The Bounty

Directed by Roger Donaldson, starring Mel Gibson, Anthony Hopkins and Laurence Olivier. 1984, 130 min.

The story of the 1789 mutiny aboard the H.M.S. Bounty is filled with great acting and breath-taking scenery. Anthony Hopkins shows off his talent as Captain Bligh, the ship’s strict captain. Gibson plays Mr. Christian beautifully, showing how the man is torn between his duty and his need for freedom. The film captivates the audience’s interest immediately and keeps it throughout the story.

Utu

Directed by Geoff Murphy, starring Anzac Wallace, Bruno Lawrence and Kelly Johnson. 1983, 120 min.

Set in the 1870s, this film tells the story of a Maori soldier who seeks utu, or “retribution”, against the British when he finds his village burnt to the ground. The most interesting aspect of the movie is the contrast between the Maori warfare, filled with ritual and honor, and the British warfare, filled with greed and materialism.

Picture Bride

Directed by Emmett J. Dennis III and Kayo Hatta, starring Yuki Kudoh, Akira Takayama and Tamlyn Tomita. 1994, 98 min.

A young Japanese woman is filled with dreams as she travels to Hawaii to be married to a sugar cane worker, but this man is nothing like what she expected. A combination of the harsh life she must lead, her much older husband and her homesickness force this young, innocent woman to grow. Though the movie does not show a lot of Hawaii, it is an interesting look at the sugar cane workers between 1908 and 1924.

South Pacific

Directed by Joshua Logan, starring Rossano Brazzi, Mitzi Gaynor and John Kerr. 1958, 167 min.

The film brought Rodgers & Hammerstein's Pulitzer Prize winning musical “South Pacific” to the screen It is a story of love found and lost during the war against the Japanese. Some of the depicting of islanders is a bit stereotypical, but we do have to remember the era that it was made in. Movie buffs will surely enjoy it.

Once Were Warriors

Directed by Lee Tamahori, starring Rena Owen, Temuera Morrison and Mamengaroa Kerr-Bell. 1995, 102 min.

Set in present times, this film tells the story of a family torn by alcoholism and violence. Extremely well acted and written, this is one of the best films I have seen in a long time. The conclusion of the film merges the present New Zealand culture with ancient Maori culture in an emotional ceremony. I highly recommend it.

Web Resources for Films about Polynesia

Hawaiian movies

http://www.myriahs.com/index.html

http://www.hawaii.edu/oceanic/film/