Temuera Morrison's Once Were Warriors 1 & 2 Review

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[00:00:47] Angry. How do you pick them up? Once Were Warriors, the story of one woman's fight for freedom. You're a hard lady, Bissy. You're a hard man, Jakey. Aren't they beautiful when they're like that? Just drunk that, Paul. People have their true feelings when they're drunk. I got a temper on me, but who hasn't?

[00:01:17] One family's fight for survival. Leave that kid, Alana. You know, that's your problem. You spoiled it, Alana. You don't care about any of us. Don't, Jakey. It's a trouble, Jake. I do. In the spirit of the past... You think your fist is your weapon? ...there is power. I have taught you. Your mind will be.

[00:01:45] No one anymore these drunken parties or your mates coming around. ...possibility. You're a man! You're talking about the thingy! You're still a slave, Jake. To your fist. To the drink. I'm a lovable chip. To yourself. No! Gonna hurt my babies anymore. A woman's journey home.

[00:02:21] Now let's talk about Temuera Morrison and why he's amazing. Ah. Uh, casting in like 2 million roles in one movie. Jago and Boba and yeah, now Jago and Boba again. 10 million other clones. Yes. Don't think I'm a clone now. The first thing, the time I saw him was Once Were Warriors, which is... And did you ever see the sequel to that? That was... I didn't even know that once. Twice Were Warriors? Yeah, twice were...

[00:02:48] Yeah, it's called What Becomes the Brokenhearted, but it's really cool because he, again, he was great as Jake the Mus in the first movie. It just, it was a sleeper film in 94 and even the filmmakers involved never were ever as good as that. But yeah, ever again. But I loved how in part two, he has to redeem himself and save his son from, you know, getting killed by geasters. Oh man, what's that? What was that called? I'm gonna get it. What Becomes the Brokenhearted? And if I'm not mistaken, I think you can find it on YouTube still.

[00:03:18] It's also the name of a really good Motown song. Yeah! I mean, I'm very tempted to sing it. I thought we established it was Once Were Warriors 2, Electric Boogaloo. Damn it, you know what I do. Sing that for part free to conclude the trilogy. I've been sitting on that joke for three minutes and then you're back on. I mean, that movie is very, very like serious and depressing. So it's great to be like, oh, that part two.

[00:03:45] We decided to change it a bit, make it a little bit more palpable for everybody. I'm gonna punch it up a little. A little palpable with friends. So that's good. You saw the good shit is what you're telling me. You saw that as opposed to Speed 2 or Barbed Wire. Oh, I love Barbed Wire, man. Oh man, you can't go on Barbed Wire. Cut out the rest of that movie and just have his stunts. The movie is even better, man. Well, Barbed Wire is a remake of Casablanca. It's the exact storyline. Oh my God. Yes. No, it actually is. Like, I'm not joking.

[00:04:15] It's the exact. No, I've heard that. That's great. Yeah. Yeah. It's the exact storyline of Casablanca. Except it's except what's his name? Thing is is is barbed wire. So instead of Bogart, Bogart is Barb is sorry to bust your inner Bogart. Sorry to be a Bogart on a Bogart. Oh my God. They were warriors. Men of honor sworn to battle.

[00:04:45] I hadn't seen him for so long. That was always your choice, Jake. Now, five years on. Why'd you leave her alone? Don't be talking to me like that, alright? Gee, what are you gonna do about smack me? One man's battle has only just begun. Had a missus kick me out, a daughter kill herself. Now another son in a game. My brother's dead! You do the hit, you can do the same again.

[00:05:15] Why man, why? Do you want to end up like Nick or what? No. I don't want to end up like you either. He was a better father than he was a husband. Why do you think they hate you? You've got this bastard! So why'd you stay with him? Because I loved him. Well, you know where I live, okay? Yeah, we know. We just don't care. Okay, I said it. I'm sorry. It's the first time you've ever said that to me. You still gonna do this in here? What do you want me to do? Take on the whole gang? Get myself killed at the same time? You'll be at the flat till I get here. What's going on, son? Just be there.

[00:05:57] She's the one that left Nick join the gang in the first place! They will find there is no past without forgiveness. You're gonna spend the rest of your life in jail! Will you care? And no future without sacrifice. Can you wear a Morrison? What becomes of the broken hearted?

[00:07:20] All right, gang. So as part of the Star Wars is May the fourth month. Yeah, just again, I've gone into the rest of, you know, you've heard replays and some new stuff on the different Harrison Ford and Samuel Jackson discussions. You've seen us do a tribute to Bo-Katan herself, Katie Sackhoff. I gotta do a tribute to the one, the only, Django and now Boba Fett. I love, you know, Temuera Morrison. Always have.

[00:07:48] He's just been a delightful New Zealand actor. He's done some martial arts and stunt work. He's, you've seen him in other movies. Uh, so many to keep track of, but. Aside from all the Marvel and DC stuff, he appeared in Apple's black ops show, Echo Free. And you've seen him also outside of the Star Wars saga.

[00:08:18] Just, he's just popped up in some other New Zealand films that I've had fun tracking down, like never say die. And goodness, he had this other one, uh, Crooked Earth, which is really solid. But yeah, outside of Star Wars, he didn't really have much to draw on. He was in infamous stuff like the Island of Dr. Moreau and Speed 2 and 6 Days, 7 Nights. So, so probably his better productions were from Dusk to Elk, Alan Free, Vertical Limit.

[00:08:44] He was in this really awesome Western called Blueberry with Vincent Castle and Michael Madsen. And Reign of the Children, which he reunites with some of the stars of this movie. He's been in some other B movies like sequels to Hard Target and The Marine. But I recommend him in, you know, Cyrus Child. Goodness, he's in the Occupation movies. He's also in the Moana movies. And he's worked on a show recently with Jason Momoa.

[00:09:13] So I like how he's accepted his Maori culture. He's in The River Queen, which is a decent tale of early colonies in New Zealand during 1868. He's got some good star power in that. He's in The Beautiful Country, which is a smuggling movie based in Vietnam. That co-stars Nick Nolte and Tim Roth. That's pretty good. But yeah, he has only a brief role as a smuggler gets killed in that.

[00:09:41] And yeah, I've always just enjoyed just his multi-talents. And even people didn't like the Star Wars movies. They're going to instantly just, they can't help it. They're going to go, oh yeah, Jango Fett. Hey. But even had a brief role on Spartacus TV show. But enough about that.

[00:10:07] So why is his first big, well-known role, you know, once we're warriors and then the, you know, the little known sequel, what becomes the brokenhearted? Where he plays, again, Maori gang leader, Jake's the most, again, you know, he's a violent alcoholic. It just shows how, this is a good precursor to like the pre-Tony Soprano. Or shall we say, how about Vic? You know, Crooked Cop Vice Squad Leader, Vic on the shield.

[00:10:37] That charismatic one minute and then doing horrifying stuff the next, you know. But instead of just throwing someone out a window or shooting them after dinner or stealing their money and then burning them alive, it's like, no. Like we're talking just uncontrolled rage. And it's both awesome at showing how someone who's on drugs and an alcoholic becomes a domestic abuser. He doesn't mean to be controlling, but he is. And he can't hide from that fact.

[00:11:06] And this movie, the first one was always on IFC.

[00:11:36] The sequel, you know, it's like they were owned by Polygram Entertainment and Footprint Films. So, independently by Universal, but you couldn't find them anywhere else really, especially the sequel. It was like on a hard-to-find Region 2 DVD and I always found it on YouTube. And I like them both in their own way because they're not the same movie.

[00:11:59] And I had no idea before recording this, but I was doing some digging before I got my notes ready today. Apparently, these are both based on a novelist, Alan Duff's books. He did three of these. They're the same names he did. Becomes the Once Were Warriors in 1990. It got adapted in 1994. Then he did what becomes The Brokenhearted. That gets adapted in 1999.

[00:12:29] And then he wrote a third book that was called. Yeah, that was then called Jake's Long Shadow in 2002. And that did not get adapted because.

[00:12:49] A, they either didn't want to or B, I guess the second movie was only really in indie theaters for a brief period, but they're very big in the New Zealand culture. I love how Rena Owen also appeared in as one of the aliens and being motion captured in Attack of the Clones. But I always kind of had the last laugh growing up.

[00:13:16] I'm like, oh, that's beautiful person who's playing his wife is also in Star Wars. So. So why is that the case? It's just because they filmed Star Wars in parts of New Zealand and Australia, much like Lord of the Rings and the Matrix films tax cuts. They've got some of the same visual effects and acting talent. But yeah, Rena Owen. I've seen her in some other stuff, including. I mean, even.

[00:13:44] Just doing dubbing for other movies. She's been blessed. Witch Hunter. She's done a voiceover for Prison Breaks. She's done, even appeared in one of the lesser Crow seagulls, but. Plenty of other just indie favorites. Gifted award winning actress. Probably your biggest one that most of you guys might have seen might have been Rapanoi, which was another. Just early. Just again, just showing a New Zealand historical epic.

[00:14:15] And. Yeah, I. I like both these movies. They it's a dysfunctional family drama in this case. It's just the dad oppresses. He'll be lovely one minute and then place kids in Harden's way. Not a good dad. And then just showing how again, when you're just consumed by drinking is like he'll find ways to ring him back in. I like you guys. I just don't know how to show it. So.

[00:14:43] Yeah, that's made years in with us by Glenn Lavelle. I remember James Berardinelli speaking highly of it. It surpassed Jurassic Park in New Zealand. Hey, it made more money than that movie. Hey, but. But. Yeah. So apparently the sequel did make money and did get critical attention. It just wasn't as well known, but. I didn't realize there was a documentary about this that came out once were the cast of warriors. That's cool.

[00:15:12] But yeah, I just it's kind of a almost a biker movie at times just shows what the Maori. You know. You know. You know. Gang of cultures like and this is one of Cliff Curtis's first movies. He plays. Uncle bully. And that's exactly what it is. He is a boy. And this is years before he appears in other stuff like the dark horse. Well, writer. The piano is the same year. So. Yeah.

[00:15:41] And then he gets on bigger shows like. And movies like body of proof. Fear the walking dead. Die hard for collateral damage. You name it. I would rank this up there with both his role in free kings. The insider. And training day where he plays smiley the gang leader. Same kind of role. You hate him the minute he comes on screen. He. This is the other thing.

[00:16:09] This is the debut of Lee Tamahari once more warriors is and again, he had his moment in the sun. He's a like it or hate it director, but this is his best movie without a doubt. He's done some other period dramas, what have you. But it's not always successful. But it was considered one of the. It's a really good movie. But after that, he had the edge. He did a long game of spider, which was the James Patterson Alex cross adaptation with Morgan Freeman.

[00:16:37] Honestly, his second best movie would be the devil's double, which is about a man who basically. Was an Iraqi military commander who also had his double trying to prevent him being assassinated. It was a real life Dutch Belgian production. And. Yeah, he just hasn't done as well outside of that and the edge, the. Bear survival and wilderness film with Anthony Hopkins. So. Yeah, then.

[00:17:07] I mean, he did an OK job on next. I like it or hate it. Nick Cage movie, but. He's done some other stuff that in historical dramas that I just haven't seen much of, but he directed for the Ray Bradbury feeder and then did an episode of the Sopranos, but in billions each. But I think just each time you try and Mulholland Falls is also a very underappreciated movie.

[00:17:33] Neo noir kind of akin to the untouchables and L.A. Confidential a year before. But that's just it. He was doing some decent movies. But then again, doing. The final Pierce Brosnan James Bond movie died another day and then triple X to state of the union. Those did not do him any favors. Those were not great. And. So. He. I had no idea. He apparently just died this. Last year. Wow. I had no idea. See.

[00:18:04] I didn't even see him reporting all that much about in the media, but. He had an OK career while it lasted. It's just. Yeah. Wow. I'm learning so much while digging. But yeah. So. I like these both in their own way. Like once we're warriors also. This could have been excessive, but it knows when to read. Reign it back a bit. Like we'll show Jake hitting his wife.

[00:18:32] And they'll find a way for her to get away and be strong or push him away. Or. Then go into the next scene, you know, that probably. Some. He seduced her back or some other bullshit. His daughter gets. Assaulted by bully and. She's blind. So it's really, really messed up and. It's so sad, but they. You know, just as the act is about to happen, they cut away from it. But then.

[00:19:02] Here's the other irony. Jake. Both loses his family because then, you know, his violence is on. He didn't. Words gets around. He finds out. Oh, no, my daughter got touched improperly by who? Oh, it's by bully. How appropriately your name is bully. And he. He. Beats the shit out of him. Like he's always getting into bar fights. He'll again. He is like Tony's brand. He'll be charming one minute. But then.

[00:19:30] Unlike Tony, he'll go on a rage and just like beat people up chairs and what have you. He's both a badass and reprehensible. It is an unusual layering, but it's also. Elliot Kazan of. You know. All those Marlon Brando movies, you know, streetcar named desire would have been. In heaven had he seen this movie and. That's what's so awesome. Jake loses his family.

[00:19:57] Unfortunately, they get away now that he's distracted by him and. They have enough strength to get away. You know, the wife Beth can leave him and bring her sons and daughters away. And meanwhile, Jake absolutely fucking murders. But he is beating the shit out of him. And. Yeah. But also. He just collapses on the ground, just feeling defeated.

[00:20:26] Because he knows he doesn't have a handle over her. And he also knows he's. But we can fill in the dots off screen, but. We also. Just get all sorts of other origins on why. You know, people in these kind of Maori tribes get these tattoos. Their different meanings get into these. They're just dangerous gangs. They're just dangerous gangs. And how it's so easy. It's. Easier said than done to leave them.

[00:20:55] But yeah, what's becoming the brokenhearted? That is my bigger favorite. Not only because it's just criminally underrated. It's just a good movie. It's a little more action packed. And. In this case, Jake is the hero. He finds out his son's in jeopardy. Pretty simple. And. After. Getting some. Trouble with the law. He finds. Uh. Just a way to keep his family from under danger. And he gets some actual fights. He gets to.

[00:21:24] Punch a guy's face in with. A wrench and. Do some other awesome head butting street fights. But yeah, the first movie once were warriors. Was voted the best New Zealand film of all time. And. I can get behind that, but. Yeah, I mean. What becomes the brokenhearted again? 99 was a weird year. But yeah.

[00:21:54] Once were warriors did get seen by George Lucas. And that's why. I knew growing up, you know, I would always. I was a film buff. So even if I had movies, I couldn't see. I just knew about just. Again, just. What people were famous for. Like I knew who Christopher Lee was. I know. Hey, yeah, he's it's Dracula from hammer. That's the duties used by Tim Burton and Joe Dante. So. Of course, I've seen him in Star Wars and Lord of the Rings now, but.

[00:22:22] So same difference with tomorrow is like, yeah, he I know he's. Just. Again, he's well known for these movies and. Lawrence McCore gets to play a grunt in this. You know him from being playing various orcs in Lord of the Rings. Including the Witch King and the Uruk-hai guy. He is another talented guy who was also in Rapanoi. Yeah.

[00:22:50] So this follows again a member of the Blackhawks gang getting killed during a raid by the Black Snakes rival gang. And. Yeah. Basically. Yeah. His daughter was driven to suicide and he helped out. And. He gets very convoluted. He. He. He.

[00:23:41] He. He befriends some construction workers and help them find meaningful employment. Take him boar hunting and teach him how to maintain friendships without needing to constantly assert domination from force. So there you go. And I think that's what was cool, too, is like we didn't know why he was so violent and unfocused, but we just had to kind of put it together. But. Yeah. And. Uh. So. This isn't as violent.

[00:24:08] They kind of imply all the violence off screen, so it's more PG-13 ish. I didn't recall any language. I could be wrong, but. I mean, if you're at least 15 years old, you could watch these movies. This was also the fifth highest grossing New Zealand film in the domestic market. What becomes the broken heart? It was just call it once we're warriors part two. But. Yeah, I. It is such an underrated sequel. It should be better known. And I like this.

[00:24:36] It's like a flawed individual getting redeemed. Sometimes, you know, and again, he's done so many wrongs. So what can he do left? Well, so, yeah. Ape Man, the leader of the Black Hogs, does not keep his end of the bargain and sexually assaults Tanya. She and Sonny take matters into their own hand and kill Grunt and trigger a gang war. Then Tanya is killed and Sonny is brutally beaten. The Ape Man tend to decapitate him and present his severed head as a peace offering to the Hawks.

[00:25:05] Jake fights his way for the gang and saves Sonny, taking him home. But that's what's just so cool, too, is like the focus isn't always on that. But they do a good job just showing how this damaged family has been struggling with their demons. And, but, so, yeah, I was remembering wrong. It's not members of his family. It's a whole different group of people who he just looks out for.

[00:25:34] You do see Beth here and she's like, hey, Jake, you're doing better. But, yeah, I don't want to be around you. It's just, and that makes sense, too, is like he just wants to kind of be an unofficial Samaritan. So he's like a reverse vigilante now. So, yeah, if you'd like to set her on Kenny. Like a crime drama with the first one, you'll love that. You'll love part two because it's an action crime drama just as good.

[00:26:04] It's respectable and it's organized and it's just naturally top. You know, we didn't have to see any gun battles or. Over stylized fights or just stupid over the top music while slow motion cuts. No, none of that. It's not a music video type edited movie. It's just a movie with purpose. I did hear that they're thinking of trying a TV adaptation that was back in.

[00:26:32] According to deadline in 2020 free. We all, it could work, I think. Just depends on who's working on it. So that's all for now, folks. Hope you enjoyed listening. Hope you entertained your ears and all a good night. We'll return after these messages. All right, folks, Hal Pack here. We've got a 90-minute weekly Shack Stop.

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