It is obvious that so many factors influence why we choose a particular movie to watch or even purchase. Majority of African movie lovers do not even care to read the synopsis of a movie; probably some of us do not even know what a synopsis of a movie is…
Many people select movies to watch or buy based on factors like the Actors and Actresses on the cover or in the movie, the Director or Producer of the movie and lastly the hype or promotion surrounding the movie.
The question is simple; based on what factors do you select African movies to watch or purchase? Do you just decide to watch or buy movies simply because you see Jackie Appiah, Yvonne Okoro, Nadia Buari, Majid or John Dumelo listed as stars in the movie or do you watch movies you heard or read from a blog that the movie is great?
Let’s get talking…
You should just write Ghana movies, because i can write 20 paragraphs on whats wrong with Nollywood movies. Ghanaian movies, i feel are good on the quality level, so most movies are worth watching, though we do have the few idiots(Socrate) who ruin our industries name with the insane pornographic films. I’m not going to lie, if there isn’t 1 star in it, I most likely won’t buy it, unless i know the director for being great, then i know that director will instruct any act to do a great job. I think Ghana needs to start putting 1 star in a movie and add a bunch of new talent. The stars shouldn’t be intimidated because sooner or later, newer and better and younger talent will emerge. Also Ghana needs to do some comedic type movies. We all need some laughs. Something similar to 4play, but we need something way better, not saying 4play wasn’t good. And last but not least, we need a proper FIPAG. We need a more structured and official Actors Guild.
well it’s kind of hard when there’s no info about the story on the cover!!! So i’ll say I pick to watch African movies based on what I’m reading from blogs, mainly from this site GC.
Why is that, there are never the story of the movie on the covers?
Funny enough it seems most recent movies dnt hv the synopsis at the bk…bt I mostly choose based on recommendation frm frnds or the cast bt wth the Akan movies I choose based on the ad I see…esp if it’s funny
Interesting topic.At 1st I used 2 select based on the kinds of actors/actresses in the movie but not anymore becos it seems most of dem are just interested in only the money so anything goes 4 them.One person who has disappointed me in dat arena is Majid Michel.An excellent & versatile actor by all standards yet plays the same mediocre roles over & over again from the same producers/directors & thinks he’s still the best!.Dats besides the point anyway .Nowadays I look out 4 the director/producer of the movie based on the track record of dat person.For instance in Ghana I’ll go in 4 someone like Shirley Frimpong Manso,Kwaw Ansah or Leila Djansi anyday judging from wat they’ve done so far.The likes of Abdul Salam & his Nigerian sidekick Frank Rajah don’t cut it 4 me wid their one dimensional over copied movies.Although Abdul Salam has done some nice movies b4 I think the other Nigerian director Pascal Amanfo is a much creative & beta director than Frank Rajah(my opinion) & does a great job wid Salam.I wonder why people go gaga over their movies anyway(In the land of the blind the one eyed man is da king).The likes of Kobby Rana & Socrates are jst jokers.In Nigeria, der are a lot of rubbish movies so u have 2 be highly selective 2 find the excellent ones.I also base it on the producer/director behind the work.For the producers Emem Isong,Vivian Ejike,Kunle Afolayan etc.The directors include Tchidi Chikere,Teco Benson,Izu Ojukwu,Lancelot Imaseun etc.Others do some good work once in a while but these are the most consistent ones in my view esp. Tchidi Chikere.Dis guy Tchidi Chikere has been very creative & consistent wid his movies ryt from the days of blood sisters 2 date.He most @ times writes & directs his own stories 2 almost perfection be it a village/city setting.He’s brings da best in actors/actresses.Although I’m Ghanaian,he’s someone I feel proud of as a good African moviemaker( I’m not his pro though,lol).I’ve been an avid african movie watcher 4rm childhood so dats how come I know their names.
@TheChuckylee, I love Tchidi Chikere movies, not only is he creative, he makes some funny, comedic movies. Hes a very good producer/director.
@miss dior, Yeah, he’s extremely creative & I like the way he makes dem unpredictable.I wish Abdul Salam had used him instead of Frank Rajah who’s rather sinking the image of our movie industry wid his copy & paste storylines.
@TheChuckylee, sweety frank rajah is the best thing that has ever happen to our industry i love him to bits
@baby gillsR, Dats yr opinion.But I beg 2 differ.Its only in Ghana dat we hail him 2 high heavens cos even in his own country Nigeria, he’s not known after several years of working in their movie industry.
@TheChuckylee, Well said. Tank you!!!!!!!
@TheChuckylee, I soo agree with u about kobi rana.He always deceives people with his thrailer but yet hi movies aint worth watching.Emem isong and Vivan Ejike are def. good.
This is a good topic. Most of the movie I watch ( I never buy becos they are not worth my dollars), I watch them based on what others have said about the movies. LIke now, everyone is talking about Adams Apples so if i see it on some website, I will want to watch it.
Also, I think the people in the movie counts for me. Sometimes I fast forward movie for few mins to see who and who are in the movie and if i see some of the big names, i will go on to watch.
@Tracy, u can watch Adams Apples 1&2 chapters at ghananation.com
The storyline, actors and maybe the director of the movie. The movies coming out these days suck anyway.
I watch African movies online, so mostly i based on the comments from those who have already watched it, there are also some actors/actresses attract me to some movies. If i have enough time, I watch the first part before deciding if i should continue with the second one or not.
I like both Ghanaian and Nigerian movies.
When it comes to Ghanaian movies I look out for writters/producers/directors like Shirley Frimpong Manso, Leila Danjsi, Kwaw Ansah because I know they will never fail me. I sometimes look out for some of the good actors in Ghana before watching. For NIgerian’s movies I look out for Emem Isong,Vivian Ejike,Kunle Afolayan, Tchidi Chikere,Teco Benson,Lancelot Imaseun, OJ Productions and etc………..
basically critical acclaim.. what are others saying about it.. then I would see it.
Honestly speaking right now if its not a Sparrow movie production I won’t watch it regardless of who is in it because all the rest are predictable. Nothing annoys me more than the productions of Frank Rajah his scripts sound like something our of shakespeare its so exagerrated and fake and it does not matter how good the actors are once the script is bad not even and Oscar winner can make it good. With Nollywood productions I will always watch a movie with Joke Silva, Richard Mofe Damijo, Stella Damasus and Genevieve Nnaji because they are actors who take their craft seriously and would not be involved in any crap.
Anything from Shirley Frimpong is a must watch for me….Mostly I read the summary at the back of the movie before making my decision…..In Ghanaian movies — Majid Mitchell is number one on my list,Ajetey Annang, the Yvonne’s, Nadia, Jackie and Nana Ama McBrown……. also I’ll watch any movie with Genevieve, Ramsey, Omotola ……., …………. ,………….., and most of the Nollywood actors and actrsses from back in the days..
For me any movie Adjetey/Pusher dey in masa im watching~~plus i do end up watching ghanain movies most of the time bcos of de quality not puting nija movies down tho.i lyk nija movies expecially the comedy ones,they really funny n refreshes u frm days activities.We jst need to keep on producing more quality n good scripts for our movies.
well,i pick them based on the characters involved…
i picked them based on the characters involved cos i simply believe they are the best and watever role hey play would be great!!
Sometimes I watch it based on the actors and actresses, or recommendations by friends, most of the time the title is deceiving so I dont go by the title.