The Woman King (2022) review

Having refused to marry any of the men brought before her, Nawi (Thuso Mbedu) is given to King Ghezo of Dahomey (John Boyega) by her father - there, she undergoes combat training with General Nanisca (Viola Davis, kickin' ass and taking names) as they're preparing to go to war with the rival Oyo Empire, who are in an evil partnership with the Portuguese traders.  Though the action scenes are energetic and have a good deal of pop, this is a wildly cleaned-up and sanitized vision of what actually transpired: yes, grrl power and all that fun stuff (Lashana Lynch is intense as Izogie), but there are important historical details that are being consciously overlooked for another "empowered" movie emphasizing inner and outer strength.  Staying mindful of current events, it's difficult to watch black-on-black violence (no matter how stylized) and not think about what's happening in cities across the Quite-Divided States of America: for example, earlier this week Takeoff from hip-hop trio Migos was killed in Houston outside a bowling alley.  What was it over?  A stupid dice game.  That's where we're at.