Once Were Warriors

Pros: Gripping, powerful, brilliant acting.
Cons: Girls, have tissues handy.

Released in 1994, Once Were Warriors is the highest grossing movie ever to come out of the New Zealand film industry. There’s a very good reason for that. Once Were Warriors is a masterpiece. A living, breathing ideal of what cinema can be.

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Pros: A powerful film that remains eminently re-watchable. A visceral experience.
Cons: None.

I first watched this film while in college, and I have to say that it was excellent the first time, and is still excellent with every subsequent viewing (which is pretty much every time I happen to catch it on digital cable). Aside from winning a ...

Pros: Acting, direction, brutal honesty
Cons: Pace a little slow at first. Violence may be too much for some

The opening shot of Lee Tamahori’s Once Were Warriors is a thing of rare beauty and terrible truth. Gazing upon a tranquil landscape of rolling green hills and snow-capped mountains, Tamahori provides his audience with an initial glimpse of ...

Pros: Incredible performances and stirring story!
Cons: None

Once Were Warriors is an incredible, moving, and stirring independent film about a dysfunctional Maori family and their trials and tribulations. This hard hitting, gritty story is about a Maori family, once a proud and strong people, now a...

Pros: Excellently acted, good music, beautiful scenery.
Cons: The domestic violence is hard to stomach.

“Once Were Warriors” is based on Alan Duff’s book of the same name, and was shot in New Zealand, renowned for its spectacular scenery. It deals with the themes of racial and family disintegration, violence, loss of identity, but above all...

Pros: Opens a small window into Maori culture. Very powerful acting.
Cons: Not for those who believe in a silver lining in every cloud.

I guess it's a fair bet that if a film is the highest-grossing film in the entire history of a country, then it just might be pretty good, right?

Well, Once Were Warriors is not just 'pretty good', it is a truly great movie.
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Pros: Incredible acting, quite good story, doesn't pull any punches
Cons: One minor little thing I would have liked to have seen developed more

I don't know how to describe Once Were Warriors except to say that it is darn near a perfect film. I really can't see anything wrong with it.

So, that about does it for this review...well, ok, let me tell you a little more about Once Were...

Pros: Excellent direction, well adapted storyline. Fantastic acting that launched many careers
Cons: heavy hitting, violent, addresses many issues some may prefer are left in the shadows

An excellent piece of work that shows the world a rare insight into the Maori Culture in the poor suberbs of new Zealand. Temuera Morrison plays the role of Jake The Muss. We follow Jake, an overwhelming, violent and dominant figure, through a battle ...

Pros: Proves that quality comes from imagination,not money.
Cons: Some dodgy acting and cornball dialogue.

From the first frame to the last Once were Warriors is a visceral treat for the eyes and ears.This film creates a powerful style all of its own using an awesome soundtrack,unusual camera angles and an original take on the life of modern day Maoris.
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Pros: realistic
Cons: violence

I love films that leave me disturbed. This is one of the most painful films I have ever watched. Domestic violence has rarely been shown so graphically. Jake Heke is the muscle of the maori ghetto. Everyone knows him and everyone fears him. Beth Heke...

Pros: realism
Cons: some bad acting from minor characters

This is a splendid way to spend a Friday night. The story is set in a native New Zealand community and centers on a dysfunctional family. Graphic scenes of physical and sexual abuse give this movie realism, and the relationships between the family...

Pros: A learning experience
Cons: I cant write any cons for this movie.

I saw this movie on the advice of a student in an alcohol and drug addiction class I was taking. What an impact it had on me. I left my drug addicted husband. It took a while but I did. Every teen that steps into my home is required to watch this...

Pros: Gripping and suspensful...
Cons: None

This movie kept my attention all the way through. This movie is without doubt the best movie I've seen in the past 10 years, bottom line. This is a tell-tale picture of a woman who is tough enough to try to keep her family together, but gets out when all...

Pros: interesting family story
Cons: Swearing and abuse

This movie was breathtaking in all aspects. Seeing a family struggle to stay together, and how they were falling apart was moving. The tribal customs and rituals were interesting to witness. When the Father beat up his wife...it was very realistic...

Pros: well acted, well directed, good pace, surprises, overall very well done.
Cons: none

There are movies you forget and movies you remember. Once Were Warriors is the latter. You will not forget this movie.
In film school we were told that a movie has to make you care about the characters. You can have the best director, the highest paid actors, the best script, but they all have to come together so that the audience cares about the characters.This movie has done that in spades... You care about every character. It tears your heart out, it gives you hope, it makes you afraid, it makes you laugh.
There are no bad guys in this movie, only bad behavior learned and repeated because that's what was learned.