Showing posts with label Movie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Movie. Show all posts

Movie Review: Merry Men 2: Another Mission (2019 Nollywood Film)

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Got invited to the premiere of this movie and it was a great watch!

 
A step above its predecessor! 


The Rundown
Behind the name: Based on Robin Hood’s outlaw gang
Country: Nigeria, 2019
Genre: Action, Comedy 
Production: Corporate World Entertainment & FilmOne Entertainment
Director: Moses Inyang
Cast:   AY Ayo Makun (as Ayo Abioritsegbemi), Ramsey Nouah (as Ayo Alesinloye), Jim Iyke (as Naz Okigbo), Folarin Falana AKA falz (as Remi Martins), Ireti Doyle (as Dame Maduka), Damilola Adegbite (as Dera Chukwu), Rosy Meurer (as Kemi Alesinloye), Alex Asogwa (as Calypso), Williams Uchemba (as Johnny), Ufuoma McDermott (as Zara), Nancy Isime (as Sophie Obaseki), Regina Daniels (as Kenya) & more
Compare to: Merry Men, The Real Yoruba Demons 
Hate it or Love it?  Watch it



Synopsis in a Sentence: A crew of four friends brought together by the idea that stealing from the rich to “give to the  poor” try to straighten their ways, but soon realise that once they sleep with the dogs, they have to deal with the fleas that come with them... 

On Writing: The Plot
The plot is clearer, more  engaging and overall relays a much better storyline than the first! 
With a slightly better exposition than the first movie, we get insight into the lives of the crooks, and what motivates them, and why we should actually like them. 
The climax is also better, some pieces of dialogue are funnier, and the rise and fall of the action is a step above the previous one; an overall upgrade on this front!
(3.5/5)



On Acting: The Cast 
The cast is, quite star-studded, and the characters are clearly written for the personality each actor brings. 
Here are the Merry Men: top comedian AY Ayo Makun plays the role of Ayo Abioritsegbemi, playboy and co ring-leader of the gang. Then there’s veteran actor, Ramsey Nouah, who plays Ayo Alesinloye, co-ring leader as well. Old school actor Jim Iyke plays pervie friend, Naz Okigbo, and talented musician and political commentator, Falz, AKA Folarin Falana plays Remi Martins, the techie, and we get introduced to comedian Williams Uchemba, who plays Johnny, the rival techie. 
And amongst others, including Francis Duru, who is chief investigator and  Damilola Adegbite who is investigator Dera Chukwu, we have Ireti Doyle, who is Dame Maduka AKA the villain AKA the devil. And she, quite honestly, carries the movie and relays the most believable character yet! A top performance! (3.5/5) 


On Production: The Creativity
The production is quite, maybe, the star of the whole thing; we get to see Lagos, Abuja, city life in Nigeria, and it’s quite well done. We get a few shots of creativity with the action as well, and the humour is quite well infused, so overall, production is well done! 
(4/5)                                              


On Resolution: The Conclusion
Alright. So. We are likely to get a part 3. 
It resolves nicely but there are a few hangs… does the villain go scott free, or does she finally lose her luck? Will the marriage ever happen? Can the merry men really stay out of the easy, glitzy life of crime they’ve come to know and love? All these lead us to believe that there's likely to be another movie coming, but for this movie’s resolution, it is quite alright! 
(3.5/5)


The Verdict: An upgrade from the previous movie! A more enjoyable watch


Overall Score = 14.5/20







Review: The CEO (2016 Film)

Monday, February 20, 2017
Went to see this one in cinemas in Nigeria and was enthralled by the storyline—top managers from all over around Africa vying for the title of global CEO? Yes!


A story of intrigue, power and all the political/financial struggles of modern day Africa.

The Rundown
Behind the name: The Chief Operating Officer   
Country: Nigeria, 2016
 Genre: Thriller, Drama
Written by: Tunde Babalola
Director: Kunle Afolayan
                  Cast: Wale Ojo (as Kola), Angélique Kidjo (as Dr. Zara Zimmerman),             Hilda Dokubo (as Superintendent Ebenezer), Nico Panagio (as Riikard), Jimmy Jean-Louis (as Jean-Marc), Fatym Layachi (as Yasmin), Peter King Nzioki (as Jomo), Kemi Lala Akindoju (as Lisa)
                  Compare to: Itself
                  Hate it or Love it? Like it

Synopsis in a Sentence: Top managers from all over Africa meet in Lagos, Nigeria to compete for the CEO spot, but will any of them live to take the no.1 spot? 
           

On Writing: The Plot
The story is unique and quite new, at least for Nollywood’s typical fixation on family dramas, so points for that! Also, we get to see continental representation of Africa, including the North! Otherwise the story is relatively disjointed and a bit patchy, and with a few unbelievable bits, but at least points for exploring a new storyline, right? 
(3/5)

On Acting: The Cast
The cast is quite famous and very diverse and that’s by far the highlight; perhaps a wonderful cast would have taken the alright storyline and made it almost great, but quite honestly, the cast was just like the plot—alright; perhaps not because the actors were bad, but because they weren’t cast correctly. For Example, acclaimed actress Hilda Dokubo makes her big come back in this movie, after what seems like 20 years, and she’s cast to play a super-charged, super aggressive inspector; which is not the best choice for her, because the legendary actress we know from the 90s is famed for playing the sweetest, saddest characters, and this role is simply not her, especially after she’s spent so much time away from the big screen. And then there’s Angelique Kidjo, legendary Grammy-award-winning musician, but she is not quite her character here.
But the best actor goes to Peter King Nzioki, who plays the top manager from Kenya. He is absolutely convincing and believable, which is much needed from this picture!
 (3/5)


On Production: The Creativity
Production is the best thing in this movie! The shots are gorgeous and we get to see Lagos in a new light! A far cry from the hustle and bustle and craziness of the city, we see the touristic part of Nigeria’s largest city in the most gorgeous way! And the actors and the plot are saved by the magic that is production. A job well; very well done!
(4/5)                                             

On Resolution: The Conclusion
So much to say here but let’s get straight to the point—the resolution is quite a fail. Mostly for the premise of the conclusion, it’s incomplete and unconvincing, and haphazard resolution. Don’t believe it? Watch and see—even if just for that.
(2/5)

The Verdict: A good watch; novel storyline and outlook to African actors, but overall, average
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Overall Score = 12/20
Watch the Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm0pmb0CXxg




Review: 100 Days with Mr. Arrogant (2004 Film)

Saturday, March 19, 2016
The title sounded interesting, the cover looked good, the synopsis seemed to make a fun story, so I saw it… but I was disappointed...



“Another ‘romantic comedy’ with nothing to its name.”

The Rundown
Behind the name: AKA My Love Ssagaji
Country: South Korea, 2004
 Genre: Romantic Comedy
Distributed by: Cinema Service
Director: Shin Dong-yeop
Cast: Kim Jae-won (as Ahn Hyung-jun), Ha Ji-won (as Kang Ha-yeong), Kim Tae-hyeon (as Yeong-eun), Han Min (as Hyeon-ju), Kim Chang-wan (as Ha-yeong's Father), Hong Ji-Yeong, Kim Ji-yu, Kim Min-kyeong, Lee Eung-kyung (as Ha-yeong's Mother)
Compare to: My Sassy Girl, He Was Cool
Hate it or Love it? Ummmm…
Synopsis in a Sentence: Ha-Young gets dumped right before her 100-day anniversary she flips and mistakenly causes an accident with “Mr. Arrogant,” now she gets to spend 100 days with him.

On Writing: The Plot
Starts off well, but ends like a cliché. The idea has good intentions but the execution didn’t do it justice. The story’s all right, but nothing spectacular.
(3.5/5)

On Acting: The Cast
A good cast. Not bad, only Mr. Arrogant wasn’t quite as arrogant as he was portrayed to be—didn’t quite get on your nerves as much—and the leading character was overly animated on screen… as both of them covered about 70% of screen time, it’s a major issue throughout the film.
 (3/5)



On Production:
Not bad, but nothing great either.
 (3/5)                                             

On Resolution: The Conclusion
A South Korean film with a rounded resolution… at least the first I’ve seen, but with one big fat clichéd ending!
(3/5)

The Verdict: Not quite as good as you’d think.

Overall Score = 12.5/20