CINEMA LENSES

     @black_pen_magic

   

Hey guys! We are back again. You already know what we do here. Reviewing Cinema blockbuster movies is our thing of course, we comment and fish out the good, the bad and the ugly. Today we're going to look at the Oba in all her glory, Eniola Salami or as we fondly call her the "KING OF BOYS 2; RETURN OF THE KING" lol, I literally played a thunderstorm in my head.

Now the summary: SPOILER ALERT∆∆∆

       Now King of Boys’ returns with a sequel three-years after its blockbuster debut.This time, there’s a wily First Lady, a sword-totting moll, and a journalist of the nincompoop variety.The 2018 original film ends on a downcast note: the eponymous King of Boys, Eniola Salami (Sola Sobowale), goes on self-exile in the United States to preserve life and limb after a bungled attempt to transfigure from ruthless, blood-curdling mafioso boss to respectable politician.It’s been five years since her exile; now she’s touched home soil after charges against her have been dropped, abetted by the president whom she had helped install in office.It didn’t take long before Eniola declares to a throng of reporters her intention to “throw (her) gele” into the forthcoming Lagos State gubernatorial elections, stirring old foes from sloth and inspiring new ones.

        Trust me, this movie earns every hyped it got. Everything was on point, from the acting to dialogue, the cinematography, costumesssss, the most anticipated Nollywood blockbuster series of the year yet. 

  ACTING: Was it Jumoke Randle's (Nse Ikpe-Etim) line delivery or her mannerism, her firm stare, I don't know what but that woman's acting is fire, whatttt. Aareeeeeee (Akin Lewis) lol, when I knew he was detailed through and through with his character was when he said "go and get the minerals in the fridge". Young Eniola Salami (Toni Tones) whatttt!!! Like that is a classy typical Yoruba tout. Though I felt it was easy to be that character because she never changed, she was never calm at any point, always on fire so yes, she was damn good with her part, but I would love to see a switch. Then our one and only Oba, Alhaja Eniola Salami (Sola Sobowale)-painful though but it was a sight to behold seeing her switch from Oba to a mother in grief. Only her facial expressions, her eyes, malicious smile, composure and confidence commands respect. Yes the script did its job but Sola Sobowale polished the life out of it. And then comes our but. I mean what's a review without a but? Ade Tiger's (Titi Kuti) only made me understand that he's a real life "fine boy". Yes he has the body of a mafia and the look of course but the voice, bro the voice. He sounded like he was TRYING his possible best to sound like a thug but he just couldn't. It would've been best if he spoke Yoruba throughout, he sounded better when did. Not to mention our Odudubariba (Charles "Charlyboy" Oputa) he dressed like a mafia, looked like a mafia but didn't sound like a mafia at alll.There was no power in his voice. I feel more blood shedding would have helped his character some more. 

       THEME: In my opinion Kemi Adetiba tried to play around different themes, though successfully interpreting some, others where left rather unresolved. Theme of Loyalty, Family, Ambition, Politics, Pride, Justice, Feminism, God fatherism, Wrath of man. infact at this point, it will be rather difficult to pick a particular theme for this Nollywood thriller.

SUSPENSCE: Hmmmm, let's start with the fact that we knew Agnes was a traitor but didn't know who she was working for, to the fact that we started questioning Tiger's loyalty, to the political race, to Dapo Banjo's story like it all kept us at the edge of our seats. But I for one knew Makanaki would be back, it didn't come as a surprise to me but what I never expected was the coronation at the last episode. Whatttttt!!!! But don't lie, even a child would know that "Aunty beheader" was going to get pregnant.

DIALOGUE: Don’t you love how Reverend Ifeanyi (RMD) is delightfully duplicitous? How Jumoke Randle demeans? The parables were just beautiful. The way Eniola Salami spoke Yoruba and English in her campaigns like a real elder. Odogwu Malay's delivery. Ade Tiger's delivery. Aare lol. I would rate the dialogue an 8/10. Kemi Adetiba did a very job there. Beautiful choice of words.

CINEMATOGRAPHY: The cinematography in KOB2 isn’t too shabby. Pretty good, actually. The camera angle and movement. The lighting and grading. They all did justice to the mood of the movie. Good picture, KOB2. 

SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF: KOB2 is good because it is not too fantastical. We can bring ourselves to believe characters like Eniola Salami, Odogwu Malay and Aare could exist. To believe the plausibility of the political and criminal intrigues in the movie. Unlike Dominic Toretto driving a sports car through three skyscrapers.But the suspension of disbelief can’t stretch our imagination too far lest disbelief sets in. For instance, how on earth can PAs and security personnel be in the room with the Governor when his wife went off on him? How could the PA and security officers be present when the First Lady tried to bribe Laburu with contracts? It must also be a daft First Lady that goes in person to deliver dirt on a rival to a journalist. This leads to the plot and areas KOB2 should have done better.

PLOT: For one, it took too long for the series to get going. As of episode 3, I was losing patience. Perhaps it was not unexpected, stretching a movie into a 7h 19m series. Too much talk, too little action. Give me some blood, will ya! Two, did Boxer betray Eniola or not? And how and when did Eniola parley the resurrected Makanaki, offering him the kingship of “the table”? Sure, it was unexpected. But it also didn’t make sense. I denounce the denouement!And why is Dapo the journalist so much in our face? The dude should have been nothing more than a side dish. But homeboy is pining for the main course. Insufferable the amount of time he had. Yea, KOB2 was trying to do too much, fill spaces. You can, er, lose the plot doing that.

       Plus let me add that I preferred Makanaki's shrine in KOB1 to KOB2. Like, what was that? For an act so devilish and so important to the plot, the setting of shrine would have done better. I mean it wouldn't cost much to get birds and frogs to give life to the sound effect, or maybe setting a slaughtered cow head or goat just something to make the place rather scaring than beautiful. I don't know if the costumier was trying to manage blood. Plus Eniola's car exploded right? So no injury? No controversy? The story just continued? Again was it Aare that planted the bomb or Makanaki? Me I don't know oooooo. But one thing I really loved was the fact that in Episode 5 when Eniola Salami kept the elders waiting at the table, the candles were almost out when she or Tiger rather arrived. It was a minute detail but it was beautiful to watch. Again they would have showed us the debate naaaaaaa. But I guess it was left out on purpose. And I know that you know that is not the end of the movie, so watch out. So with all said and done, I hope it's fair I give our "KING OF BOYS 2: THE RETURN OF THE KING" an 8/10. Prrrrrruuurrrrr, if you don't agree, you can rate it yourself below. Byeeee