The premiere of the movie Invasion 1897 was held at Odeon Greenwich Cinema on Friday 7th November 2014. Prominent amongst those on the red carpet included Toksy B, Anthony Monjaro, Riyike Alayande, Malcolm Benson, Sam Anwuzia, Collins Archie Pearce, Deejay Abass, Sam and Tola Onigbanjo, Paul Obazele, Mike Omoregbe, Chucky Venn, Annika Aloti, Danny Erskine, cast and crew of the Movie, to mention but a few. The movie started pretty late although as you would see in my review it was worth the wait.
Storyline: The movie is a historic epic based on the life of Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi, the Oba of Benin Kingdom, who ruled between 1888 and 1897. In 1897, the British invaded Benin, marking the historical epic from which this film was made.
Igie Ehanire played by Chucky Venn, a research student on African Art History gets touched and perturbed about the injustice the British invasion of Benin. It got more worrisome for him on learning that the artwork was more than just art works but a historical documentation of the records of the Benin people.
He wanted to return the priceless work of history and records to its original owners but went about it wrongly by trying to steal them, was arrested and had to face the wrath of the law. In trying to justify his actions, he queries the judge what she would do if her wig and gown were stolen and she now discovers them with a third party and then goes on to narrate the series of events about the reign of Oba Ovonramwen played by Mike Omoriegbe one of the greatest kings of Benin Empire who until 1897 was the only king and kingdom standing in Sub Saharan Africa. A major misunderstanding ensued that led to deaths and destruction and the carting away of priceless works of art which were more than decorative pieces and tagged spoils of war and culminating in the banishment of a brave king.
The movie was based on a real life event that happened in the Benin Empire now in what is now known as Edo State of Mid-West Nigeria. The story was well researched and is an excellent piece of history, one worthy of being told. It reminds me of the film about Nelson Mandela and all I can say on the storyline is well done to the script writer for recording history in the form of a movie.
Cast: The movie featured local and international actors including famous British actors Garett Mort, Rudolph Walker, Charles Chucky Venn, Annika Alofti, Hannah Raeshe-Felstead, Tim Robinson, Rob Spackman, Patrick Thompson and Keith Davinson and top Nigerian actors including Segun Arinze, Charles Inojie, Nosa Ehimwen, Paul Obazele, Leo Mezie, Mike Omoriegbe, Idiata Otiagbe and the late Justus Esiri.
Firstly, I must commend the entire cast of the movie for being able to collaborate properly and make the movie as real to anyone that watched it, bearing in mind that it was meant to be a 19th Century story. I must however commend both Chucky Venn and Mike Omoriegbe both playing lead roles for “marrying” their roles for a lack of a better word and making those of us that watched the audience believe we were actually living in that era. Mike’s command of the Benin language and the culture must be commended and as the narrator in a different manner, Chucky must have taken time to study Benin History to have been confident enough to present his role the way he did. All the Chiefs and the supporting roles also contributed in making the movie as solid as it was. Again the British actors most of them involved in Nollywood for the first time did a good job in collaborating with the Nigerian actors in presenting what I call a first class jo. Well done!!
Sound: To me, the quality of the sound was good. It was not an A* which stands for excellence but it was good enough. I did not hear buzzing sounds or interference and the sounds of the props like the bombs fired came out properly. I must commend the Director and his crew for getting this right.
Picture Quality: The general picture quality was good again not excellent. I did not notice blurry pictures and in most of the scenes, the pictures were properly focused. Again I say well done!
Overall performance: We were informed that it took 4 years from start to finish produce what we saw at the premier. I commend Lancelot and his team the cast and crew for being patient to bring out such an epic historic piece. It shows that if as an industry, we take time, put in the effort, get the necessary sponsorship, the Nollywood industry would be a force to reckon with.
Although I would have liked to see more sub-titling and there were some typographical errors such as being “save” instead of “safe” (as a reviewer and critic, I see things people don’t see), overall, I believe the movie was an excellent movie.
Also in my view the cinematography was good, but in these days of computer technology where computers can create images to look real, I think advantage could have been taken of this for the war scenes and bombs, burning villages without losing the plot of the 19th Century. A typical example again was where people were beheaded, blood should have been flowing through and a good cinematographer would have caught this, this was missing in the movie. Finally, in such a movie as this, there should have been warnings that there were graphic imaging.
I don’t say this about many movies that I watch, but I think this movie should not only be premiered but should be in cinemas throughout the UK so tat people in Birmingham, Southampton and the furthest parts of the UK can have an opportunity to watch it. Would I recommend people to watch this movie, without blinking an eyelid or thinking about it, I say a big YES, it would be a 2 hours well spent. Although people complained that the movie started late, I asked some of these same people whether it was worth the wait and the all said yes.
In finality, to Lancelot and the team a big well done and kudos to you.
Watch the trailer:
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