If you watched Agesinkole and Anikulapo and you think you’ve seen Epic movie at it’s finest, trust me you are wrong. Jagun Jagun takes you on a whole new ride.
Caveat: This review contains spoilers.
Jagun Jagun is a phenomenal movie! It is a captivating cinematic journey
that skillfully blends elements of drama, suspense, and cultural exploration.
When I decided to watch it, I thought it was just another movie. Maybe a little better than the others in terms of star power, but nothing out of the ordinary. Wow, was I wrong. I was blown away by how talented and wonderful the actors were. They played their roles like real pros and acted as though they were actually living those characters.
The movie Jagun Jagun not only meets up to the hype, but also exceeds it in every way. This cinematic masterpiece provides viewers with an outstanding experience that is worth every minute, from its intriguing storyline to its potent performances. You won’t be able to blink once you start watching this amazing film.
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the movie.
Plot
Jagun Jagun depicts the tale of Ogunjimi, a warrior who is feared both within and outside of his village. So powerful, even kings fear him. Aside being a warlord, he is also a trainer. He has some sort of school where young men are sent to learn how to become warriors. Among the trainees was Gbotija (Lateef Adedimeji). The presence of this young warrior-in-training, however, exposes Ogunjimi’s vulnerabilities as he worries that his position of control would be overthrown shortly and this fear ultimately led to his downfall.
Personally, I think the script is an excellent script. Every action and scene ties to the movie’s conclusion, you can obviously tell that the script had to go through extensive thought, editing, and revisions before being finalized.
Also, I didn’t think there was one unnecessary scene. even the ones that infused a little bit of humour were enjoyable to watch. The script’s twists and turns, many of which were unexpected, were another favourite element. Although you can tell how the movie would probably end at some point, the script kept me at the edge of my sit thinking of how it would actually happen.
Revealing the person behind the Agemo mask has got to be the most jaw-dropping plot twist I have seen in Nollywood. I am sure no one saw that coming. I mean, who would have thought that Iroyinogunkitan was the person behind the mask? My jaw dropped, literally.
Dialogue
As a Yoruba girl, I sincerely appreciate the impeccable use of idioms, proverbs, and chants throughout this movie. The word play on ogun (war), ogun (power), and oogun (sweat) was another fascinating use of the language in their dialogue. This might come as a challenge to non-Yoruba speaking audience, but thankfully, Netflix subtitle helps so that they won’t be lost in the conversation. It is also important to point out the use of some social media slang like in their dialogues too.
Cast
The movie was star-studded. From contemporary faces like Lateef Adedimeji, Bimbo Ademoye, Bukunmi Oluwashina, Mr Macaroni among others, to Nollywood OGs like Muyiwa Ademola, Ayo Mogaji, Fathia Balogun, Kunle Afod, Dele Odule and Adebayo Salami and a host of others. It was obvious throughout the movie that the casting of this movie was thoroughly done.
The cast on their parts didn’t disappoint, every single actor delivered. The casting director deserves an award, every single character is well chosen for their roles; anyone who is anyone in the Yoruba movie industry plays a part in this movie. Some have no speaking part, but they play their roles to the T.
Unseen Heroes
You would agree with me that there are some people behind the scenes that deserves their flowers. The first would be the set designer. From Anikulapo to Battle On Buka Street, we are beginning to see a trend of set designs being built from scratch and I am here for it. The set for this movie was everything and more.
Hakeem Effects and Anthill Studios should also be given their flowers. T he special effects in Jagun Jagun are also top-notch. They’re used to create some truly stunning visuals, such as the battle between the army and the warlord’s forces. The battle scenes are well choreographed, such that you can almost feel the travails and pains that the warriors are going through. This movie employs a lot of SFX, but the beauty is that you don’t know where they are; that is how good the SFX is, making you believe you are looking at the real thing.
This list would be incomplete if I don’t mention the chanter and the narrator. Just like he did in Agesinkole, the chanter’s voice made the hair on my arms stand. The soundtrack for Jagun Jagun is well chosen, not intrusive, but lending the right atmosphere to the scenes. I was ready to rate the movie a 10 at about sixty seconds. The narrator also did an amazing job by guiding us through the movie.
Sequel
Although the final scene’s introduction of Ibrahim Chatta’s character makes you question whether there will be a sequel, you do not get the impression that the film is incomplete. It is finished, but in a positive way provides room for more. A complete movie with a cliffhanger! With the groundbreaking success of Agesinkole and Jagun Jagun, I am hoping for a sequel, I just hope I don’t get disappointed.
Takeaway
This movie is not your regular happily ever after Nollywood movie. It took me on an emotional roller-coaster, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Maybe I am being biased, but I can not point out one flaw in this movie. I am aware that there is no perfect movie, but Jagun Jagun is almost perfect.
While it is easy to get lost in the action, it is important to note that this movie has an underlying theme of social consciousness. There is a message in this movie, a message that can be related to our current state in the country and some of the things that happened during the last election. This movie is timely and the message is very loud and clear. If you are lost, watch Gbotija’s (Lateef Adedimeji) final monologue.
If you have not watched Jagun Jagun, I will advise you to make it a point of duty to do so. Jagun Jagun is an amazing piece, and it could be nothing else but yet another classic that will resonate with the current generation and the generations to come. You cannot afford to miss this movie.
Have you seen the movie? What are your thoughts? Tell me in the comments.
Love Always, Temitope.
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