In a year where it feels like we haven’t that many great films to cling to here comes The Woman King. A movie that delivers fierce action but manages to also tell a compelling and emotional story that is sure to get audiences cheering. The Agojie is the badass unit of female warriors who protect the West African Kingdom of Dahomey to which this film is based on. I can’t speak as to whether or not the events of this film are mostly true, all I can say is that director Gina Prince-Bythewood certainly gave this film an authenticity in the technical department that rivals Black Panther. 

The natural comparison is with Black Panther and the Dora Milage. And how Black Panther went on to win awards in production and costume design, I certainly can see the same success for The Woman King. The score for this film is great too and gives the film a regal and triumphant feeling. Kudos to Terrence Blanchard. The performances from this cast are all fantastic. You don’t need me to tell you Viola Davis nails the physicality this role demands and the emotional layers needed to play her character. She’s just a badass in this. However, in my opinion as good as Davis is, the scene stealer of this movie is Lashana Lynch. She becomes the heart of the movie essentially and gives one of the finest performances of her young career. 

This is one of the better movies of 2022 thus far. There’s a entire storyline with a young girl joining the ranks of the Agojie in the film. She’s sort of the audiences peak inside this fierce warrior unit. Let’s just say her overarching storyline takes some twists and turns I wasn’t expecting but only adds to the emotional resonance the film hits you with in its third act. For a movie that is PG-13 you can seriously make the case the violence feels very adult. (Hollywood take note) While it maybe took me 20 minutes or so to get fully invested in this story The Women King is one definitely worth checking out in theaters.