unit of female warriors who fight to protect their own. Viola Davis shines, but Thuso Mbedu delivers one of the best feature film debut performances I've ever witnessed.

The anti-slavery, anti-racism and equal human rights messages are well conveyed, but the authentic, emotionally resonant character dynamics stand out due to a chemistry-filled cast. Action sequences hold high levels of brutality, accompanied by excellent choreography and an energetic score.

One of the best movies of the year... ignoring the butchered Portuguese."

Rating: A-

Oh come on with the good reviews, even if she wasn't an evil slave trader, the film comes across as a melodramatic propaganda piece from start to finish...

... but then again, it was a melodramatic propaganda piece from start to finish...

... but that's not why it's one of the movies with a huge disparancy between critic and user reviews on the more reputable sights.  It was intentionally polarizing.  Rational people are ripping into it because they turned a power hungry monster responsible for the slave trade and a fair amount of ethnic cleansing into an anti-slavery hero.  It was a monumental rewrite of history from start to finish, one so extreme you can't even give it the excuse of artistic license. 

And it was intentional, there were a lot of other people that you could make a heroic movie about that fit the mold they were looking for to push meh message.  But they chose this one because the point wasn't to praise the historical figure, the point was to praise the total rewrite of history.

And make no mistake, that is the reason for the positive reviews.  They don't care that it's a cheap poorly written over-acted political propaganda flick, they are praising the fact that they blatantly and knowingly rewrote history, and then turned around and said "we don't care, it's rewritten now, we have changed reality and, guess what, all of our goose stepping followers don't care either."

"Courage" TV Spot | 20"

"Legend" TV Spot | 20"

"Legend" TV Spot | 30"

"Courage" TV Spot | 30"

Viola Davis and Julius Tennon on Producing The Woman King and Creating Change | EE BAFTAs Red Carpet

Black History Month

Clip - King's Speech

For Your Consideration: The Ensemble Cast

Special Features Clip: Terance Blanchard's Score

Vignette - Viola as a Leader

First 9 Minutes

Filming in South Africa

She's the One

"It felt like freedom" Viola Davis and the cast of The Woman King on working on a black female set

Clip - Izogie Standoff

Gala Screening

The Woman King( 2022)

Her reign begins.

Overview

Top Billed Cast

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A review by Nathan

Written by Nathan on Fri Oct 14 2022

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