“The Woman King” (*** out of four) was a striking historical epic set in 1820’s Africa in which a fiercely independent general (Viola Davis) trains a next generation of warriors (John Boyega, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, and others) to fight their enemies and retain their kingdom but have to resolve various personal conflicts from within. Not much plot per se but sweepingly told and directed by Gina-Prince Byethewood (from a story she co-wrote with actress Maria Bello) with explosively done battle scenes and sure-handed acting from Davis and Boyega and others. Vibrantly shot by Polly Morgan on beautiful locations.