The King’s Heart

-Originality: [0 out of 5] From the beginning I thought ‘eh.. this is a Cinderella story’ so it should go the typical Cinderella route but I’ll give it points for whatever route it chooses… this was my mentality until the *SPOILER ALERT* baby swapping scene. As soon as they changed the babies of the queens, I knew I had seen the movie before. It’s a rip of a Nigerian movie, just that I do not recall what Nigerian movie that was, or who was in it, or when the movie was made. If you do, please help me out

-Predictability: [0 out of 5] Of course the end was a given.

-Directing/Editing: [1 out of 5] It was in four parts (yes) but it was still an amazing movie. The dialogues were too wordy at some scenes that it made those scenes drag and made them quite a bore (at least for me).

-Acting quality: [3 out of 5] I thought Mercy did a great job (although, I must add that she has acted this role one too many times… it’s time to leave it alone). Nonso Diobi! I thought he would be absolutely dreadful, to be honest. And in his first scene, it looked like he was gunning to prove me right. He was forced… add that to the corny poetic dialogue? All I can say is that was not my best scene. Regardless, through the movie… his performance gained momentum and I think he finished at a pretty decent pace. Jackie Appiah, however, was simply FORCED! See her fluttering like a butterfly when the King asked her her name? Chei biko mbanu (Wow! please no). Kofi Adjorlolo and that his nose-digging in this movie irked the living daylight out of me. Reminds me of Artus Frank’s character in Tchidi Chikere’s “Native Daughter” (which I am yet to review because I am yet to finish because I can’t get past Artus’ constant nose digging). Kofi did a good job. So did Kalsum. Not as forced as I had previously expected her to be. You can tell this is an old movie due to many things. The first and most obvious being that Kalsum and Mercy are still quite skinny in this movie (this feem na before them begin to dey chop that Nollywood money). Second, it stars Nonso Diobi and he hasn’t acted in eons. And thirdly, because Roselyn and Martha are in very small roles. Roselyn, I’m happy she broke out to bigger things but Martha? Should have stayed right here… I did like Martha’s role in this movie though. The prince/king/son of Nonso’s character is not yet strong enough of an actor

-Setting: [2 out of 5] Ok

-Costume/Make-Up: [2 out of 5] I preferred the costumes of the royal maids to that of the queen (the irony). But everything else was mostly on point

-Video Quality: [2 out of 5] Some poor night scenes here and there

-Soundtrack: [4 out of 5] Loved it! Loved it!! Loved it!!! Lyrics above. The soundtrack was done by a guy called Chimere Emejuobi; who, in my opinion, did an amazingly outstanding job.

-Musical Score: [3 out of 5] Nicely done

“The ways of the gods are not our ways.

Strange are their words.

Strange are their thoughts.

The gods are wise.

We are like puppets in the hands of the gods

Whatever they choose, they do with us”

“The heart of man is so deceitful.

The heart of man is wicked and callous

Jealousy everywhere.

Envy here and there

Where do we go?

Olisa come help us… come help us”