Starring: Dele Odule
Directed by: Mustapha Bakry
Production Company: Millenium Films and Otolo Films Production
Language: Yoruba (no subtitles)
Country: Nigeria
Synopsis: A politician's blind ambition for a senatorial post leads him to indulge in psychic practices that jeopardises his family's spiritual, emotional, physical and economic well being. This is only the first installment, a fact that was apparently not put forward at the point of purchase.
Grade: C+. I prefer Yoruba movies overall and the storyline was somewhat credible. However, if you have a low tolerance for psychic-ly toned features, you might not like it. And neither did I. I cannot take so much of going to witch doctors and doing all sorts of crazy shenanigans to get things to go my way. Still, an interesting flick.
Should you watch it: Yes. Make sure you have the sequel.
2.
Starring: Van Vicker, Psalm Adjetefio, Naana Hayfod, zGottfred Opoku Mensah, Bernard Poku and Michael Afranie.
Directed by: C'Emeka Uba
Production Company: Miracle Films
Language: English
Country: Ghanian
Synopsis/Plot: A wealthy man comes becomes benefactor to a poor young woman with whom he desires a relationship. Initially she returns his affection out of gratitude for her change in social status but that soon wears off and she desires to break free from the smothering constraints of her relationship. Problem: old man won't let go. He holds on and with tragic consequences...
My analysis: Oh dear, where do I begin. Is it with the lead female character who was supposedly so impoverished and yet was spotting green contacts, acrylic tips and a bull's eye tatoos? Or with the public assualt scenes where everyone just seemed to be going on with their business even though gun shots had supposedly been fired? Or with the wardrobe choices that made almost all the women look like walking drag queens? Or the fact that the makeup artist was scrimping so much that she could not layer on the foundation and concealer to hide the leading lady's horrible acne ravaged skin which apparently her character could not find a solution to even with an elevation in socio-economic status? Don't even let me start on the weaves.....
My grade: D. Simple, uneventful and a collection of poor performances poorly matched with good ones. Van was ok as usual. Psalm was his usual, huge self with speech that made me think if the poor guy had once had a stroke. The only character that stood out a little bit was of the woman who played his wife. See her weep her way through an entire movie in Crime to Christ as the christian mother. I forget her name in Desperate Desire...
Should you watch it?: If someone gives it to you for free.
3.
Starring: Sola Asedeko, Ayo Badmus & Toyin Adewale
Directed by: Babatunde Olaoye
Production Company: Olaoye Global Concept
Language: Yoruba (no subtitles)
Country: Nigeria
Synopsis/Plot: (Pulled from the DVD cover...I kid you not...my reactions in red italics)
"O'npe is the story of a baroness Toyin Adewale who deals on (m'kay...we deal on something now?)female trafficking Queen )Sola Asedeko) the leader of the ladies group met a man (Ayo Badmus) that wanted to change her life, she was caught between the pastor and the baroness who does not want to compromise her business. The die (as per death or dye as per colour?) was now cast for queen to struggle for her survival or get killed by the wicked baroness. Happy viewing (thanks. abi?)."
Grade: I think you can figure that out for yourself from what is written above. To go any further will be too much work and frankly I don't think anyone besides myself is reading this blog so....
Should you watch it?: If you have nothing better to do and someone forgot it in your house or general vicinity....
4.
Starring: Van Vicker, fred Amugi, Kojo Damenya, Nadia Buari, Kalsum Sinare & Juliet Ibrahim
Directed by: Daniel Ademinakor
Production Comany: Aa Production
Language: English
Country: Ghana
Synopsis: Princess takes a drug rap for her husband thinking he is innocent. She comes out of jail and her husband now has some crazed infatuation for her younger sister. Being a high ranking military officer, he has the power and training to make things happen his way irrespective of the colatteral damage. Little sister, Jasmine is involved with fine guy and is oblivious to it all. She is more concerned with avoiding fine guy's ex girl friend who still believes she is in a relationship with fine guy. Drama ensues all over the place.
My grade: B+. Fred Amugi was good. Kalsum kind of lost me. Nadia and Van already know how to look good together so imagine every good shared scene they ever had, and replicate it here. Juliet Ibrahim, I am convinced needs acting lessons and instructions or at the very least, a good wardrobe change...There were some very good moments of suspense and my aunt who was watching with me even shouted. I didn't, she did....
Should you watch it: Yep, go buy it and watch it.
5.
Starring: Femi Branch, Yemi Afolabi, Binta Ayo Mogaji, Kayode Odumosu (Pa Kasumu) & Rotimi Makinde
Directed by: ....
Production Company: Bakky Adeoye Film Productions & Mustoy Film Productions
Language: Yoruba (with subtitles)
Country: Nigeria
Synopsis: Six Words. DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN. Yoruba version. Plagiarised completely
My grade: G- for innovation
B+ for quality of performances
Should you watch it?: If you could not follow the original because you do not speak English well, the producers have thankfully got your back.
6.
Starring: Funke Akindele, Lola Alao, Bimbo Akinsanya, Soji Taiwo, Yinka Quadri, Eniola Afolayan and others....
Directed by: Nojeem Adisa
Production Company: Emma Films Limited
Language: Yoruba (no subtitles)
Country: Nigeria
Synopsis: (Pulled from the jacket cover...this one is on another level)
Adisa (Yinka Quadri) Murdered a mmanager whom he driver to and his wife, slandering (rotflmbao...slandering in different directions? where is my dictionary?) their children and housemaid (Lola Ajao) in Different directions. Now a notorius armed robber baroon yinka Quadri has three set of gangs for different operations. Grown up Kubura leaves with their former housemaid (Lola Ajao), suraju is now a musician while ramon, who has been given a mystical power by the witches has vow to stop every robbery operation that may occur in the community. The stage is set, ready for battle. The dogs are in pursuance of the tigers. (ok, now we are hunting British style?) Yinka Quadri, Funke Akindele, Bimbo Akinsanya are the Tiger,(so p'olorun) Lola Alao, ramon, Ayo Badmus, Police and the community are the dogs. Eee pa Aja ma Nlepa ekun oooo hin-in-in. (whatever the hell that means).
My Grade: well, after laughing at all that. I will give it a D. Nothing spectacular. I cannot even remember if I watched it all or it still had a sequel because all I know is that of what I saw, nothing major stuck except maybe Soji Taiwo whose razzness is some sort of comic genius.
Should you watch it?: we have to support the artists. they too are trying to feed.
7.
Starring: Bukky Ajayi and a whole bunch of Yoruba actors
Directed by: Lasun Ray ( who also has a cameo at the end)
Production company: Lasun Ray Productions, Toymax film holdings & Dynamic Pictures
Language: Yoruba (with Subtitles)
Country: Nigeria
Synopsis: I think I am going to leave this for someone else to tell me what this was about. I was sleepy and completely did not get how some woman was so rich, she pilfered a husband off another chick who had been financially supporting his broke, dependent ass and that of his parents. The man moves in, wahala( problems) begin and then the plot is all over the place.
My grade: H-. I don't even begin to know who would give funding for this....God, what I would do to start my own production outfit.
Should you watch it: after what i have said above, you are on your own.
8.
Starring: Van Vicker, Psalm Adjetefio, Naana Hayfod, zGottfred Opoku Mensah, Bernard Poku and Michael Afranie.
Starring: Sola Asedeko, Ayo Badmus & Toyin Adewale
Starring: Van Vicker, fred Amugi, Kojo Damenya, Nadia Buari, Kalsum Sinare & Juliet Ibrahim
Starring: Femi Branch, Yemi Afolabi, Binta Ayo Mogaji, Kayode Odumosu (Pa Kasumu) & Rotimi Makinde
