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103 of 106 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A different perspective:a Native American perpective., February 27, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Song of Hiawatha [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Reading a previous review,which was strongly negative,I fear few would take a chance on this film, which despite defects, is well above average in content.This film is surprisingly well crafted considering its' obviously limited budget. As to the charge that the film doesn't make sense, I somehow feel a previous reviewer is not familiar with Native American culture, and expected some 1950's style traditional "Cowboys and Indians" movie told from a European cultural perpective. Sorry, no John Wayne with a Blonde hanging on his arm, shooting down piles of faceless Indians circling the wagons in this one. Hiawatha is shown to be a complex God/Man,but not without flaws. Minihaha is a stunningly beautiful, but difficult woman. There is good action and good development of the emotional relationships between the protaganists. I was thrilled by some of the hand to hand combat, and moved by the scenes of great tragedy. Certainly, some minor scenes are seriously flawed, but not unforgivingly so. THE STORY TOLD IN THIS FILM IS A GREAT ONE! There are small elements of Native American religious culture contained in this film which are very rare to see in American Cinema.
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46 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Surprisingly good., January 5, 2008
This will not be everyone's cuppa tea. But I, personally, was pleasantly surprised. You just have to first remember that this is BASED ON AN EPIC POEM...thus, you have to watch it that way, like a story-story rather than a film-story--and somehow they pull it off without disconnecting (at least for me). Litefoot as Hiawatha might initially seem like he was strangely casted, but he's understated and convincing--definitely earned his role (and it's too bad he doesn't get more work these days). Adam Beach is great as the quirky BFF. Sheila Tousey was miscast in my opinion (she was too young at the time to play a good grandmother role--clearly Tantoo was already booked), and while Irene Bedard is good (and looking smokin hot, I might add--I say this objectively as a fellow woman), I wasn't sure I was digging her take on Minnehaha. Also, the context--these 2 white trapper dudes being told the story by Sheila and Gordon--was jarring in the beginning, but somehow it eases into itself and it's not a problem. Overall, it's a very, very enjoyable film. Mad props for being successfully unHollywood and original on a low budget--and still being highly entertaining.
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30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Song Of Hiawatha, October 10, 2007
I think it was nicely done. Being an elder who teaches Native traditions to the young, I would use this movie for children to watch. Certain aspects were incorrect, like the pony beads on the dresses as mentioned by another, but that can easily be rectified in a teaching setting. C. Chatelain
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