River Queen

Boy did I enjoy River Queen. The scenery was stunning, the acting superb, the story brilliant, and the music was a hauntingly beautiful match to an incredible film. I always thought it would be great if a film was set during the Maori wars that was similar to Michael Mann's "The Last of the Mohicans". Well this it, with shades of Joffe's "The Mission" to boot.

River Queen grabs you and draws you into a world that you only learned about in history books. It does not take sides but portrays the beautiful and the ugly in both sides to the conflict. The chemistry between the main actors is powerful and moving and keeps the people of the story to the fore, stopping them from being engulfed by the powerful images of the war.

I always thought it would take our own Peter Jackson (should be Sir Peter) to make a film of this quality in New Zealand and about New Zealand. But I take my hat off to Vincent Ward. River Queen demonstrates that there is an amazing depth of movie making talent in this small country that time and again punches way above it's weight.

When I saw the two stars that the NZ Herald gave it I was not discouraged because the same critique gave King Kong 5 stars, which was the worst movie I've seen all year! River Queen was a beautiful movie. The depiction of the musket wars of colonial NZ was outstanding. The unique beauty of the NZ scenery was stunning, the music, which seemed to be an amazing mixture of Maori and Irish influence was very moving and added a great deal to the energy of the movie as a whole. The dramatic musical piece that was played just before the battles enhanced the anticipation of it all.

I also have to add that when Boy did the solo I was so mesmerized by his voice that I didn't realize that he was singing an Irish song! I would see the movie again just for that scene alone! I enjoyed watching the characters. I don't think the acting was brilliant, although the boy was superb in the one scene where he's telling his mother off, but the actors themselves were attractive and enjoyable to watch.

I would highly recommend this movie if you enjoy stunning scenery, visual artistic effects with water and color, a good story based on history, and nicely placed and original use of music, or if you enjoy learning the history of a very unique culture that so few people know of.

I enjoyed 'River Queen' better on second viewing. First time through, I found the story-line a tad confusing and even long winded in places. Admittedly, I was also distracted wondering whether it was shot on the Whanganui (I grew up in and around Wanganui - the river has an 'h'; the city doesn't). At the end though, I was happy with the experience. Certainly happy enough to watch it again.

On second viewing, familiar with the story and characters and confident in the knowledge that I was indeed looking at the Whanganui, the pace seemed good. I thought the acting good and I loved the scenery (an ex-patriate's nostalgia perhaps?). I particularly appreciated the recreation of warfare in the New Zealand Wars.

Others have suggested that the movie was unduly biased towards the Maori. This surprises me as, pakeha though I am, the thought did not cross my mind on either viewing.

PS I recently found out that an ancestor of mine was in the Regiment depicted in the movie.

Very good film with interesting as well as attractive plot , nice acting and exceptional , colorful cinematography shot on location and it has the feel of a great epic fable . It begins with a real sense of wonder and intrigue when we become involved into a lush world with full of vegetation , rivers , mountains and dangers . An intimate and affectionate story set during the 1860s in which a young Irish woman called Sarah O'Brien and her family : father (Stephen Rea) , brother (Kiefer Sutherland) and son (Rawiri Pene) find themselves on both sides of the thunderous wars between British and Maori during the British colonization of New Zealand. A Maori village has so far been spared from the encroachment , but the villagers fear the imminent enemy arrival and subsequently seeking to defend themselves . Eventually , the Maori group will face the ultimate battle against the nasty colonialists . With darkness all around, only the heart can see ! . A kidnapped son ! . A nation at war ! . An epic journey !.

Gripping and evocative film about New Zeland's turbulent wars and full of enjoyable scenes when a group of natives from the wild emerge in a brutal battle against the white invaders who are causing ravage , massacre , destruction and high body-count . It is a genuine as well as imaginative tale written and directed with great sensibility , clarity , fairness and brutality too . This engrossing picture contains powerful and haunting images , it's plenty of images that stay in the mind . Main and support cast are pretty good , giving decent acting , such as : Samantha Morton as starring Sarah O'Brien , Kiefer Sutherland , Cliff Curtis, Temuera Morrison , Anton Lesser and Stephen Rea. The interesting perspective is intimate and it lends a great deal of excitement to the movie experience . Beautiful scenery , tense , intriguing and a moving climax lift this story . There's something for everyone here ; fans of history , fans of adventure , fans of gorgeous landscapes should all find something to enjoy about this film .

Wonderfully directed , and it is all strongest for being brilliantly photographed in splendid panoramic screen and boasting colorful imagines , excellently shot by cameraman Alun Bollinger , filmed on location in New Zealand : Rangitikei River, Ruatiti Domain,Manganuioteao River, Pipiriki, Wanganui River, Manganuioteao River, Wanganui River, Manawatu-Wanganui, Waimarino, North Island, Patea Bay, Patea, Manawatu-Wanganui and Wellington . Adding a sensitive , stirring musical score by composer Karl Jenkins , including native and folkloric sounds . The motion picture was stunningly written and directed by Vincent Ward , though on a limited budget . Ward's first big hit was ¨Navigator¨(1988) , It's a masterpiece who made his major impact gaining international acclaim, that was the movie what convinced the producers of Alien 3 (1992) to hire Vincent Ward as writer/director , although Ward would eventually leave the set of Alien 3 after many creative differences with the studio . Vincent Ward's won several prizes in a lot of Festivals such as Australian Film Institute , Cannes Film Festival , Fantasporto and Sitges Catalonian Film Festival . The great filmmaker Vincent Ward has produced , executive produced and/or written and directed feature films including ¨What Dreams May Come¨ , ¨The River Queen¨ and ¨The Last Samurai¨ , developing the underlying material , as he chose the director , before acting as an executive producer on this film . Ward's films have earned critical acclaim and festival attention whilst achieving a wide , eclectic audience, such as ¨Vigil¨ (1984), and ¨Map of the Human Heart¨ (1993) . ¨This River Queen¨ (2005) along with ¨The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey¨ (1988) are considered his best films . ¨River Queen¨ (2005) rating : 7/10 . Well worth watching . Above average but is deemed by many to be the Vincent Ward's best .

All Vincent Ward's movies have a heart, a visionary heart. It amazes me that he has managed to make as many movies as he has, as none of them have been block busters. They have all been personal and intense, and they have all added something to the world. None of them are just another genre type a,b or c movie.

I had heard conflicting reviews about this one, but given his previous films particularly Navigator and What Dreams May Come I just had to go. It really got under my skin, it's a historical drama, but dream, desire, and vision saturate the story, making it like no other.

Also being from Aotearoa and with Maori blood having been mixed into my veins, it was fantastic to see such a good film finally being made of that clash of cultures. How personal and close the wars were.

The landscape and the Wanganui River were filmed to perfection.

This movie haunts me. It's great to finally have another Vincent Ward movie. If only they released the other ones on DVD!