6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
A sea captain's discovery of water on a plantation leads to planting of pineapples on the island.
Starring: Charlton Heston, Tina Chen, Geraldine Chaplin, Mako, John Phillip LawDrama | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
Music: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Even considering the “kinder, gentler” era in which it appeared, the fact that The Hawaiians, a putative sequel to 1966’s Hawaii, came out almost four years after its progenitor may not have been the smartest marketing move in motion picture history. Hawaii, most likely riding the wave (sorry) Julie Andrews had created with Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music, became one of the biggest hits of the 1966-67 film year as well as a certain critical success, ultimately winning two Golden Globes (for Jocelyn LaGarde’s wonderful portrayal of Malama Kanakoa and for Elmer Bernstein’s sweeping score) and seven Academy Award nominations (with no wins). That said, Hawaii was never the earth shattering, zeitgeist capturing film that at least some other historical epics of that era had been, and by the time 1970 rolled around, few probably remembered it very well. That may be at least one reason why The Hawaiians never achieved much impact at the time of its release, though it’s not the only reason. This follow-up is obviously gorgeously scenic and as well intended in a kind of uppity moral (meaning politically correct) way as the first film was, but it never really works up the emotional heft that the Julie Andrews — Max von Sydow film does. Taking place a couple of generations after the events depicted in Hawaii, The Hawaiians will probably have more resonance for folks who recognize names like Hale and Hoxworth, but the film manages to function well enough as a standalone entry, even if it ends up playing like a tired retread at various points.
The Hawaiians is presented on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.35:1. The video quality of Twilight Time's release of Hawaii was at least a bit of a disappointment (and some would probably argue more than just a bit), and the good news is that The Hawaiians is generally a more impressive looking transfer, albeit one that shows some signs of age, with a just slightly brown looking palette at times. That said, blue skies pop quite convincingly and some of the lush green fields also resonate with decent accuracy. The film employs a number of beautiful wide shots which offer excellent depth of field. Conversely, close-ups offer excellent detail in textures of costumes and sets. While contrast is consistent, a lot of the film looks a bit too dark. Occasional sequences, notably those I assume were second unit location work, look relatively soft when compared to the bulk of the presentation (see screenshot 3 for one example). Grain resolves naturally. Elements are in generally very good to excellent condition.
The Hawaiians' lossless DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track is problem free and provides an excellent rendering of the film's dialogue, score and effects. Those who read my Hawaii Blu-ray review probably figured out that I am a huge fan of Elmer Bernstein's score for that film, and as enjoyable as Henry Mancini's work on this film is, it simply doesn't have the shimmering beauty that Bernstein's did. That said, its rendering here, both on the actual soundtrack and the isolated score track, is flawless.
The Hawaiians is big, occasionally noisy, and almost always scenic, but it never develops any real emotional connection with the audience, at least with regard to its main character Whip. Instead, the real interest here tends to be the supposed supporting story of the "odd couple" of Mun Ki and Nyuk Tsin. Director Tom Gries keeps things moving well enough, even if his (or cinematographers Lucien Ballard and Philip Lathrop's) use of zoom lenses gets annoying after a while. Those who loved Hawaii will probably find enough interest in this follow-up to warrant a look, while others may want to devote some serious reading time to Michener's original novel. Technical merits are generally strong for those considering a purchase.
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