Soul Of A King

It is so aggravating to think that after so many years of cinema, especially of making the same movies over and over again, we still haven’t perfected the act of destroying a villain at the end of the movie. It’s 2013 and forgive me for thinking that getting some lanky looking cops to carry away two dubious, evil culprits is not enough. I need to somebody to buy a nail gun and line these fellas up against a wall and shoot them. I want to get gratification at the end that justice was served, especially if the ‘end’ comes after 6 hours of movie time.

I think we’re making progress in Nollywood… I think… But it’s hard to keep thinking this when some people are still making 6 part movies in 2013. It’s easier to hate a 6 part movie when the story is pointless, the acting is ridiculous and the production is laughable. But when the case is similar to that of “The Kingdom“, then what is a girl to do?

I started this movie, fully aware that it had six parts yet I thought I would just start it and get a feel of it and come back to it if my guts permitted it. But for some reason, I kept watching and part one became part two, part two became part three, and three four, then four five and five six.

And with each passing part my anger kept increasing, but weirdly enough my aggravation was not due to the length of the movie, I hardly noticed that, I was irked at the villain of the movie which is simply a testament to Ngozi Ezeonu’s acting. There’s not a person more thrilled about Mrs. Ezeonu’s recent choice in atypical non-queen mother role as I am. I am simply overjoyed to see her in jeans, holding a gun, or plotting something devious… well, at least I am after the movie is over because whilst it’s playing all I’m thinking is ‘somebody needs to strangle this witch’. Ngozi Ezeonu as a villain really is a breath of fresh air, at least you don’t pick up the movie like you would a Patience Ozokwo film knowing from the onset that she is the villain. Mrs. Ezeonu as a villain is a pleasant surprise.

Having said that, I cannot deny that most of the actors in this movie (i.e the unfamiliar names) were really just occupying space. The first scene especially was very aggravating for me. Forgive me for wanting Mercy Johnson to be the first person I see in a Mercy Johnson movie, not three actors whose names I do not know and whose acting abilities were very questionable. Infact I found myself praying from the onset for this particular actor, that his character would die before the next part lest he makes the movie a chore to watch.

I must commend Fabian Adibe, Mercy, Eve, and Kenneth they commanded their roles each with such tact that only comes with experience. I cannot but mention the character of Damien played by a certain Jerry Williams. From the onset it was clear that he couldn’t act but he had such energy, that I think the energy almost nearly made up for it (that and the fact that he had a very low key character). And I don’t know whether it’s because of his character or just the actor but after his performance in this movie I can’t deny that I low-key love you, but your acting could use some work.

The production of the movie in general, quality-wise, could have been so much better. As regards the editing, for a six part movie there surprisingly wasn’t any one scene I felt the urge to fastforward through. All the scenes added to the movie but a six part movie is simply unacceptable and I have no doubts that a seasoned moviemaker would have been able to draw the same emotions from the audience in about 2hrs of film time.