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Movies / On DVD / Once Were Warriors
Once Were Warriors

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Once Were Warriors (1995)

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93 %
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Reviews Counted:30

Fresh:28

Rotten:2

Average Rating:7.7/10

Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: One woman tries to keep her family together despite her violent, alcoholic husband. Based on the novel by Alan Duff. Made in New Zealand. For Jake and Beth Heke, life in their suburban ghetto... One woman tries to keep her family together despite her violent, alcoholic husband. Based on the novel by Alan Duff. Made in New Zealand. For Jake and Beth Heke, life in their suburban ghetto is going from bad to worse. Jake's just lost his job, their delinquent teenage son Boogie has to appear in court and they can't make ends meet with five growing kids. Late that night, they host another one of Jake's raunchy drinking parties while the children lie awake in their bedroom. When their oldest son asks for money, which Beth discovers Jake has gambled away, it ignites a vicious argument that Jake solves by giving Beth one of his brutal beatings. The tide of violence continues to ebb and flow in the Heke household until a terrible tragedy makes them confront the dysfunctional state of their family. [More]

Starring: Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell, Cliff Curtis

Starring: Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell, Cliff Curtis

Director: Lee Tamahori

Director: Lee Tamahori

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Oct 8, 2002

[DVD Details]
 
 

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Letterbox

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
 
 
 
 

Reviews for Once Were Warriors

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
07/22/08
David Stratton
David Stratton
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Newsweek | comment Comment
03/31/08
David Ansen
David Ansen
Newsweek
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

One of the most powerful, ultra-realistic dramas about domestic violence--As the battered wife, Rena Welson should have received a Best Actress nomination.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
12/23/06
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/26/06
Time Out

Overrated and nauseating.

comment Comment
11/14/05
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

No review available.

comment Comment
04/07/05
Andy Klein
Andy Klein
Los Angeles CityBeat

No review available.

comment Comment
03/09/05
Eric Lurio
Eric Lurio
Greenwich Village Gazette

No review available.

comment Comment
01/13/05
Brian Gibson
Brian Gibson
Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)

No review available.

comment Comment
07/26/04
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

Packed with bloody raw emotion.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
01/03/04
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

No review available.

comment Comment
09/19/03
Leigh Johnson
Leigh Johnson
Hollywood.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/20/03
Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
05/14/03
Jeanne Aufmuth
Jeanne Aufmuth
Palo Alto Weekly

No review available.

comment Comment
11/15/02
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

No review available.

comment Comment
10/31/02
Brian J. Arthurs
Brian J. Arthurs
Beach Reporter (Southern California)

Excellent performances in this New Zealand import

comment Comment
10/25/02
Jon Niccum
Jon Niccum
Lawrence Journal-World

One of the year's best films. Totally unforgettable.

comment Comment
09/20/02
Clint Morris
Clint Morris
Moviehole

Speaks volumes about the self-destructiveness of peoples who have turned their rage inward.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
08/30/02
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

No review available.

comment Comment
07/29/02
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

comment Comment
07/26/02
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com
 
 
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Latest News for Once Were Warriors

February 02, 2006: Director Lee Tamahori Charged With Solicitation
According to celeb-watching site TMZ.com, New Zealand-born director Lee Tamahori was arrested January 8 in Hollywood for solicitation of an undercover cop; furthermore, the... More...

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