Kanye West: Jesus Is King

I battled to get to my cinema to see Kanye West's new film Jesus is King through bitter winds and freezing temperatures.

I got to the cinema somewhat dishevelled but in one piece. This film was the perfect antidote to this. A gorgeous and very uplifting preview of Kanye's new gospel flavoured album that was full of passion and euphoria that is contagious and sweeps you along with the whole vibe of the piece.

The visuals are interesting and experimental. Images come in and out of focus and are framed what looks like a circular lens that acts as the frame for the visuals. This frame grows and shrinks according to what the music dictates. Architecture, nature and the actual gospel choir are all used to evoke imagery that gels brilliantly with the majesty of the music.

This cinematic curio exudes an element of artistic expression that is sorely missing with most mainstream, multi-million selling artists but never comes across as an artist trying his hardest to be 'arty'. It all feels organic, natural and like a very accomplished concert film that turns the genre on it's head. No, it's not as brilliant as The Last Waltz or Stop Making Sense but it is still a brilliant artistic achievement rather than some vapid, overlong commercial for Kanye's new album.

A(nother) project that Mr West can be proud of. And it sure beats the vapid releases of other huge artistes who could only dream of something as ambitious as this.

I was lucky enough to see this in IMAX which suited both the visuals and the sound perfectly. Kanye, the pleasure was all mine.

Jesus Is King was what I believe to be one of those hyped up films but when you actually go to see it, you are not given as advertised. The film itself (if it was even a film) felt very rushed as it was only 35 minutes long and for an promised "concert experience" combined with the IMAX experience which in this case, was the only good thing to come out of this, it felt like you sat through a 35 minute, never-ending music video where you had no clue what was going on.

I do respect Kanye West for trying to promote his new album with this IMAX movie experience but if you ask me, I think that he should have taken this "experience" and brought it to YouTube or something as a 35 minute live event or an music video and leave it at that because with all the IMAX films that were out that weekend, this was sure not worth having it take up so many theatres as it did.

Third is just a short film featuring gospel music and some visual effects of random things.

The music is nice enough of you like gospel and the effects inoffensive, if a bit baflling at times.

Not this isn't a documentary it anything like it if you are expecting that.

It definitely wasn't what I expected of Kanye but I loved the abstract cinematography and the choir was really nice. I think it's pretty neat how the film wasn't focused on Kanye as much and was instead focused solely on Jesus and His gospel. To see Kanye not sucking up all the attention and being self centered is pretty refreshing. I definitely was shocked when the end credits came up so early haha. I was hoping to see some more visuals and songs from his album but I guess he wanted it to be more raw and artistic. Overall I'm glad I saw it for the experience.

Jesus is King's success for you will solely depend on your honest views of Kanye West himself as the film leans on both sides of praise as well as criticism.

If you like Kanye for his visual presentation, Jesus is King will satisfy that need. There are some stunning wide shots of the Sunday Service group within the art installation Rodden Crater. The choir as well sound amazing together and the IMAX format makes you feel the echoes of the acoustics of where they recorded.

If you don't like Kanye and find his work pretentious with no reason behind it, Jesus is King won't change your mind either. The film lacks any real backstory of Kanye's train of thought in the film, which is severely needed in this era of his. There are many shots that feel like it's leading to a larger narrative, but ultimately don't go anywhere.

Whichever way you may swing with Kanye, it's still worth a watch in IMAX. Maybe you will feel the praise or maybe you won't. It's all open to you as the viewer.