SoftInloveRox Horrible, fascist and poorly acted

Stoutor It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

Gary The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Cissy Évelyne It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Edgar Allan Pooh . . . you'll "spoil the child," but DONOVAN'S REEF provides just one more example of John Wayne's take on Family Management, which might be summed up as, "Spare the hand, spoil the wife!" DONOVAN'S REEF concludes with Mr. Wayne's "Mike" character closing his engagement deal with Elizabeth Allen's "Amelia" by turning her over his knee and giving her a few mighty whacks on her rump. A few years later John would reprise this mode of domestic man-handling in his penultimate collaboration with frequent co-star Maureen O'Hara, McLINTOCK! (Perhaps he spanked Mo in all the pictures they made together; my memory is NOT photographic!) Of course, in McLINTOCK!, Mr. Wayne made Whaling on the Wife a multi-generational family affair, as he had one of his Real Life sons redden the rear of the latter's movie mate. When these flicks featuring Battles of the Buttocks were originally released, Wayne's focus on the female derrière probably was considered to be, "Good, Clean Fun." When you ponder over this today, remember that if John had just spent MORE time recreating with ladies' butts and LESS time creating cigarette butts, he might have been able to make more movies!

Rosettes WOW! There are some movies that from the very start grab you and don't let you go......and this is one of them! Top Marks! First of all,though, if it weren't for the cast, I might have never have bothered with the flick based on the cover art and back of the box (VHS) summary. Many a movie summaries, even when this one was put out in VHS, seem to either be completely wrong about the movie or give away the first half in a few sentences. This summary was the former and it was wrong for it was not a story of two old friendly brawlers competing over the new girl on the island............far from it.The movie is dated. There are points here and there that would be unacceptable in today's politically correct world. Of course, some of them one might have needed to been in nautical service to pick up on. However, perhaps one should take a brief lesson from the flick, if only for a moment in "even though I believe in one, I still respect the beliefs of those before me".It's a tear jerker at times but on a good note. It also brings back personal memories of where the senior government official for an away station would provide narration for the Pageant.Technically, the movie moves smoothly along. There are some non smooth spots such as major players perhaps not being used as much as their fame would have and minor players supporting a particular scene but not much else. That in the latter case, though, is life for one can't be everywhere at once. In either case, they do not detract from the main thrust of the story. Further, the story does not give away all its secrets at once for there are some mysteries that the audience is finding out just about the time, if a little sooner, as the antagonist is.When I watched movies at the theater, there would be often a feeling on exit, blinking in the sunshine, of what a wonderful experience that I just had. This movie has the same, even if I watched it on a large box TV, sitting in a den.

Neil Welch Donovan's Reef is a most peculiar creature.You might call it a romantic comedy, because that is probably the strongest thread running through it. Then again, there is a large element of knockabout farce involved. At the same time, it makes some quite serious points about racism, albeit it does so in a way which was reasonable at the time but which, seen from a modern viewpoint, almost reinforces a racism viewpoint (the Japanese residents of Haleakaloa, for instance, are very stereotyped). And you might also think of it as a travelogue, because it makes full use of the beautiful Hawaiian locations. It's also worth observing that, viewed from 2010, it is pretty sexist, too - all a woman needs to bring her into line is a good spanking followed by a good kissing, and all that! But for all that, it is a good natured film, and it has a warm heart. Wayne delivers the character we have seen in so many westerns, Lee Marvin and Caesar Romero overact dreadfully (but, to be fair, they are required to), Jack Warden is the conscience of the film, and the sinfully underused Elizabeth Allen (she had a successful TV career, but this was her highest profile film) is its heart. I also very much liked Jacqueline Malouf as Lelani, in a performance of maturity beyond her years, bridging the gap between the inconsequentialities of a child on the brink of adolescence and the dignity of a princess born.I simply enjoy this film very much, and I treasure it for the moment when Amelia shows that she has worked everything out, and welcomes Lelani as her sister, one of my all time favourite movie moments.

twilightinthemoon34 Donavan's Reef is a decent film.This is one of John Wayne's best films. He has a strong supporting cast with him and a great musical score.But there is one moment I must note for you. There is a scene that has to be seen to be believed. Lee Marvin ( as a bad guy) is dunking the head of an innocent man into a barrel. Wayne comes over, grabs a piece of wood that resembles a bat, and cracks Kennedy right in the face. It's a moment that causes the viewer great pain as he laughs at how real it looks. The timing is precise here and looks very painful.So by all means watch this film if only for that scene. But you will be well rewarded if you stick it out.