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Summary: Astounding
Review: It's hard to say more than has already been said, suffice to say that if all television reached this standard we would be a nation of intellectual giants. Truly awesome.
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Summary: Very Very Powerful Movie
Review: The movie is the best Ive ever seen.Portraying what happens all over the world and not just in NZ.When people are demeaned so much that their only way out is violence or crime and this movie is exactly what happens when people are pushed beyond their limits of self satisfaction.To all involved in this movie,I take my hat off to you all.A movie very well done and very very powerful.
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Summary: If this movie won't move you, none ever wil...
Review: I was truly stunned when the film was over, not to mention emotionally exhausted. This is the only film that brought me close to crying in the last 25 years. All the physical and emotional violence in this film feels so real, it's like being swept away by a tide... This is a MUST see, you must be dead inside if this film doesn't touch you.
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Summary: Dark,Riveting,Beautiful
Review: I have seen this movie 43 times since October of 1995. I have screened the movie for well over 100 people total...it is power on film.
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Summary: Powerful and haunting and it hits the mark.
Review: As an expat of NZ it bought home the misery of some of the Maori people.I do remember this kind of life especially in South Auckland where this film is set and where I grew up.Been to those kind of parties and know a few like Jake as well.Very powerful gobsmack of a movie.Highly recommended.
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Summary: Goes to show what civilization does to a proud people...
Review: I've seen 'Utu', and in sequence 'Once were warriors'. The latter gave me the creeps. It gives a good impression of what happens when you take away a peoples pride, and leave them nothing but the clothes on their backs. The way the characters behave, and the way the kids are searching to get back in touch with the ways of the tribe made me cry...which is very rare. Pakeha don't know, or won't understand, what they've done...
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Summary: Sydney reviewer go to hell!
Review: I have to apologise for the review by the Sydney resident. I'm Australian too and it makes me sick that such a narrow minded, rascist arsehole resides in my country. Once Were Warriors is a truly brilliant film and NOT an indication of the average Maori.
Rating:
Summary: Great film
Review: Once Were Warriors is a truly great film. However I was disgusted to read the comments of the Sydneysider. What sort of sick bigot are you. I am Maori, I'm not an alcoholic, my father never beat my mother, and my great grandfather was not a cannibal. I speak with the same vocabulary and accent as any other New Zealander. Sydneysider grow up. Don't review a movie if you have no respect for either the actors or the crew of the film. But to my point Once Were Warriors was a land mark film in New Zealand. Not bad for a bunch of Maori people who can't speak properly. Can't wait for the sequel.
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Summary: Great movie - but its not 100% real
Review: To the reviewer who stated that Maori and Native Americans have a lot in common - its not as much as you think.The Maori tribes in New Zealand have several billion dollars worth of assets, exclusive fishing rights to many coastal waters and are serious land owners. This movie depicts the plight of urban (mostly tribeless) Maori, whose situation is largely the fault of other Maori - note the comments about Jake being descended from slaves. American audiences may misconstrue this line - his forbears were slaves of the Maori tribes that had conquered them and stolen their lands, not of the white (Pakeha) settlers. Maori make up more than 10% of the NZ population and are well-represented in parliament - they still have great social problems, but their culture is greatly respected by, and an important part of New Zealand society - don't try to map the American Experience to NZ - its very very different.
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Summary: JUST A GREAT FILM TOO BAD NO DVD.
Review: A truly great film. I saw it on TV (Turner Classic Movies) where it was shown with the director's comments, which I thought would be on a DVD. Luckily I taped it since there is no such DVD.
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