WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Once Were Warriors
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 17 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison, Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 5
Sound Rating: 4.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Criterion Collection
(Catalog Number): CC1434L-282
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $49.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 102
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1994
(LD Release Date): 10/1/95
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Lee Tamohori
(Screenplay/Written By): Riwia Brown
(Story): NA
(Music): Murray Grindlay & Murray McNabb
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Michael Kane
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Michael Horton
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Robin Scholes

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo A
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Lee Tamahori’s feature film debut Once Were Warriors is the winner of over 15 film festival awards. Based on the novel by Alan Duff, it is a powerfully raw and deeply affecting story of tragedy and hope for a contemporary working class Maoris family in a poor suburb of Auckland. Their lives, painful as they may be, are examined unflinchingly by the camera. Beth (Rena Owen), despite constant abuse from her alcoholic husband, finds the strength each day to care for her five children, the most sensitive of whom is Grace (Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell), a 13-year-old aspiring writer. Her insensitive macho husband Jake (Te-muera Morrison) is a powder keg with a short fuse temper. When tragedy strikes via one of Jake’s drunken friends, Beth must make a final decision about her family’s fate.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture is matted at 1.85:1. Color fidelity is excellent with natural fleshtones and deep, solid blacks for superb picture quality. The picture is sharp and detailed, as well as solid with no noise, grain or artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack has a wonderful music score, effective directional effects, and a pleasing enveloping surround presence.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: