Once Were Warriors [IMPORT]

Rating:
Summary: Very Touching!!!
Review: I really liked this movie, it really brings out a lot of emotions as you watch all the drama that this family had to go through. The thing that touches me the most about this movie is that it is so true. Many people would like to forget and deny that these kinds of things happen everyday, but it is happening whether we like it or not. I really liked this movie and applaude the director and cast for a marvellous job. I loved this movie a lot and in a way it does teach one about courage and the importance of it.

Rating:
Summary: Great Movie
Review: As my review suggests, I think this is a great movie--perhaps one of the best I've seen. However, I won't go into all the details that others have already covered. Instead I'll focus on the accuracy of this film. I lived in New Zealand for almost 11 years, and was occasionally exposed to this type of domestic violence. However, it is totally and utterly untrue to say that this is a common practice amongst the Maoris. However, the other things the movie focuses on, such as alcoholism, and exploitation of government welfare, are. Alan Duff, the Kiwi writer of the book, did a great job at capturing these things, which are indeed a central part of many Maoris lives. So, in addition to the good noneccentric plot, this movie is indeed a good depiction of the Maori way of life.

Rating:
Summary: Great movie - Bad DVD!!
Review: Enough has already been said about this movie in past reviews, so I'll focus of the DVD quality.

This Hong Kong import has the worst transfer I've ever seen. With no features or even a root menu, you may as well be watching the VHS version or a lousy VCD transfer. Plus, as other reviewers have noted, you cannot turn off the subtitles.

There is another region 1 edition of this DVD available in Canada, which is much better. While the sound and picture quality are still not perfect, it's at least watchable. There are a few features including a short featurette (an interview with the cast), trailers, and the standard biography/filmography. Plus it has a much nicer cover (same as the soundtrack). It was released by a Montreal company called Séville, and I think you can purchase it at most Canadian online retailers (try A&B Sound).

Rating:
Summary: powerful
Review: When I saw once were warriors, I was amazed at how much the movie captured. I was really unfamiliar with the Maori people of New Zealand. The story revolves around and her family as they struggle with things like poverty, alcohalism, heritage and racism. The movie is interesting to see because you realize how much of a global struggle racism and discrimination are.

Rating:
Summary: familiar themes with a new perspective
Review: The subject matter is universal, as much as we may hate to admit it: spousal abuse, rape, gang activity, unempolyment, alcoholism, and so on. We can all relate. I know many women who struggle like Beth to have a decent home for their children despite near poverty. I know many men like Jake whose own worth as a man is questioned by losing a job, and who turn to violence to feel a semblance of control. I know many children who fall prey to the dangers of living in such a volatile environment. And I know many families for whom it takes a profound tragedy to illicit positive change.

We could all learn a lesson from this movie. The most important things in life are not the things we can buy, but the ways in which we treat one another. And we should always embrace our culture. In the ways of our forefathers, we find the strength to perservere through our own lives. Times change, but strength is always there.

Rating:
Summary: A powerful, provocative film ;deserving of wider recognition
Review: This was a simple yet powerful film. I had to ask myself why I had not heard more about it several years ago. One is initially struck by the quality of the acting. Rena Owen and Temuera Morrison are naturals. You are immediately drawn into their struggles. These struggles go beyond family conflict and provide a beautiful contrast between their rich cultural history and poor living conditions.

The only caution I would give regarding this film is that it is not for the faint of heart. It is very intense and violent at times. But it is also depicts the great caring shown by the characters. That is what makes it so believable.

Rating:
Summary: horrible transfer. wait for the US release
Review: I love this movie and am so surprised that no one is putting together a decent package together for it. i mean, it's such a brilliant film that an edition like this should not be allowed to see the light of day. the sound is in mono, the picture has cutts and dust all over. too dark at times. where is Criterion when you need them. you're better off buying the vhs edition. way better. this edition does no justice to what Tamahori intended us to see. avoid it (...). a rippoff in every sense.

Rating:
Summary: Region 2 DVD is fine
Review: Just wanted to say that my region 2 DVD does not have the
permanent chinese subtitles described by others.

I think Amazon's "import" region 1 DVD (however that would work -- where would it be imported from!!!) sounds like it's really a Video CD. They have unremoveable chinese subtitles, and (...) visuals (MPEG1, not MPEG2 like DVD).

Get a region 2 import, if your player can handle it.

Rating:
Summary: Import DVD is awful
Review: Unfortunately, I did not scroll through the 54 reviews of the VHS tape to get to the single review of the import DVD before I ordered it from Amazon. It is simply terrible. The worst problem is the Chinese subtitles that can't be removed. They alone make the film unwatchable, but there are many other problems, including a transfer with lots of obvious dust and visible MPEG artifacting. I couldn't watch more than a few minutes but the sound quality seemed substandard as well.(...)

Rating:
Summary: BAD! BAD! BAD.!
Review: I orderrd this film as soon as I saw it was available I saw it on TV and was impressed with the story and the acting. I waited nearly three months for it and just received it. I was sooo disappointed with it. It has NO Menue. No flim insert on the inside of the case. And you are unable to get rid of the subtitles even with the english version. Even working the setup on the dvd player you cannot get rid of the Chinnese subtitles. It greatly disturbes me to have to have subtitles when there is no english version and have to watch a film but to have an english version and have to endure subtitles it throughly unacceptable. BAD! BAD! BAD!