Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Disc:

Video:

Audio:

• Behind-the-Scenes featurette (11:42)

• Once Were Warriors Theatrical Trailer (2:08)
• Kamikaze '89 (1:34)
• Violent Cop (1:22)
• The Quiet Earth (1:00)
• Antonia's Line (1:48)
• The Pillow Book (1:34)
• Francesco (1:50)
• Collector's Booklet with film essay by New Zealand leading cinema expert, Peter Calder

‘Once Were Warriors – Where Are They Now’ - A documentary looking back at the film’s production and impact as well as re-uniting the cast 20 years later (52:20)
'Directing The Warriors' - A new interview with Lee Tamahori (29:11)

Bitrate:

 

Description: Jake Heke lives with his family in a tenement house for native Maori in the slums of Auckland. Despite his love and devotion, Jake's battle with alcoholism frequently results in terrifyingly erratic outbursts in front of his children and violent beatings of his wife Beth. After Jake loses his job, each member of the Heke family is forced to face their own personal demons and the societal constraints that shackle native New Zealanders.

 

The Film: An unemployed Maori living in the Auckland slums, Jake Heke (Temuera Morrison) has a terrible temper that he takes out on family and strangers alike. His wife, Beth (Rena Owen), takes regular beatings after he's been at the pub, and his kids do what they can to sidestep trouble. Nig (Julian Arahanga), the eldest, is joining a street gang; Boogie (Taungaroa Emile) has been placed in a foster home; and Grace increasingly retreats to the pages of her journal

Image :    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

Once Were Warriors is transferred to a dual-layered Blu-ray from Film Movement.  The 1-hour 42-minute feature has a max'ed out bitrate. It is in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio (presumably opened-up from the original 1.85:1), and looks reasonably clean. Depth wavers a bit and it can look occasionally soft but I don't know that this isn't a factor of the original production. This Blu-ray while not dynamic is pleasing in its appearance despite the, occasional, inconsistencies. Without being too picky, I think most will be very appreciative of the image quality. It's miles ahead of the old SDs.

NOTE: The opening and closing credits have been slightly letterboxed (see first capture - large - after subtitle sample) which is common for some releases (ex. Warner do it frequently with older films).

Having a slightly lower bitrate the Second Sight BD looks very strong - with richer black levels and deeper colors. It is still in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio and has the pictureboxed opening and closing credits. It has a marginal superiority in appearance depending on your system.

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

1) Film Movement - Region 'A' - Blu-ray   TOP 2) Second Sight - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

1) Film Movement - Region 'A' - Blu-ray   TOP 2) Second Sight - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

1) Film Movement - Region 'A' - Blu-ray   TOP 2) Second Sight - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

1) Film Movement - Region 'A' - Blu-ray   TOP 2) Second Sight - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

1) Film Movement - Region 'A' - Blu-ray   TOP 2) Second Sight - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Film Movement give the option of a lossy and lossless track - both in 5.1 surround. In comparing the two - the DTS-HD Master obvious has more, discreet, range and depth. Dialogue is clean and audible - but background sounds can be exported with a high volume - I seem to recall the same thing on the DVD. The score is by two Murrays - Murray Grindlay and Murray McNabb - who also worked together on Broken English. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'A' disc.

Audio comes in the option of a linear PCM 2.0 channel or a 5.1 surround (both 16-bit) but while the Film Movement is 24-bit I didn't notice a significant difference. It still sounds clean and exports the score with buoyancy. There are also optional English subtitles - and the Second Sight disc is Region 'B'-locked.     

Extras :

 

 

Second Sight - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
Yes, Once Were Warriors is grim, honest and unforgettable. The Film Movement Blu-ray provides a darn solid presentation of a highly impacting film. It's a view into a rarely exposed foreign culture and how it has melded with the modern world. Fascinating and disparaging how domestic violence has disintegrated a family unit. How horrible. The film is a masterpiece and this Blu-ray gets a very strong recommendation!

 

Second Sight improve upon the Film Movement package with superior video and extras. Great, impacting, film and love the black case of the UK edition. Strongly recommended!    

Gary Tooze

September 26th, 2016

February 8th, 2018

 

 

Reissued with commentary by Film Movement in February 2025: There is a French Blu-ray with English dialogue and optional English subtitles here: