Once Were Warriors

Pop Culture Phenomenon Films: 90’s (1674 movies items)

" An unemployed Maori living in the Auckland slums, Jake Heke has a terrible temper that he takes out on family and strangers alike. His wife, Beth, takes regular beatings after he's been at the pub, and his kids do what they can to sidestep trouble. Nig, the eldest, is joining a street gang; Boogie has been placed in a foster home; and Grace increasingly retreats to the pages of her journal. The film is considered by critics, to be raw and really powerful in it’s depiction of spousal abuse"

DVD Pickups Fall/Winter 2022 (45 movies items)

"I've always wanted to check this movie out, even as far back as seeing the VHS in a video store and thinking it was Jennifer Lopez on the cover (it's actually Rena Owen!). Kiwi films have a special charm because they kind of combine what we love best from Ozploitation but with more of a prestige, European feel. Glad to add this one to the collection."

1001 Movies ... my own version (1990's) (110 movies items)

" Notes: I wonder if a lot of people remember this movie but, somehow, it seems pretty much forgotten which is quite a shame. Indeed, when it was released, it was a big critical success and launched the once promising career of Lee Tamahori. Back then, I was very young when I saw it and I was definitely impressed. Basically, you don’t get to watch many movies about the Maoris and even though this one was a fairly traditional drama, I thought it was very powerful. Indeed, you get a glimpse of t"

1001 Movies Chosen By Johanlefourbe (1001 movies items)

" Notes: I wonder if a lot of people remember this movie but, somehow, it seems pretty much forgotten which is quite a shame. Indeed, when it was released, it was a big critical success and launched the once promising career of Lee Tamahori. Back then, I was very young when I saw it and I was definitely impressed. Basically, you don’t get to watch many movies about the Maoris and even though this one was a fairly traditional drama, I thought it was very powerful. Indeed, you get a glimpse of t"

Watched in 2017 (166 movies items)

"09.09.2017 "

Moviewatcher122's 2017 Film Diary: June (14 movies items)

"June 26 "Our people once were warriors. But unlike you, Jake, they were people with mana, pride; people with spirit. If my spirit can survive living with you for eighteen years, then I can survive anything." This is another one of these kinds of movies that I can't say I was fully prepared for. I didn't even know what it was about going into it, but even if I did, I still think this is one of those films that you can never be fully prepared for. Regardless, this was a really powerful drama w"

Miika's Movie Diary - 2017 (250 movies items)

"4.7, PC Luulin aluksi että kyseessä on joku jengielokuva, mutta Once Were Warriors onkin erittäin pätevä kuvaus ongelmaperheestä. Aluksi perhe kuvataan päällisin puolin tavallisena, mutta yhdestä vastoinkäymisestä päästään toiseen ja lopulta siihen, mihin elämä vittumaisissa olosuhteissa voi eskaloitua. Hahmoja rakennetaan hienosti tapahtumien kautta, jolloin näistä, etenkin Temuera Morrisonin esittämästä nyrkkisankarista, avautuu moniulotteisempia puolia."