Genres

Visitors Review

karma-20 2012-05-20 08:55:17

This is a VERY brave film.

I saw this film one day without previous connotations. a friend had told meit was very powerful and it was held in very high regard by critics butsomehow, I had no knowledge of what this film was about. So down I sat towatch a movie thought I, and what a movie it turned out to be!I've always had the ability to stomach most of the onscreen atrocities. Butthis one, was so absorbing and emotionally pure. You could feel the vibes ofenergy radiating from the performance of each character. It did not have thebig budgets of Hollywood trite and possibly that's why it did not have tofulfil any revenue quotas so it was more free to express itself. This is afilm which makes other screen violence look trivial. What scares me is that these actors were so realistic in their portrayalthat it could've been a home movie. It's scary that people tell me this isthe sad state that Maoris who 'Once Were Worriors' have now been reducedto.It's sequel 'What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?' is not as good simplybecause it didn't have the raw passion this film had. Although nothing 'beautiful' about this film, it is extraordinarilypowerful.(by the way, the reconmendation for Thelma and Louise [if you like thismovie then we suggest] is not exactly correct in my opinions anyway. Theyare WORLDS apart)

Chelsea Eichel 2012-05-19 13:45:32

Double take

Growing up in a society where where your a second class citizen can behard. Most the time you're kept down at the bottom because nobody inyour society wants to pick you up. Just like in today's society wherethey black people are kept down they are done so by poor education.I've always believed that if we better our public education and giveneedy children the attention they deserve we would spend less timefilling our Prisons. It reminds me of the book Utopia in a way.How can people better themselves if they don't know any better? We'rejust breeding our own criminals by denying them the education theydeserve. If you look at Jake and his son Nig, all they know is theirbody... all they know is violence. Violence begets violence. Howeverthe mother, a royal/smart one... who passes more of herself in Gracethen all of them. Grace was the light in all the darkness. She helpedher brothers and was more a mother than a sister. When Boogie wasbrought to social care, it was Grace who told Boogie to try and seethat it wasn't that bad and at least he got something different. Shewas an optimpist, until Uncle Bully took it all away.I had to do a double take while watching this movie. Was this my life?It seemed to be so close and ring true to what I've been through. Iwould identify with Grace Heke's character. A young girl growing up ina world of violence, alcohol, drugs, sexual molestation, and rape. Thedifference between Grace and myself was that I had someone to talk toin order to work out my anger, depression, and frustration.My optimism was the only thing ever keeping me going... there has to besomething better than the Sh*t that I'm going through. It's alwaysdarkest before dawn... there has to be light at the end of the tunnel.The only light there was for Grace was home with her people, hermother's people.Even with her life taken, I still don't think her father quiet got it.I think he was avoiding his own guilt my displacing his anger andsadness on everyone but himself, it's Uncle Bully's fault, it's Beth'sfault, Beth's family's fault... everyone but him... Jake the Muss couldnever do no wrong! HA!

Grendel-14 2012-05-16 05:48:21

Wow.....

I was flipping through Cinemax one night not too many months ago, when I sawthat the upcoming movie was called "Once Were Warriors". I didn't reconizethe names of any of the stars, so I kept watching to see what this flick wasabout. The credits to the film had almost an action/adventure/comic bookfeel to them, and I almost turned the channel....I'm glad I didn't. Whatfollowed was a compelling, powerful, brutal look at the lives of a family ofMaoris living in the slums of New Zealand. The father Big Jake, in a harddrinking brawler. The mother Beth, is a descendant of Maori royalty, whoforsook her place in the tribe to marry Jake. The sons are both ne'er dowells, but the youngest finds salvation in his Maori heritage, while theolder brother finds his future in a Maori street gang. But the soul of themovie is tragic, sensitive, Grace. The oldest daughter uses her writing toescape the brutality of her father and the dreariness of her life. She is abetter mother to her siblings, and when the "big moment" of the film comes,it it is shattering. This film is....well, how do I put it? It'sdisturbing, but in a good way. You really feel for the characters, even thebrutal Jake, and that's a true sign of the movie's power. I'm glad I stayedup and watched it.

Philip Marquez 2012-05-15 20:45:42

The Lone Wolf

When I was seventeen I took a course to become a nursing attendant inmy quest to become a doctor. That experience has since instilled astrong sense of compassion and patience in me despite the mostdegrading treatment shown to me at the hands of those I've attempted tohelp, but if it has taught me anything in my quest as a writer, it isthat you must never judge the characters you encounter or create if youwant to do justice to them or make them whole, and that is exactly howI feel about the characters portrayed in Lee Tamahori's Once WereWarriors. Despite the intense violence this film depicts I all at onceconnected to its story and characters as if they were extensions of myown self. Tamahori presents an emotional epic that is brutal yet honestand spares us from unnecessary romantics.Through the magnificent performances of its epic cast not only does itillustrate the complexities of passion and love, but also offorgiveness and redemption for oneself and others through utter andcomplete humanity and three dimensional characters. Jake Heke is all atonce the violent antagonist as he is the misguided child whodesperately searches for love and affection the only way he knows how,through violence and the gang ethic he has instilled in him. If youknow what it's like to really be alone and to grasp at straws in a vaineffort to protect yourself from it you won't hate him despite the mostdeplorable actions he undertakes. This film carries a strong and powerful message about inner strength,the power of heritage and history, and its capacity to mold humanambition and character through acceptance and admiration versus shameand suffering.

martini-10 2012-05-10 17:38:24

Good movie, but not for the faint of heart

If you're mostly into romantic comedy, you should rather not see thismovie.It's a very bleak movie (although it might take a moment to realize this,since it doesn't start off that way), for the most part slow-moving butwithrather fast-paced and violent bits too.

gretar-239-479269 2012-05-10 06:13:24

Moving and powerful!

This film is moving because it is depicted in an honest way. A fewscenes were difficult to watch because they were emotionally powerfulhowever, after watching those scenes the audience gets a very realisticview of abuse and domination. The characters in the film were talentedand delivered an extraordinary performance. The film got the audienceinvolved and connected with the characters as the struggle ofindependence and finding identity is portrayed throughout this film.The film did a good job of getting the audience involved emotionally.This film was a brilliant film that revealed the ugly side of life andthe strength of an individual.

Leslie Winterburn 2012-05-07 11:59:21

Going back in time or just to New Zealand?

Explicitly gritty homelife in the Maori culture makes some of us glad thatwe have what we have and not what they've got.The way the Maori women depicted in this film accept their lot in life seemsincredible and backward by today's standards and this film IS TODAY! (merely 9 yearsago)The scene with the mother finding her thirteen year old daughter was sobelievable I had to hit the pause button and take a break and blow my nose.Having seen it twice before on tape and now I have the DVD, if I'm notmistaken the fight scene in the pub when the jukebox problem is resolved, seems speededup and a little jerky and somehow rather considerably more unrealistic than the tapeversion. That is either true or I'm just imagining it and my memory of older eventsis flawed.Anyway this movie stands out as something special and it's a shame itssequel didn't quite live up to it. I have noticed that once or twice before with sequels."Aliens" would be one exception in my book. My rating 7/10 (Distinctive)

RADmovies 2012-05-07 01:50:44

A Big Wiff Of Reality

Like a open can of sardines, this film exposes the dark underbelly thatresults from deep-ceded racial discrimination, ancestral slavery andits evil bi-products of borderline poverty past down from previousgenerations, domestic neglect, abuse and alcoholism. These are topicsthat touch many lives regardless of cultural and racial borders, makingthis film extremely easy to relate to, but disturbingly plausible. Shotin a modern Hollywood style, you can feel every heart beat and teardrop.. every ounce of fear. The film follows a mixed Maori familycoping with dysfunction, struggle and societal pressure. The choices ofthe parents have resulted in complex consequences for the children.Left trembling in my seat with possible long-term trauma, this epicfilm digs to the core of family dynamic and takes each character totheir breaking point in order to find some resolve amidst the chaos,whether it ever comes or not. A must see for a truly life-changingthrill.

slatergrey 2012-05-06 08:13:38

Once Were Warriors is one of the most powerful movies i've ever watched

Once Were Warriors is one of the most powerful films I've ever watched.It's a great story of how the Maori people claim their identity. We seefive separate characters find their identity and how they deal withrepresenting themselves as a Maori people. This film tells the viewerthat a culture must come together to find themselves. Each individualfails in their attempt to find who they are but when they come togethereverything becomes more simple. This is truly attested when Grace dies,the whole family seems to come together. Keeping you're heritage isalso an important value in this film and we see that with Boogey. Inthe end of this film I myself was jealous of the fact that these peoplehave such a strong identity. They have very close ties to theirheritage and you just want to slap some of them for not being moreintact with it. There culture is very distinct and is very strong tolast through all they have been through. This film was a greatdepiction of a beautiful culture and how it can either be accepted ortossed aside.

2012-05-05 17:17:53

GREAT FILM TERRIBLE DVD DON'T BUY IT!

I've waited a long time for the DVD to this great film. The DVD is a very poor transfer from a scratched dirty print with Chinese subtitles. Amazon should list the fact that this is a Hong Kong import and the viewer cannot get rid of the subtitles since they are on the transferred print.Wait for a domestic version of this DVD and avoid this import! I will be returning my disc ASAP.

airtracc 2012-05-02 18:14:23

pretty accurate

LOL This movie was something special. Lee Tamahori shot this movie justtwohouses down from where i grew up and can honestly say that this movie isalmost too realistic. What this movie depicts is the brutality andhardshipof maori people but also those of all cultures who live in the povertystricken hoods of Sth Auckland. Hard for some to stomach but sadly enoughisjust how it is .Temuera does and excellent job, as does Rena Owen.Althoughit would have been good to watch Jake and his Eldest son go toe to toe.great to watchclose to home

2012-05-02 10:37:34

Must See for Action and Cultural Differences: R rated

This is a must see but not for the faint hearted. There is lots of brutality and raw emotion...It is full of violence, sex, swearing and drunkeness.The actors and actresses all play their roles beautifully and are very convincing. Jake's character is superbly portrayed. But, the wife is the star. Few actresses could have handled her role as well as the person selected.I rate this a 5 for those who like to see different cultures, drama, action and raw emotion exposed at virtually every turn while the love found in long married couples who have gone through much also shows, most through physical ways. This movie is not for the faint-hearted and some may turn away.

freemantle_uk 2012-05-01 06:24:38

The tragic life of one Maori family

Once were Warriors is considered one of the best films to have come outof New Zealand, showing a gritty, unrelenting picture of contemporaryMaori live in an unnamed New Zealand city. Once Were Warriors tells astory of alcoholism, domestic abuse and poverty and all the nastyaspects of live, brought about by the patriarch of the family, JakeHeke (Temuera Morrison).The Hekes live in a run down part of town, with their home next to amotorway. Jake lost his job and he spends most of his time drinking andpartying with his mates at the local bar and at his home. His wife Beth(Rena Owen) is also an alcoholic, but actually cares about herchildren, despite living under the constant threat of her husband'sviolence temper. The children too have their problems. The oldest Nig(Julian Arahanga) has joined a Maori gang whom have rituals ofviolence. Boogie (Taungaroa Emile) is in trouble with the police afterstealing a car stereo and ends up in care. And Grace (MamaengaroaKerr-Bell) has to act as a mother figure to the youngest two childrenand escape through writing stories. The family slowly disintegratesbecause of Jake's tyranny and uncaring nature as Beth and the childrenstruggle through their problems bought about by this alcoholic thug.As stated this brutal tale. Director Lee Tamahori does not hold back inhis direction: domestic violence is tough to watch and so realistic innature. The domestic violence was handled with great care showing howcomplex the relationship between a man and a woman can be, sweet andtender one moment and then a flash of anger then next minute. It reallywas a pendulum of emotions. The first scene of domestic violence is soshocking and surprising, that it will knock you over. Tamahori and thescreenwriter Riwia Brown expertly show the hypocrites of Jake'scharacter when he would beat someone up if insult a woman but obviouslyhas no problem punching his own wife. The film shows that it is a issueof control and in a way love, that is why most women don't leavestraight after an attack because they feel they cannot. Jake'scharacter was similar to Harry from Last Exit from Brooklyn (exceptwith the homosexual plot), about a man who abuses his wife and onlycares about his own enjoyment and self-interest. He should go down asone of the greatest screen villains because he is so frighteninglyreal. It is a tragic film because whilst Beth is tough and loves her childrenregardless, her husband is so domineering she ends up loosing thepeople she loves the most. The story about Grace having to act as amother figure and having to grow up faster then she is meant to waswell handled, touching and believable. It was easy to feel sorry forboth women even though Grace grows resentful of her mother.The boys who are not as involved in the film, but they explore theirMaori culture, with Nig joining a gang and having a traditional facialtattoo, whilst Boogie learns about his culture and history when he isin care. There is a whole theme throughout the film of the familylooking back at their traditional culture and its fair to say thatproducts like alcohol have destroyed indignant communities, not just inNew Zealand, but also Australia and America.There is a talented cast, playing their roles with real conviction.There are all natural. Morrison is truly horrid, with Owen having mixstrong and weak at different times of the film. Kerr-Bell too was good,having to balance out her characters innocence and wisdom.Tamahori does have moments of stylist direction with his openingcredits, but for the most part the film is hard-hitting. Tamahori doesnot sugar-coat his film in any way, making the film as hard-hitting aspossible. He handles all the themes with great care and allows all theaspects to shine. The film felt very much like a Social Realist Britishfilm, shot both in a similar style and tackling the same sort ofthemes. But as well as hard-hitting issues and violence, the funeralscene is also one of the most saddest scenes, with such a sensitiveapproach behind it. What is a real shame is that Tamahori could make abrilliant film like this and end up being a Hollywood hack, directingDie Another Day, xXx 2: State of the Union and Next.There should have shown more about Nig's involvement in the gang andstarting to enter a world or crime and violence. But that the only realcriticism.This is certainly not the New Zealand in Peter Jackson's Lord of theRings.

daniginmb 2012-05-01 03:48:17

"Once Were Warriors"

LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. I loved this movie! The actors in this movie wereamazing. The directing was fantastic. The cinematography was amazing.The writing was so particular, no word was ever wasted. From the verybeginning I was hooked. However, I connected with Grace the most. Shetried so hard to be normal but was so isolated even in her own family.I felt so sorry for her the entire movie and so badly wanted her to gooff somewhere like Boogie so she could have a chance. There was noeducation or love in her home. Home was the most violent place. Shebecame the mother of the family before the age of 13. Although I didn'tbuy the actress's age, She had the most hope and potential. Boogiebecame a mini-Grace. After her *SPOILER* death, her family finallyrealizes that their situation can't go on. In a way, she sacrificedherself for her family to be able to be a family once again. Beth's arcwas huge as well but I'm not sure if I see her as a hero or not. Ittook her so long and the loss of a child to realize that she needed toabandon Jake for all of the trouble he'd caused. He was responsible forSO much of that family's setbacks. He does truly love Beth but justdoes not respect her the way she deserves to be treated. I could go onand on, but I have other work to do. This movie was amazing anddefinitely a must-see! I think ages 16 and up is a good age to see thisfrom all of its life lessons.

2012-04-29 15:42:21

Sometimes you have to wear your Taiaha inside

Graphic violence, in movies such as `Once Were Warriors' and Stanley Kubrick's `A Clockwork Orange', is not gratuitous. Violence in art does serve a purpose: to educate, to shock, to raise awareness and to repulse. In this screen adaptation of Alan Duff's novel of the same title, the pub brawls, wife beatings and gang fights serve to drive home one point: Violence exists in society, and violence kills and destroys. Violence is not glamorous, but a sign that rot has set in within a family or community. The violent scenes in `Once Were Warriors' is terrifying, raw and difficult to stomach because we know it can happen anywhere in the world, and it does happen, in our own communities and backyards. `Once Were Warriors' revolves around a Maori family, Jake and Beth being the parents of five children. As with almost all groups that is low on the socioeconomic scale, alcoholism and domestic violence is a problem. Limited educational and job opportunities are not problems faced exclusively by the Maori but also all marginalized communities. Even reverse discrimination policies have failed to ensure equal treatment and respect for the minorities. Alcoholism becomes a problem for men when, by virtue of being treated as second-class citizens, their self-esteem and sense of cultural pride are repeatedly destroyed. For our central characters Jake and Beth, life is a struggle to survive from paycheck to paycheck. Jake is horrendously strong and masculine, but also self-absorbed, irresponsible and volatile. Beth, like many women without careers or sources of income of their own, alternates between feeling bitter over her helplessness to provide her children with a better life and feeling pride that she is the wife of the virile and strong Jake. As every student of behaviorism and behavior training would know, abusive relationships feed on and are sustained by the abuse because the occasional positive reinforcement persuades the abused party that things are not always all that bad and things would be better soon (E.g. read Karen Pryor's behavioral training classic, `Don't Shoot The Dog'). Jake's rare moments of generosity and tenderness towards Beth convinces her that she is better off living with him, and that leaving Jake would just leave her vulnerable to other problems and abuses. She is battered, then apologized to, then pacified by Jake with displays of affection and declarations of love. This is the reason why most domestic violence victims often take so long to seek external help: Their assumption is that the abuser genuinely loves them, but `just has a problem with his temper' and the situation will improve `once he finds a job/is out of debt/once they have a bit of money'. We are presented with a violent scene where Jake beats up another man in a pub for playing the jukebox too loudly. We, the audience, gasp at his strength and lack of remorse. Later, we see Jake confronting Beth for talking back and refusing to do as she is told. Jake unleashes his fury on her, beating her so badly that she is unable to go to court the following morning for the hearing of her juvenile delinquent son, Boogie. We understand that Beth seems to have accepted the beatings as a normal part of relationships. Of the Heke children, Nig, the eldest, has left home to join a gang. His gang initiation ceremony involves him being beaten up by about ten older gang members. Boogie, the second son, has been `running around with the wrong crowd' and is soon placed in a juvenile detention center, where he learns self-discipline, self-respect, love and respect for his culture and `to wear his taiaha inside' when he is angry. The taiaha imagery here is important as it can be interpreted as a symbol of Maori pride and courage. Gracie, Jake and Beth's 13-year-old daughter, deserves better than the cesspool of a home she was brought up in. She is kind to the point of overwhelming magnanimity and nurturing to a fault, but her potential is stifled by lack of support and understanding from her parents. Still, Gracie shows the most promise of all the Heke children. Her untimely demise later in the film is a great source of sorrow and resentment for me.A scene in the later part of the movie shows Jake refusing to hand over the keys to the car to Beth. Again, this is a powerful artistic device to let us see how helpless and trapped Beth is in her marriage to Jake. She can't leave even if she is determined to, she has nowhere to go and she can afford to only go home. Despite the bleakness of all that has befallen the Heke family; the beatings sustained by Beth and Nig, Jake's revelation that he came `from a long line of slaves' and was not considered good enough for Beth's family, the detention of Boogie and the rape and subsequent suicide of young Gracie, this movie does provide us with achingly beautiful glimpses into the New Zealand urban landscape and Maori culture. When the village elders performed the Haere Mai welcoming song to welcome Beth and her brood back into the folds of their close-knit community, I believe not many of us can help but feel emotional. Beth turns to her Maori roots to give her strength at a time when she needs it the most, and her people and culture do not forsake her but fortify her instead and help her walk away from the destructive forces that strive to break her spirit and tear her family apart.The entire cast has given nothing but the best to make this movie the powerful social commentary that it is. The compelling performance by the cast enables us to empathize with the problems and predicaments faced by the Maori as well as so many other marginalized groups. `Once Were Warriors' is essential watching to anyone who hopes to understand the problems connected with domestic violence, working class society and the effect of imposing a global monoculture on people who already have a culture and religion of their own. While I do not pretend that this movie is able to address all those issues exhaustively, it does help us see things from one family's perspective. And sometimes that's enough.

simon-psykolog 2012-04-29 11:19:29

Domestic Violence on the Agenda.

We follow the destruction of a Maori family, consisting of fourfear-stricken children, a submissive mother and an alcoholic father.The family is being brutalized by their father/husband who goes on analcohol rampage on a regular basis. We see the fear in the children'sfaces, we watch their mother get beaten up and sense how she in processlooses her self-esteem. The father treats the whole of his family in adegrading fashion and in this sense the movie doesn't divide the guilt;the father is the one solely to blame for everything that brings thefamily down. Of course this occurs in real life and is quite believablebut we would have been move challenged if the cause of there problemsin some sense was divided between the two (and by this I am notsuggesting that Domestic violence is in any case anybody else's faultbut the one who swings his fist). There is a great deal of realism in the movie but there is also adevelopment in the characters that is quite positive; I think it is awise choice to add some optimism and show a possible way out of themisery or else the story wouldn't be endurable to watch. I also thinkthat this movie is a perfect example of a low budget production thatgets the job done in a very persuasive way and that this could/shouldchallenge other potential movie-makers to follow the example; You don'tneed big cash if you have the story and talent! Highly recommend this movie... Just be prepared that it isn't aHollywood production...Regards Simon

2012-04-26 18:42:50

Domestic violence, tinged with poverty and charged with alcohol

Alcohol and poverty are dangerous combinations. In Once Were Warriors, a Maori woman has lived 18 years with a violent man. When he's sweet, he is very sweet, but his fuse is short, and it is more important that he maintain the respect of his mates than of his wife and five kids. When he is violent, he is very violent... to strangers and to his family.This film is in the genre of ones that lay bare the underbelly of cultures that have been, to a great extent, left behind by the economic, social, political, and educational systems of the "western world." In this case. the film hints at a devastated Maori culture, transformed from a nation of warriors to a splintered group of haves and have nots. The have nots are featured in Once Were Warriors, and it is not a pretty picture.Similar stories could be told in Chicago, or Los Angeles, or Cleveland. Once Were Warriors focuses on the intersection of poverty, alcohol, and race.Rena Owen (mother) and Temuera Morrison (father) are superb as actors, but you will find them pathetic characters. This is not a "feel good" movie; I wouldn't recommend it for a first date! Sobering, sad, and discouraging.

Irene 2012-04-26 03:56:38

Achingly touching.

'Once Were Warriors' is an amazing film that Tamahori perfected withhis depiction of the Maori post colonization. It was painful to see thescars that were left on the Maori people and the different paths theychose to take when coping. Jake the Muss gives a powerful image of aterrifying and internally conflicted individual that projects his angeronto the family that surrounds him. The raw style of filmography makesyou appreciate Tamahori's honest approach in allowing the film to tellthe story of the Maori people. The character transformation that Bethembarks on is a roller coaster that takes you on emotional highs andlows. The children in the family are inspirational because they areultimately the answer to the struggle that Beth faces.

jimmytimmy1 2012-04-25 11:47:05

Film 7 - User Comment for "Once Were Warriors"

"Once Were Warriors", a modern story of a Maori family living inAuckland, New Zealand shows the unfortunate psychological effects andconsequences that can befall people when they have been colonized by aforeign power and long been removed from their native cultural heritageand customs. This is exemplified mostly in the characters of the fatherJake Heke and his two delinquent sons Nig and Mark – a.k.a. "Boogie".This film shows very clearly how a life of confusion, alcohol abuse,and utter violence can result when people either never were in touchwith their cultural heritage or just do not show much interest orrespect for their cultural past to do so. An interesting point in thefilm is when Jake Heke does not even want his daughter to be buriedtraditionally among her ancestors. "Once Were Warriors" is a classicexample of how cultural alienation can cause some people to be at oddswith themselves and not know who they are inside. This film shows notonly how people suffering from cultural alienation causes them to bedisconnected from their roots – but how when people are disconnectedfrom their roots they also become disconnected from themselves.

Jorge Santillan 2012-04-25 00:23:02

Lee Tamahori, poverty, and juveniles

"Once Were Warriors", directed by Lee Tamahori, tells a narrative of aMaori Family in New Zealand, who lives surrounded by violence anddrugs.This movie portrays the struggles minority children face in society,and just like the film "Los Olvidados", directed by Luis Bunuel,depicts the reason why many children living under poverty turn intocriminals, that is the result of unfortunate events.This is a movie full of suspense that will keep you at the edge of yourseat, and fill with desire to control what the 3-dimensional charactersin the movie,portray by Tamahori, do.