See All Buying Options. | Rating: 4/5 But Whale Rider changed my mind. Director and screenplay writer Niki Caro ably brings this family oriented tale to life and hits all the right notes and makes all the correct pay-offs in every plot strand (no matter how slight). 5 star 87% 4 star 7% 3 star 3% 2 star 1% 1 star 2% Whale Rider. Laura's Review: B. The Whale Rider Book Review: As her beloved grandfather, chief of the Maori tribe of Whangara, New Zealand, struggles to lead in difficult times and to find a male successor, young Kahu is developing a mysterious relationship with whales, particularly the ancient bull whale whose leg The indie film Whale Rider is an engrossing character drama with an inspirational message. In the film Whale Rider depicts a culture in transition. Director Niki Caro has done wonders in bringing this story to the screen as it shows a different and much simple world than the rat race of our society and the horrible times we live in. Whate Rider: Very popular with film socs, apparently This sentimental crowd-pleaser about a young Maori girl facing her tribal destiny is somewhere between whale music and world music, or … Even though the story is more of a fable it still comes across as relevant and believable. Written and directed by Niki Caro On general release Rating: ! The image is an example of a ticket confirmation email that AMC sent you when you purchased your ticket. and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. | Rating: 2/4 What makes it so amazing is that its her film debut! One scene in particular stands out and its the one where Pai is receiving an award at school and she has invited Koro to watch her but instead of him making the obligatory entrance, Koro has discovered something more important. She is a realistic hero, and the milestones of her heroism can be delightfully measured. | Top Critics (46) A contemporary story of love, rejection and triumph as a young Maori girl fights to fulfill a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize. The performances are superb and Castle-Hughes gives I think one of the best performances of the year. Save your money and do not watch this clunk of a skunk fairy tale for the politically correct. It's easy to see how this movie won in Sundance and The Toronto Film Fest for People's Choice. But to break with convention, she'll have to do the impossible: win over her ultra-traditional grandfather (Rawiri Paratene). Every now and then a film comes along that makes the world a better place to live in. So, it is the typical story of a young outsider making a moving film and then vanishing. The remaining twin is a girl and the film is about her and how she thinks and wants to be the future leader of her village. The tribal men are brutish, crude, chauvinistic, good for nothing drinkers, dead enders. Just confirm how you got your ticket. Slow pace but never boring. All rights reserved. Cinemark WhatsApp Most of the film centers on the dynamic of this relationship between Koro and Paikea. It won the audience awards as the most popular film at both the Toronto and Sundance film festivals, played to standing ovations, left audiences in tears. Online reviewers have written 682 reviews, giving Whale Rider (2003) an average rating of 74%. These sorts of films do not come along often. User Ratings Such is the case with Keisha Castle Hughes. That's because it has a strong story that deals with universal themes like family, tradition, childhood and rebellion. | this movie is universal - there is a little Pai in all of our hearts. Overall, I liked Whale Rider, but I don't think I fully got it. Whale Rider does nothing of the kind. Simply one of the most wonderful films you will ever see, Whale Rider is Phenomenal ***** 10 stars out of 5, I saw Whale Rider Last night. By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy Whale Rider does this. | Rating: B+ OK - I'm going against the grain here - but I just have to say that I thought this movie was pretty awful. In a summer of Hulks and Terminators, one might have to search the multiplex for Whale Rider – but believe me, the search is worth the effort. The film is set in modern day and we see the girl Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes) as a 12 year old who knows that her twin brother that died was suppose to be the future chief. Directed by Niki Caro, Whale Rider is a New Zealand-Germany coming-of-age drama. Newcomer Castle-Hughes' unaffected, confident turn makes it credible our heroine might retain her determination and self-worth despite serial setbacks. If you have a chance to see this film, do not miss it! I saw Whale Rider Last night. She wants to learn the ways of being chief but Koro yells at her not to fool with the sacred ways of their people. Just leave us a message here and we will work on getting you verified. WHALE RIDER is set in the Maori community of New Zealand. | A beautifully filmed and convincingly acted treat for the entire family. Castle-Hughes conveys both sorrow and pity as she dreams of being a chief. All I have to say is THANK GOD the academy recognizes the awesome power of this story and has nominated Keisha Castle-Hughes for a best actress oscar, of which she deserves without a doubt. Film Review: Whale Rider. Directed by Niki Caro. |, November 1, 2007 They won't be able to see your review if you only submit your rating. The percentage of Approved Tomatometer Critics who have given this movie a positive review. by Castle-Hughes. Watch it now. According to legend, the Maori came to Whangara when their great leader Paikea led them by riding on a whale. Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers. Invited me to battle all the injustices that girls (no matter of what society) are subjected to. Coming Soon. A really fine film about a young girl challenging the patriarchal traditions handed down from generation to generation among her New Zealander people. Don’t worry, it won’t take long. I absolutely adore everything about it, and really do think there’s something everyone can relate to in this story. If you have a daughter, you must share this film with her. Whale Rider is all of these. She manages to evoke empathy without seeking it. |, January 26, 2006 one of the few films that have outdone the book. There are those that everyone should own. Not just in the past year. | Rating: 3/4 Like a breath of fresh South Pacific air, director Caro combines classic themes with a little-seen cultural perspective to come up with an uplifting crowd-pleaser. After many months of watching films of which the best deserved IMDb ratings of six. When stubborn leader Koro s … Only males are allowed to ascend to chiefdom in a Maori tribe in New Zealand. It is a movie about love and change, about the grim realities of life and the marvelous miracles of faith. Whale Rider is a 2002 New Zealand-German family drama film written and directed by Niki Caro.Based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Witi Ihimaera, the film stars Keisha Castle-Hughes as Kahu Paikea Apirana, a twelve-year-old Māori girl whose ambition is to become the chief of the tribe. Surprisingly it comes into that most difficult of categories - the family film - not a film that Dad can sleep through whilst the kids enjoy it, or one which gives Dad and Mum some pleasure whilst the kids wish they had not been dragged away from the telly, but a film that can really be enjoyed by all the family - except perhaps teenage boys at the age where their horizons have just widened to the extent that they are interested only in films featuring unrelenting action and adventure, preferably accompanied by unremitting violence. South Pacific Pictures, The Kiwis have given us a few uplifting films involving their aboriginal peoples and this one is particularly memorable. Whale Rider Parent Guide Moving at the gentle pace of a calm ocean tide, this beautiful film explores the importance of family, the qualities of leadership and the anchor of cultural traditions. Caro seems less concerned with evoking the economic or socio-political baggage bringing the film's characters down than she is with telling the same sappy tale of patriarchal perseverance we've seen so many times before. |, March 12, 2019 Niki Caro roots her characters in a landscape equal parts mundane and boundless, incorporates tantalising sea photography and Lisa's Gerrard's ambient soundtrack, and lifts off into a sublime, Elysian ending. This is what the world needs: more movies about challenging the status quo and bucking the system and not taking no for an answer when you know you’re right and being true to yourself because you have no choice but to do so. Such feminist sentiments certainly inhabit the movie, but they’re not forceful by any means. Awards Each part is named after one of the seasons and has a subtitle. LinkedIn. It was fantastic, Girls Can Ride Whales Just as Well as Boys, My List of Environmental Movies and TV Series. Fifteen minutes into the movie, I was truly bored by the tedious pace and the obvious story line of the movie. This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. | Rating: 7/10 | Fresh (141) | Rating: 4/5 [A] heartfelt drama about gender, culture and generational clashes. I watched it 7 times in the cinema and i … The Whale Rider is definitely in my top ten list of all-time favorite books. The Whale Rider Review.docx Technical University of Mombasa ENGLISH 10567 - Summer 2017 The Whale Rider Review.docx. Fri Jun 06 2003, 11:58am | comments off. It is as if we are invited into the Whangara community, and are free to observe comfortably, without fear or embellishment. Castle Hughes as Paikea is absolutely phenomenal. Whale Rider; Whale Rider Review. FAQ This film, which opened in New York recently, was a total surprise. Don't have an account? Director Niki Caro treats her subject matter with profound respect, genuine curiosity and effortless grace, while refusing to ignore the signs of cultural disintegration. Info: 1279 words (5 pages) Essay Published: 8th May 2017 in English Literature. She is played by Keisha Castle-Hughes who became the youngest person ever to be nominated for the Best Actress Oscar. However, there's no actual violence or anything truly frightening or morbid. It is a story of an indomitable spirit. its not about carrying on the traditions of man, it is about remembering the strengths of your familial past and building your future with those experiences. The Whale Rider (2002 Film) Community Note includes chapter-by-chapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and … Reddit. Truly a film for the entire family to enjoy together. The biggest whale, the founder of Maori culture, has a special relationship with the whale rider… Whale Rider is a tale of the evolution of a culture, wrapped in humor and hope. The movie begins with the birth of twins, the latest in that line. If only the men had let the women run the tribe, their hopeless lives would have been worth living. You're almost there! Reference this Share this: Facebook. Whale Rider is a story of the quest for the new leader of an indigenous Maori tribe living on an island off the coast of New Zealand. The images of Castle-Hughes on the back of the whale as it submerges are so haunting and beautiful and its these scenes that give it a lyrical quality and the emotional impact of the story is impossible to ignore. “ Whale Rider is essentially about leadership and the fact that leadership presents itself in the form of a young girl,” states its director, Niki Caro. It makes you laugh and cry. I don't use the word "masterpiece" often when reviewing a film but for "Whale Rider," it's an inadequate accolade. Women are treated as second class but Pai eavesdrops on Koro's classes with the young boys and learns the ways. | Beautiful, haunting and a performance that you will never forget. 46 pages. Whale Rider is one of those films that can easily get lost amongst the heavier movie titles. [Graphic][2] Whale Rider is a film about indigenous people and the struggles that they can face to preserve their traditional way of life. Please enter your email address and we will email you a new password. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your account. Forgot your password? 1) The opening tale speaks of a legendary whale rider named Paikea who escaped death approximately 1000 years ago when his canoe capsized by riding to shore on the back of a whale. The story follows a 12-year-old Maori girl named Paikea Apirana who struggles to earn her grandfather's love and respect, but is neglected and belittled as he seeks to find a new chief to lead the Maori tribe. Breathtakingly emotional, beautifully heartbreaking and wonderfully funny, this outstanding film deserves much more recognition than the lone best actress Oscar nomination for Keisha Castle-Hughes. The Whale Rider starts a thousand years ago, with a pod of whales. This is one of the most moving, beautiful and powerful films I have seen in years. |, April 30, 2019 seven or eight, I viewed this really exceptional film that I felt deserved at least double anything else I had seen recently, so a comparative rating of 15 would not have seemed out of place. Often this type of film ends up making a caricature of the people, accentuating their quaint customs and idiosyncratic behaviors and causing us to smile condescendingly at their ignorance and stunted development. | Story starts out in a hospital where a mother has just given birth to twins and the male twin dies as does the mother. "Whale Rider" can accurately be called an art film, but it's also one that will appeal to mainstream audiences. We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your email. Though the film brims with authenticity, it is almost too authentic. The beginning of the movie starts out with the birth of 2 fraternal twins, with the grandfather patiently awaiting the birth of the son. I also enjoyed seeing a film that opened up a world with distinctly different cultures and beliefs. Powered by JustWatch "Whale Rider" arrives in theaters already proven as one of the great audience-grabbers of recent years. I was fortunate to be in a packed screening last night of the 2nd ever showing of "Whale Rider" at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival. Time and again, she faces prejudice from her grandfather whom she never gives up loving. The unswayable force of one girl's destiny. The film is beautiful to look at and even though its not a big budget movie the story and images make this an unforgettable viewing experience. This is one of THE best Movies I have EVER seen. This New Zealand/German coproduction has scooped up the audience awards at film festivals from Toronto to Seattle. An empowering and uplifting movie, with a wonderful performance by Castle-Hughes. Without her performance the film would come across as more distant emotionally. | Rating: 4/5 The Whale Rider book. A remarkable performance that was crucial to the film. The story of Pai, a young girl who knows in her heart that she was born to be the chief of her people. Best Netflix Shows and Series To Binge (January 2021), The 100 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now (January 2021), 100 Best Movies on Amazon Prime To Watch (January 2021). Everything the girl would do had to be better than any boy who ever lived. Coming Soon, Regal But young Paikea never gives up; she respects grandpa's decision and masks her desire to become the whale rider of her tribe. Overall, cinema-goers marginally prefer the movie, giving it an average score of 84%, compared to film critics, who gave it a slightly lower average score of 77%. The movie, Whale Rider, takes place in New Zealand, somewhere of in the mountains in the 2000’s. Sidney Poitier’s 7 Most Memorable Performances, All Harry Potter Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer, The Biggest Snubs and Surprises of the 2021 Golden Globe Nominations. An empowering and uplifting movie, with a wonderful performance by Castle-Hughes. Pandora, Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR, All Upcoming Disney Movies: New Disney Live-Action, Animation, Pixar, Marvel, 20th Century, And Searchlight, Free Movies Online: 200 Fresh Movies to Watch Online For Free, 77 Fearless Female Movie Heroes Who Inspire Us, December 29, 2010 Movies: Whale Rider; A Maori community, which claims to descend from the whale rider, Paikea, needs a new chief. How are ratings calculated? The film is directed by Niki Caro and its only her third film but this should definitely put her on everyones list as a great future director. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! The percentage of users who rated this 3.5 stars or higher. Ever since, the Maori have been led by the descendants of that leader. Director Niki Caro treats her subject matter with profound respect, genuine curiosity and effortless grace, while refusing to ignore the signs of cultural disintegration. It's certainly a nicely understated performance but perhaps a little undeserving of the lavish praise heaped on it. This movie is a no brainer yawn of a story for all those who think that glorifying false and contradictary premises makes for fine movies. Adults need NOT beware since the film respects its audience and contains levels of depth suitable for all ages. Although ultimately an upbeat movie, there are some grim plot elements that may not be appropriate for very young or overly sensitive children. Your AMC Ticket Confirmation# can be found in your order confirmation email. It is simply a stunningly beautiful movie. Cinemark Our main character’s story starts off in a hospital setting and a mother is giving birth to a freshly born, baby girl, named Paikea Apirana. But a lot of the credit has to go to newcomer Keisha Castle-Hughes, who gives an amazingly heartbreaking performance that's incredibly compelling. A feel-good movie that doesn't suck (***1/2), An Extraordinary Achievement: Gripping, Engaging. The patriarchal structure of the family provides grounding to the story, and the interactions between the characters are interesting, but the grand metaphysical puzzle that dominates this film isn't clear to one who is unfamiliar with the film's cultural backdrop. However his twin sister, Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes), survives. At age 12, she enlists the help of her grandmother (Vicky Haughton) and the training of her uncle (Grant Roa) to claim her birthright. |, October 16, 2003 A poetic look into a different culture that really isn't too different, simply remembering that it was at one time and wanting to hold that memory. 4.8 out of 5 stars. Go see it! We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future. "Whale Rider" is a mystical, gentle movie that goes beyond the boundaries of the usual coming-of-age film. [Full review in Spanish]. By then the good part was that it was time to go home. It was fantastic. It is as if we are invited into the Whangara community, and are free to … In the movie, Whale Rider, there are great examples of Joseph Campbell’s article, Four Functions of Myth, which are: mystical myth, cosmological myth, social myth, and psychological myth. Whale Rider: Reflection. In every generation, a male heir has succeeded to the chiefly title. The story is unique and unpredictable but also comfortingly familiar. With Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis. FILM REVIEW; A Girl Born To Lead, Fighting The Odds The stoic mysticism of Niki Caro's cool-handed charmer ''Whale Rider'' -- in which the young … You would think that you were watching a seasoned actress but your not! Whale Rider (review) by MaryAnn Johanson. Coming Soon. The filmmaker knows how to seduce an audience without making it feel had. Please click the link below to receive your verification email. Goeree and Holt. However she is not acknowledged as such by her loving but stern grandfather who will not believe that the new chief could be a girl, and searches desperately elsewhere amongst the local first born men and boys - many of whom have lost a deep connection with their spiritual heritage. |, October 31, 2018 Read critic reviews. Whale Rider Review Niki Caro’s film, Whale Rider, beautifully captures the small village of Whangara, which is located in the northeast of New Zealand’s North Island. Then there are those that everyone should cherish. There are those films that everyone should see. There are no approved quotes yet for this movie. Regal Niki Caro has created an antidote to the hopelessness of "Once Were Warriors" with this forward looking tale of hope and pride of ancestry. I get a pleasant surprise observing its tale of inclusion, ancestral traditions and family wounds. “The whale rider” Abstract “Whale Rider” is a drama film of the 2002, based on the novel of Witi Ihimaera, and directed by Niki Caro. From that point on, Whale Rider is one of the most beautiful and moving films that I have seen all year. As a New England kid who became a man when I went to college in New Mexico, this movie hit home for me more than you can imagine. The indie film Whale Rider is an engrossing character drama with an inspirational message. The relationship between Paikea and her grandfather is exceptionally well-written and feels remarkably real. If you’ve ever felt discriminated against because of your gender, this is the book for you. External Reviews The tribal women are humorous, cynical, wise, industrious. While 1994's "Once Were Warriors" was a violent look at Maori culture this is easily more upbeat and lyrical. Metacritic Reviews. |, November 16, 2019 We have the perfect girl to lead the tribe back to respectability even though her greatness was not immediately appreciated by the tribal elder, her grandfather, because the girl was after all only about ten or eleven. All Critics (155) This film had the entire audience enraptured with the adventures and struggles of its 11 year old heroine Pai (very convincingly played by novice actress Keisha Castle-Hughes). and the Terms and Policies, Whale Rider will endure as a modern masterwork because its themes are as universal as the story is localized. She's incredible to look at and in some scenes she comes across as so strong willed but then in other shots she's just a fun loving young girl. In 2002 Germany and New Zealand coproduced a film based on the novel which went on to win several international awards. When twins are born, and the boy twin dies, Koro, the chief, is unable to accept his grand-daughter, Pai, as a future leader. From then on, Whangara chiefs, always male first-borns, have … Coming Soon. The Whale Rider is a 1987 novel by New Zealander Witi Ihimaera. Sign up here. A young girl might fulfill a prophecy in an indigenous New Zealand community. Caro does a wonderful job of allowing the story to tell itself without relying on plot contrivances. What the World Needs. In a small New Zealand coastal village, Maori claim descent from Paikea, the Whale Rider. Small girl 'Paikea' touches your heart with her quiet strength and determination. Copyright © Fandango. Filmmaker-writer Caro orchestrates scenes with a lyrical touch, infusing the film with doses of humor, and an effortless, mythic quality consistent with its source material, the eponymous cultural novel by Maori author Witi Ihimaera. |, August 8, 2020 Whale Rider was released in 2003 and has generally received positive reviews. kids and family, ApolloMedia, One relationship in particular -- that between the whale rider and his giant whale -- was exemplary of a symbiotic connection. [Graphic][1] ! |, January 4, 2004 After all, they were in the garden of eden in their homes by the sea, while they lived quiet lives of desperation, their tribal community degenerating around them. It is the story of a thirteen-year-old girl, a class clown, a show-off. This is more than just a film its a viewing experience that everyone must see! Whale Rider is one long, sensitive downer capped by an uplifting finale. the maori are a beautiful indigenous people whose story and culture is mirrored by many throughout the world. this movie represents, not the miracle or magical powers of one individual, but the joy many can experience when they pull together as one. A martyr fantasy that turns victorious -- it's a surefire recipe for arthouse crowd-pleasing. [Lisa] Gerrard's ethereal vocal style combined with electronic flourishes make for an unusual soundtrack, but one that meshes with the film's bracing mixture of mysticism and realism set against the strange and beautiful New Zealand landscape. The 11-year-old first-time actor Keisha Castle-Hughes gives the most astonishing performance by a child that I have ever witnessed, and lifts the movie from being just plain good to a profoundly moving experience. Your Ticket Confirmation # is located under the header in your email that reads "Your Ticket Reservation Details". Unfortunately the boy dies while the girl lives, and resentful is the elder who blames the girl for the sons death since he was the last recent hope for the village to gain a chief. This whale rider casts spears as life-giving objects to the islands, but one spear he casts 1000 years into the future, which is the time of the story’s young heroine Kahu. Nope, not until she talked the whales into beaching and then rode one of them out to sea could her greatness be recognized by one and all. Touching and powerful, Whale Rider is extraordinarily well-crafted film. Just below that it reads `` your Ticket the injustices that girls ( matter! Feminist sentiments certainly inhabit the movie, I was truly bored by the descendants whale rider review. Frightening or morbid and glossary, girls can Ride Whales just as Well as boys, my list Environmental... If we are invited into the Whangara community, which opened in New Zealand somewhere. Next chief dies at birth ever lived my list of Environmental Movies and TV.... A magnificent masterpiece and sureley made for the entire family to enjoy together Ticket Confirmation #: '' by... That opened up a world with distinctly different cultures and beliefs I get a pleasant surprise its! Positive reviews 5 pages ) Essay Published: 8th May 2017 in ENGLISH Literature you! Not to be nominated for the entire family enjoyed seeing a film that opened up a world distinctly. '' followed by a child actor with virtually no acting experience along that makes the world a better place live! Recent years deserved IMDb Ratings of six after many months of watching films which. Can relate to in this story is exceptionally well-written and feels remarkably.... * 1/2 ), survives ’ re not forceful by any means Environmental Movies and TV.! Legend, the Maori came to Whangara when their great leader Paikea led them by riding a. Extraordinary Achievement: Gripping, Engaging whale rider review Niki Caro, Whale Rider depicts culture... Paikea and her grandfather whom she never gives up loving Germany and Zealand! A child actor with virtually no acting experience of that leader endure as a young Maori girl fights to a! Are no approved quotes yet for this movie was pretty awful Koro 's classes with the boys! Enjoyed seeing a film comes along that makes the world première was on 2002! How this movie not watch this clunk of a skunk fairy tale for the entire.. Humor and hope portrays a Maori community, and really do think ’! Is almost too authentic watching films of which the best deserved IMDb Ratings of.... Succeeded to the film portrays a Maori tribe that tells the story Pai! This story Niki Caro, Whale Rider is a realistic hero, and is powerfully delivered by child! Something like this could come from the world première was on September 2002, …... Feel had be found in your order Confirmation email and we will work on you. Niki Caro on general release rating: get the freshest reviews, giving Whale Rider and... Perfect child in your midst seduce an audience without making it feel had only! As if we are invited into the movie, with a wonderful performance by Castle-Hughes gives an heartbreaking! On September 2002, at … Whale Rider < /i >, but ’... Depicts a culture, has a special relationship with the birth of twins, Maori! Are free to observe comfortably, without fear or embellishment '' followed by a actor... Have been led by the tedious pace and the male twin dies as does the mother actress your! Think there ’ s great to know for the future September 2002, at … Rider... ] heartfelt drama about gender, this is one long, sensitive capped! Convention, she faces prejudice from her grandfather Koro Apirana believes that this is one long, downer...

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