Best movie of this year hands down!

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Once Were Warriors remains etched in any viewer's mind, and after watching this powerful movie, it kind of makes you look askance at the James Cameron Pure New Zealand/Lord of the Rings scenery into perspective big time and then some.Yes, the movie is filled with violence (although I think more people get killed in LOTR and the James Cameron movie Aliens) but there's much meaning illuminated from Once Were Warriors. It's a movie for the ages.

It's interesting watching Once Were Warriors as someone who has grown up in New Zealand and lived in a suburb where many aspects of the movie, reflected much of what I saw going on around me. Crime, poverty, substance abuse, violence including domestic violence - all were staple components of where I grew up that relate well to the themes within OWW.Ironically, seeing it on the screen seemed to me, far more real than it had ever been before - despite knowing men like Jake Heke and women like Beth. Despite being friends with people like Grace and like Nig, it never seemed as real as what it did on-screen.That is a testament to the way this film was pulled together, but also to the many talented people involved - most especially the cast. Temuera's portrayal of Jake is stunning. You will laugh with him and at him, you will swear it him and you will curse him with every ounce of your body, wanting to walk across the room and reach out for Jake and stop him from striking out at Beth ... that is, if you aren't scared of him. Temuera's portrayal somehow manages to engage you with Jake's human side, seeing the love that he has for Beth whilst also showing you the absolutely monstrous and dark side of Jake the Muss.Rena Owen meanwhile does an equally astounding performance.This movie will grab your emotions by the fistful and throw them around the room, leaving them as battered and bruised as the fragile souls of Beth and Grace Heke.This movie is highly recommended, but it is also highly recommended that you watch this when you are in a space to do so.

I first saw OWW at the cinema back in the mid-nineties and it blew me away. I got it on video and remember re-watching it a number of times and still being struck by the power of the story and performances.However, I've just watched it for the first time in over 10 years on DVD and have to say that it doesn't seem quite as strong a film as I used to imagine. My old impression was that it avoided the clichés of the weaker 'ghetto' movies: particularly, those pieces of dialogue that are so clumsily shoehorned in to emphasise the social point being made, they make you wince. Maybe it's unfair to suggest this film can be rather glib or clichéd at times but there are some awkward moments, largely due to wooden acting from the young actors playing Grace and Boogie. I thought that Kerr-Bell was great when I first saw it but I wasn't quite so impressed this last time.It is a gripping and harrowing drama, though, and the leads are fantastic. Morrison's part could have been an exercise in scenery-chewing if not handled right, but it's a very assured performance and he brings such conviction to the role that his character is truly believable. Frightening but compelling, Jake is a horrendous, damaged and utterly selfish person but you feel his charisma and he can turn on the charm when he wants to. Owen's Beth starts the film displaying a weary playfulness as she tries to stay strong for her children while her disgust with Jake's selfish and violent behaviour is reaching the limits of tolerance. When it all spirals out of control, Owen brings a strength and dignity to the role that make Beth such a memorable heroine. Cliff Curtis as slimy Uncle Bully is pretty good, too.

This movie was an epic experience. I have never experienced a movie with such insight to Maori culture in the 90's. Temeura Morrison's performance was spot on and who could forget Rena Owen. The storyline was superb and kept the audience engaged every second of the movie. One drawback is the outcome was rather predictable but still I was engaged. The insight to Maori culture was phenomenal however. Being a person of Poly decent I was drawn into the movie through cultural aspects and i enjoyed every minute of it. Nothing compares in my book. Great job to the director and it will be a classic in my eyes. All in all, great movie experience.