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The Rivals, a new dawn

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moviewizard

moviewizard

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I have told myself i would only talk about movies that are worth their salt and i do think this movie is. Although the storyline is nothing peculiar but they were able to do a proper film from costuming to location, set design and sound quality.And i heard most of the costuming and set design was done by Blessing and Omoni the producers, simply amazing cos the quality is superb. Here is the brief synopsis

The prince of calabar must choose from three distinctive women who he fancies, set in the 1970's calabar township, the rivals is an epic cultural drama about power, tradition and search for love.

Now i do like it that this is in one part as opposed to what we have in many nollywood films, part ones to even part fours, its really terrible and i hope it stops. The Rivals is in just one part and i predict (thats if the film is submitted) that it would be a contender at this years AMAA Awards. Blessing Effiom really did a great job with this and i must commend that you all see it. I also understand it won "Best international drama" at the film festival in new york or so...thats good to know and it also had companies like "Tinapa, oanda filling station, UBA bank supporting the film. This is what we are talking about and this is definitely the way to go. The movie had its low sides like the not so good acting from patricia Leon who acted Queen(wasnt feeling her at all, is it just me, people let me know) and there should have been more content, that would have given the movie more appeal. But all in all good someone is thinking right and this film says so.

Congratulations to Blessing Ibiang Effiom and i must say this is certainly the way to go...people like you inspire me cos when i do go into filmmaking proper, i intend doing proper and real films with great storyline and a formidable cast and crew...and i know having a back ground in theatre (school) which am having would go a long way in shaping me up.
 
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zelifat

Well-Known Member
Yep, I liked THE RIVALS; Hope they make more movies with our traditional costumes and setting, I won't even mind our local languages too. A movie set against Tinapa would not be a bad idea at all......
 
Z

zelifat

Well-Known Member
Yep, me likes too. It had a stage-like quality to it and oddly enough, I liked that. The costumes were really nice and Desmond has this really innate charm that was very evident here especially whenever he smiled in scenes with Kate Henshaw
 
M

Mimi Nat

Active Member
moviewizard said:
I have told myself i would only talk about movies that are worth their salt and i do think this movie is. Although the storyline is nothing peculiar but they were able to do a proper film from costuming to location, set design and sound quality.And i heard most of the costuming and set design was done by Blessing and Omoni the producers, simply amazing cos the quality is superb. Here is the brief synopsis

The prince of calabar must choose from three distinctive women who he fancies, set in the 1970's calabar township, the rivals is an epic cultural drama about power, tradition and search for love.

Now i do like it that this is in one part as opposed to what we have in many nollywood films, part ones to even part fours, its really terrible and i hope it stops. The Rivals is in just one part and i predict (thats if the film is submitted) that it would be a contender at this years AMAA Awards. Blessing Effiom really did a great job with this and i must commend that you all see it. I also understand it won "Best international drama" at the film festival in new york or so...thats good to know and it also had companies like "Tinapa, oanda filling station, UBA bank supporting the film. This is what we are talking about and this is definitely the way to go. The movie had its low sides like the not so good acting from patricia Leon who acted Queen(wasnt feeling her at all, is it just me, people let me know) and there should have been more content, that would have given the movie more appeal. But all in all good someone is thinking right and this film says so.

Congratulations to Blessing Ibiang Effiom and i must say this is certainly the way to go...people like you inspire me cos when i do go into filmmaking proper, i intend doing proper and real films with great storyline and a formidable cast and crew...and i know having a back ground in theatre (school) which am having would go a long way in shaping me up.
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Abeg, Moviewizard, which time the film comot?
 
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noone

Guest
Isn't this the film that Blessed was to show at the New York film festival or something? Is it out? Pls o! 'UK arians' is it out in the UK? I need to see something good. Apart from Sky 331, I haven't watched anything (new) in a while now
 
takestyle

takestyle

Well-Known Member
for some reason, i'm up at 3:30 in the morning watching this movie, and i'm really baffled by the praise for the costumes and set design in it. they're really... not good. at all.

i'm not crazy about the stagey mise-en-scene, but i can live with it. what i don't understand is why all the actors' line readings are so awkward. even actors who are usually pretty good (like Kate Henshaw and Desmond Elliott) are horribly wooden in here. it's like they're all delivering their lines phonetically, without knowing what the words even mean.

(doesn't help that the dialogue itself is absurdly stilted.)

and Kate Henshaw is much, MUCH too old for the role she is playing here.

one thing i will say, though: the audio is relatively clean (for most of the movie, anyway).
 
takestyle

takestyle

Well-Known Member
sorry, MW... i can't give this one a thumbs up.

i mean, the best i can say is that it's not a cynically conceived piece of crap like the vast majority of Nollywood product. i can see the good intentions behind it... but the execution is just not up to snuff.

it reminds me of an episode of Tales By Moonlight. and not in a good way, either.
 
moviewizard

moviewizard

Well-Known Member
takestyle said:
sorry, MW... i can't give this one a thumbs up.

i mean, the best i can say is that it's not a cynically conceived piece of crap like the vast majority of Nollywood product. i can see the good intentions behind it... but the execution is just not up to snuff.

it reminds me of an episode of Tales By Moonlight. and not in a good way, either.
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I wasnt expecting you to give it some thumps up. Its good to state your mind and give an honest review which is what you have done. I quite agree with you with all you said. Really i watch lots of crap, and when i saw this i felt it was a breath of fresh air, it had its bad side which you have stated. I noticed the line reading thingy too but it was more obvious with the Queen, dunno why they made it that way. Trust me!
 
takestyle

takestyle

Well-Known Member
moviewizard said:
I noticed the line reading thingy too but it was more obvious with the Queen, dunno why they made it that way.
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actually, even worse than the queen is Blessing herself. with the exception of the fellow who plays the bit role of "Effiong," the chief palace guard (i am not convinced that this actor even understands English at all), Ms. Effiom turns in the flattest performance of the entire ensemble.

Kate Nuttal's performance is bad for opposite reasons; she is hilariously over the top, bugging her eyes and baring her teeth as she chews up all the scenery in sight!

Alex Usifo... well, i guess the basso profundo over-enunciation thing has been par for the course with him for years now, so there's hardly any point commenting on it now. you either just take it or leave it.

which film festival in New York was this thing supposed to have won, again?
 
takestyle

takestyle

Well-Known Member
moviewizard said:
BTW, have u seen the film, White Waters, would be nice to know what you think about it.
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nah... haven't caught it yet, though i've been curious about it. i won't deny that i am slightly suspicious of its status as the end product of a cheesy reality show, but i am willing to give it a fair appraisal if i get the chance to see it.
 
moviewizard

moviewizard

Well-Known Member
takestyle said:
nah... haven't caught it yet, though i've been curious about it. i won't deny that i am slightly suspicious of its status as the end product of a cheesy reality show, but i am willing to give it a fair appraisal if i get the chance to see it.
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The movie is not scarce now so why havent u seen it. Pls do see it and lets know what ya think, whether is thumps up or thumps down as far its an honest review.
 
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