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Once Were Warriors (1995)

Rena Owen , Temuera Morrison , Lee Tamahori  |  R |  DVD
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (192 customer reviews)


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Product Details

  • Actors: Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell, Julian Arahanga, Taungaroa Emile
  • Directors: Lee Tamahori
  • Writers: Alan Duff, Riwia Brown
  • Producers: Robin Scholes
  • Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
  • Language: English, Maori
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: R (Restricted)
  • Studio: New Line Home Video
  • DVD Release Date: September 2, 2003
  • Run Time: 102 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (192 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B0000A02Y4
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #80,542 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • Learn more about "Once Were Warriors" on IMDb

Special Features

None.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

New Zealand filmmaker Lee Tamahori (The Edge) directed this brutal but powerful story drawn from the culture of poverty and alienation enveloping contemporary Maori life. Rena Owen plays the beleaguered mother of two boys--one of whom is already in prison while the other contemplates membership in a gang--and a daughter whose potential is being smothered at home. Temuera Morrison gives an outstanding and sometimes shocking performance as the violent head of the household, more adept at keeping up his social stature within his community of friends than holding down a job. The film pulls no punches, literally and figuratively, but despite the rough going, Tamahori gives us a rare and important insight into a disenfranchised people digging down deep to find their pride. --Tom Keogh

Product Description

An urban Maori family deals with great difficulties in adjusting to normalcy in urban New Zealand.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
52 of 52 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb acting and a point well made February 9, 2000
Format:VHS Tape
It isn't hard to see why this movie garnered so many kudos after its release. The acting is superb. (Note: Temeura Morrison later stated that he was "scarred" for quite a while emotionally and mentally after playing Jake.) The unexcelled acting in AND the directing of this film, in this viewer's opinion, show the exact nature of family violence more clearly than other presentation in any media ever has. At first I was unwilling to see another film dealing with the subject, especially since I the results of domestic violence almost daily on my job. Now I say that if you watch only one film on the matter in your life, make it this one. For an American viewer, the fact that all the action takes place in Auckland, New Zealand helps give the distance needed for an honest perspective on the theme. Then the highly skilled actors (may we see more of all of them!)play the story out as it happens to thousands of families all over the world, totally stripping domestic violence of any excuse to be. By the heart-rending and horrific end of the movie there can be no doubt in anyone's mind that neither substance abuse, cultural conditioning, disenfranchised cultures, poverty nor a host of other things often invoked as "reasons" justify turning one's household into a war zone. Most family violence perpetrators are not hardcore psychopaths; they are "Jakes", and they have no excuse for what they do to their families. A beautiful film that makes its point without resulting to melodrama and sensationalism. It's a credit to all involved with the production that we look in on the lives of one family in crisis and realize, knowing that this scene is repeated thousands of time daily worldwide, the ultimate devastation brought about by "routine" family violence. A brilliant presentation. A "must see."
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41 of 43 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An astonishingly powerful film! October 16, 2001
Format:VHS Tape
Set in New Zealand, this excellent film portrays a small urban subculture of disenfranchized Maori, focusing on one disfunctional family. All the characters are compelling. There's Jake, the hard-drinking, brawling husband, always bitterly aware that he comes from a long line of slaves. And Beth, his full-blooded Maori wife, from a royal tribal line. Their sons: Boogie, ward of the court and sentenced to a Maori-centric boys' home; and Nig, prospecting for membership in an urban tribal gang. There's Grace, their sensitive 13-year-old daughter, who writes fanciful stories for her younger siblings and a homeless boy who lives in a car. And there are Jake's party-buddies, his beloved extended "family" -- "uncles" to his kids. The accents, ethnic traditions, martial arts, and particularly the facial tattooing of the Toa will appear "exotic" to the American audience. But the alcoholism, unemployment, domestic violence, teen delinquency, and child abuse are themes common anywhere. These subjects are presented with compassion. You'll come to genuinely care for all the characters. Even for Jake who, despite his brutality, is a tragic human being. I highly recommend "Once Were Warriors". The soundtrack alone will blow you away. The performances by all the actors are extraordinary and the ending will leave you breathless. Don't miss this one!
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45 of 50 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Reclaiming The Past April 18, 2005
Format:DVD
Gripping, heartfelt drama about a dysfunctional Maori family struggling for survival in the government provided urban housing project (i.e. slums) of New Zealand. This is a violent, hardhitting film. Fortunately the story ultimately transcends the violence and offers some hope for a brighter tomorrow. 'Once Were Warriors' is a story of reconnecting with one's heritage and rediscovering who you are and what you can become.

Three other excellent movies dealing with the same theme of failed assimilation and destruction of indigenous cultures are: 'Where the Green Ants Dream', 'The Fringe Dwellers' (DVD - Region 4 only) and 'Rabbit-Proof Fence.' All three are Australian films dealing with the plight of the Aborigine.

I would also recommend Emerald Forest (DVD) which deals with tribes living within the tropical rainforests of South America.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars I have seen movie before, which is why I ordered it. I received a DVD...
I can't review something I can't see.! I am terribly disappointed. I opened the package in order to view it and apparently I can't return it unopened. Read more
Published 1 day ago by yvette.myers
2.0 out of 5 stars wrong country code
I was surprised to find that I could not play this DVD, it's in the wrong country code and I could not get any of my devices to allow playback. Read more
Published 14 days ago by Misty Curtis
1.0 out of 5 stars does not say not campatible for us
I waited for this movie and when it arrived it had a regional code and is not compatible with my dvd player
Published 28 days ago by Rachel
1.0 out of 5 stars Movie
I bought this movie, it came from the UK the movie was shaking around in the package when recieved and it does not play.
Published 1 month ago by Cassidy McCluskey
1.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy it !,!!
Unless u are using something either them a DVD player made in the us or a ps3 this DVD won't work it is a PaL DVD made in foreign country to play in foreign DVD players ! Read more
Published 2 months ago by Maria
5.0 out of 5 stars Once were warriors
This is a great movie made down in New Zealand. I loved the culture of the people and the way they speak. Any way this is a great movie I enjoyed every bit of it. Read more
Published 2 months ago by lively
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
This movie is legendary. Its hardcore and not for people that are sensitive. This is one of my favorite movies of all time.
Published 3 months ago by Chad
1.0 out of 5 stars Wish I cold return it
I really wish I didn't have to order items through friends in the states just to get a good price. I can't return it because I have to wait so long for the double shipping, that... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Geoff Tagg
5.0 out of 5 stars Positive
Although this is such a violent movie, it is very powerful and is an absolutely perfect example of how culture can help us with our personal healing journeys. I love the actors!! Read more
Published 3 months ago by Alice
1.0 out of 5 stars wouldn't even play
The blu-ray disc won't even play. I have tried it in several blu-ray players and it gets 21 seconds into the icon entertainment logo then stops. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ginger
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