ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

Bereamic Awesome Movie

Livestonth I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

Mehdi Hoffman There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

gkeith_1 Seems like Marlon Brando should have been in this film. I don't know what part he could have played, but maybe a part (only a major part for my Marlon) could have been made up for Marlon. At any rate, I would not have wanted him to portray Abner Hale or any of those other stodgy, uptight ministers, lol. Maybe Marlon's character could have gone for Julie Andrews, then killed Hale the ignorant preacher-man. I have read the enormous novel upon which this film is based. This movie seems long, but the novel is gigantic. The beginning of this book goes on forever in describing the history of Hawai'i, before the white man ever arrived. It also tells lengthy litanies about the origins of the native gods and indigenous beliefs. The missionaries wanted to claim these islands for their religion. This film goes to great lengths to illustrate that. I have been to Hawai'i. I saw their beautiful beaches and exotic plants. The weather is breathtaking. I visited Honolulu, and toured a beautiful museum wherein were displayed artifacts from the lives of late 19th-century Hawai'ian royalty. It seems that by that time, in real life, the royal family of Hawai'i had intermarried with white business and political figures. The white people were building agricultural empires there, for example enormous pineapple production (famous canned pineapple brand names you have heard of). The British also were interlopers in the islands. The Hawai'ian royal family seemed to like the British 19th Victorian fashions and polite manners more than they liked the Americans and their less elegant ways, but the island nation eventually became an American state. The last queen of Hawai'i had been forced to abdicate. She had been married to a white man. I also saw a display there of a life-size figure of James Michener, sitting in a white tent and typing the novel "Hawaii" on his manual typewriter. Did white people ruin Hawai'i? I hope not. It is a beautiful place. I hope to visit there again soon. Observations: Malama (Alii Nui) stole the show, in this film. 10/10

Steffi_P By this point, the mid-1960s, the old-style biblical epics had more or less died out completely, but epics of other kinds were still reasonably popular. This story of missionaries in the first half of the 19th century, adapted from a James A. Michener novel and made a year before the abandoning of the Hollywood production code, is in fact a polemic against rigid adherence to Christian scriptures. At its centre is an overly pious and sometimes hypocritical preacher, the kind of mind which would have believed in all those unswervingly self-righteous bible flicks of the previous decade.But Hawaii is not some flagrant and roughshod denunciation of church and faith. The picture was adapted (quite liberally) from its source by acclaimed screenwriters Daniel Taradash and Dalton Trumbo, and it has in particular Trumbo's tendency to treat all his characters with respectful and human portrayals, in spite of what antagonisms they may have towards each other. Thus while Max von Sydow is seen at turns as a callous fanatic, a trumped-up fool and a general negative influence, we first see him as a shy yet well-meaning youngster, clumsily trying to woo Julie Andrews. In these early scenes he is somewhat endearing figure, and even though most viewers will not condone much of what he later does, this first impression sticks with us, preventing us from completely despising him and allowing us to believe in his wife's devotion to him.Max von Sydow was an excellent choice for this role. Admittedly his Swedish accent is a bit of a non-sequitur, but he is perfect at bringing out both the sympathetic young lad and the unshakable preacher. His performance occasionally seems to border on the hammy, but this is acceptable because it fits in with his strength of character and the earnest manner with which he takes up his ministerial duties. Julie Andrews is great too. After having made her name with the more or less fantasy figures of Mary Poppins and Maria von Trapp there's a strange kind of poignancy seeing her suffer the strains of being a more realistic wife and mother. She seems sadly underused here however, although apparently she was the main victim of the cuts in the edited version I have, which is a real pity. Richard Harris and Gene Hackman bring their forceful presences to make some of the more powerful statements in the dialogue, while Jocelyn LaGrande makes a terrific impact with her full-of-life performance. Although she spoke no English and learned her lines phonetically, it's incredible the way she communicates meaning and emotion around those words.Hawaii was the first large-scale picture directed by George Roy Hill, and by and large he handles the broad canvas well. Of note is that fact that he gives a constant life and rhythm to the island, often featuring a few figures working in the background or framing a character with gently swaying foliage. Hill was of course a child of the New Wave and this is evident in the occasional zoom or whip pan, but his touch is generally quite light and minimalist. Unlike some of the other younger directors around at this time he favours long takes with few close-ups. The only trouble with this is doesn't seem to quite have developed the knack of subtly making a point within the frame, sometimes using the camera to force our attention on something. An example is when Iliki runs to greet Richard Harris's ship, throwing off her western dress, a moment which seems rather contrived and clunky by the way the camera pans down onto the discarded garment.Hawaii is a far from perfect picture, being neither quite the stunning extravaganza that epics are generally meant to be, nor the stirring human drama it also seems to aspire to. However, it has many moments which come close to both goals, and most importantly has a very honest humanity to it – something so many epics lack – and this allows it to speak its message directly without ever threatening to alienate its audience.

kolemani-1 I first noticed what were definitely Polynesian actors on the cover of the DVD and considering it was a movie based on a subject matter I'm always interested in(when Europeans interfere with Native peoples,in particular Polynesians since I am one,and the effects the clash of cultures can have).I was a little unsure of the movie at first because I was thinking it was gonna be real preachy but I found it to be an awesome film,even it it did have some cuts(as I just read another post here).I am very impressed with the acting from all the cast and especially the performances given from Keoki and especially Ali'i Nui.She did a really good job especially considering this was her first and only movie.I couldn't see a movie like this being made today(esp since there wouldn't nearly be as many real Hawaiians available for extras or actors) and in my opinion there was a good balance of many perosectives in this film.It can get your mind racing.I myself have part Native Hawaiian blood and am always looking to find out more about my culture.I hope that people re-discovering or discovering this movie for the first time realize the struggles of Native Hawaiian people and trying to keep and in some cases find their own identity after being taken over by outside forces that still exist to this day.These problems are nothing new and at the same time have trouble getting old.I hope people will come away wanting to know a little more about the US' 50th "state" and find that it is more than a great tourist destination and that it is not just some place on a postcard.Well thats all and I enjoyed the acting,direction,dedication and even the great shots that were put into this film.Hawaiian's are still a dying race(fewer aborignal Hawaiians now) but there are many proud Natives(in the blood) and local Hawaiians(in spirit) that are still fighting to hold onto the culture and some of our traditions.My hats off to these people.peace

hoogbest The movie was absolutely perfect in every way. The key to its power is that all viewers SHOULD have read the book at least once....ideally more than once, before seeing the movie. So many of the characters and story lines are much easier to comprehend and appreciate if one has read the book before even attempting to enjoy the richness and completeness of the epic story that Michner wrote, as it appears on the screen The book was glorious and fully half of it was not in the movie. As a result, many incidents that were shown in the movie were confusing because the book explained them in Michner's classic detailed style which ultimately created the outline that helped the story flow. Forget any misguided claims that the book was about dictatorship, etc. and READ THE BOOK.....only then will you understand that in the final analysis it simply is the story of a humble as well as stubborn and proud but frequently lonely and sad New England Christian Pastor's life and how he tried to do his best for the people that he touched and came to love, as he walked through that life with Jesus and God directing him. The ending of the movie was very touching and meaningful......those that read the book know why and understand. By the way, I have never heard a more thrilling and beautiful opening orchestral piece in any movie. I was fortunate enough to hear that song sung at one of Don Ho's shows many years ago.....the words of the song are as equally haunting and beautiful as the music when they speak not of the inhabitants of the island and their love for that paradise, but rather it is a song of the love the island of Hawaii has for the people who inhabit one of God's true Heavenly creations......the opening line of the song goes, "I am your island I wish you love....". See the movie again and revel in it's greatness and if you are really interested in enjoying the entire Mitchner experience please READ THE BOOK at least once before you attempt to do so. ALOHA!