The Woman King

"It’s disappointing that the script isn’t always up to its singular source material and Prince-Bythewood’s sure, steady direction."

"A sturdy, rousing piece of studio entertainment that makes both the new feel old and the old feel new."

"When The Woman King works, it’s majestic."

"Brimming with lush scenery, impressively staged production design and intricately beautiful costumes, hair and makeup..."

"Rousing..."

"It is a splashy popcorn movie with a social conscience."

"If it seems a bit Hollywood-ised, complete with glossy twists and a touch of the soap operatic to boot, perhaps that’s part of what makes it so special."

"It is a film designed to inspire audiences and elicit cheers and, by and large, it succeeds. But there are undeniable and frequent moments of woozy disconnect..."

"For the most part... The Woman King plays as old-fashioned, crowd-pleasing, slam-bang entertainment."

"The world would be better off for more movies set in Africa before colonisation, especially if they’re as good as this one."

"See it because of the high bar it sets for all movies that still want to thrill you, move you, and operate on a larger-than-life level."

"The script never goes quite as deep as it could. No matter - The Woman King is so consistently powerful and emotionally exhilarating that we're swept away by it all..."

"The movie embraces the codes of mid-20th-century costume dramas: It’s stirring but slightly stodgy, designed to stand the test of time."

"A spirited and often thrilling action epic elevated by the regal, rigorous commitment of star Viola Davis."

"If there is anything holding the film back ever so slightly, it would be a fraught romance that Nawi stumbles into."