Māori haka from the colonial New Zealand Wars

[Arteis]

I've posted a fearsome Māori haka (war chant) from the 1980s movie 'Utu' to my blog. 

'Utu' is set in the latter part of colonial New Zealand Wars, and the movie haka is a terrific depiction of a Māori haka from that conflict (albeit from the government side in this part of the movie).

http://arteis.wordpress.com/2011/09/25/a-fearsome-maori-haka-from-the-colonial-new-zealand-wars/

There are also some screenshots of the haka, and the movie poster for 'Utu', on my blog.

[H.M.Stanley]

Hi. Is the film any good?

Funny enough, IF i was going to do another Colonial period ...

[Paul @ Empress Miniatures]

Brilliant. Havn't seen the film in years. I think I may have it somewhere on a video.

Mind you the All Blacks did it better yesterday 

Paul

[efredbar]

Netflix sent me an email stating that I must be longed on from a mental institution for even suggesting they might have it....that's twice this week.*


*the other coming when I tried to find Let The Good Times Roll.

[joroas]

Mind you the All Blacks did it better yesterday 

I doubt it, they didn't have double-barrelled shotguns.............   

[Arthur]

Hi. Is the film any good?

I've always been extremely fond of it. Just don't expect non-stop, all-out action, which definitely isn't what the film is about. And note that there are at least two versions of the film : the original 118 mn cut released in New Zealand (which I believe is also the international version shown in Europe although I'm not sure : see below) and the shorter American version with a running time of 104 minutes.

Speaking of alternate cuts, perhaps Roly could clear a point for me : when I saw the film theatrically in the 1980s, the story was told in flashback mode, with Te Wheke's trial being used as the film's main narrative thread. Is this the cut that's currently available on DVD in New Zealand and Oz, or is the movie you've seen narrated chronologically ? (I know the American version is chronological and doesn't have the flashbacks). The reason I'm asking is because I vaguely recall reading somewhere that the non-American international version was re-edited to create the flashbacks whereas the original Kiwi version was chronological. Never managed to find out whether this is true or not, so perhaps you might help me here.  

[Arthur]

Netflix sent me an email stating that I must be longed on from a mental institution for even suggesting they might have it....that's twice this week.*


*the other coming when I tried to find Let The Good Times Roll.

Kino released the American cut in the US a long time ago, but their region 1 DVD has been OOP for quite some time and second-hand copies are fetching interesting prices these days. 

[Helen]

My DVD copy is a zone 4 and goes for 118 minutes. I originally saw the movie on video from Michael Broadbent's library of ancients films and loved the movie.

Cheers,

Helen

[Arthur]

Cheers Helen

One geekish technical question : is the region 4 DVD anamorphic (i.e enhanced for 16 x 9 screens) or just 4 x3 letterboxed ? Oddly enough it's not even listed on the EzyDVD website, which is my default purveyor of all things Australian.

[Helen]

Cheers Helen

One geekish technical question : is the region 4 DVD anamorphic (i.e enhanced for 16 x 9 screens) or just 4 x3 letterboxed ? Oddly enough it's not even listed on the EzyDVD website, which is my default purveyor of all things Australian.

Hi Arthur,

I can set my digital TV to any screen size for the movie. Does that help?

Cheers,

Helen

[mysteriousbill]

Yes, they did have plenty of shotguns and muskets. That is why the British had such trouble in the earliest wars.

[Arteis]

It is many, many years since I saw 'Utu', so I can't answer the questions here.  I don't even remember the story fully.

However, this has piqued my interest, so I bought a used DVD of the movie on www.TradeMe.co.nz (the NZ version of eBay) this afternoon for the princely sum of $NZ11.95, which even includes the postage! 

I'll report once the DVD arrives and I get a chance to view it.

[Galloping Major]

Hi. Is the film any good?

Funny enough, IF i was going to do another Colonial period ...

I watched it on rental when released, then bought the VHS from a local rental shop, I think it had been watched by 4 or 5 of us - obviously didn't appeal to the Top Gun market. Still have it on VHS and watch it every year or so, I'll have to transfer it or buy it from NZ on DVD. I think it's a very watchable film, good cast, lots of action and a very nice period look.

Set as the last real Maori War is coming to a close in the 1860s, a revenge tale from both sides. I'd recommend it.



www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

[Lowtardog]

Loved the film, it once appeared on terrestrial tv and never saw it again nor have been able to get a copy in the UK
Great link