This could very well have been a great movie - all it would take is a little bit of effort to get the history right instead of inventing myth. The Agojie/Mino/Minon were a real part of the Dahomey Kingdom, known for their skill at close quarters combat and their aggressiveness. As far as I can determine, there was no tradition of a "Woman King" (but Dahomey did have Queens) but the Agojie were represented on the council that advised the King. However, when it comes to depicting just about everything else in the movie (including the speech given by Viola Davis's character before the main battle) are on the same level as Braveheart - myth with very little actual history behind it. Dahomey did not withdraw from the slave trade (at least, not for any significant period). Selling people was simply too lucrative.
Review of The Woman King
