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Widescreen Editions Once Were Warriors DSS WS Criterion #282 LaserDisc Drama *CLEARANCE*

Once Were Warriors DSS WS Criterion #282 LaserDisc Drama CLEARANCE

Honest and Unforgiving Study on Maori Minority Crisis...

Once Were Warriors DSS WS Criterion #282 LaserDisc Drama *CLEARANCE*

Honest and Unforgiving Study on Maori Minority Crisis...

Rare Dolby Surround Sound, Widescreen, LaserDisc Movie LaserDisc has label and Jacket has labels, splits and heavy shelf-wear

$7.97

Click to Zoom-in on Hi-res Pictures

Once Were Warriors DSS WS Criterion #282 LaserDisc Drama *CLEARANCE*

Honest and Unforgiving Study on Maori Minority Crisis...

Rare Dolby Surround Sound, Widescreen, LaserDisc Movie LaserDisc has label and Jacket has labels, splits and heavy shelf-wear

$7.97

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$7.97

Rare Dolby Surround Sound, Widescreen, LaserDisc Movie

LaserDisc has label and Jacket has labels, splits and heavy shelf-wear

Rena Owen and Temuera Morrison in...

Once Were Warriors

Criterion Collection

( Catalog Number CC1434L )
(1.85:1) (2 Sides) (CLV) (NTSC)

LaserDisc Special Features

Best Version on LaserDisc
Audio Commentary by Director Lee Tamahor
'Making of' Documentary
Segment on Facial and Body Tattoos in the Film
Theatrical Trailers
See the History of Criterion LaserDiscs at DaDon's...

Once Were Warriors
1994 - 99 min. - Color
Genre: Drama
Rated R
Country: USA

LaserDisc Movie Storyline:
One woman tries to keep her family together despite her violent, alcoholic husband. Based on the novel by Alan Duff.  Made in New Zealand.

For Jake and Beth Heke, life in their suburban ghetto is going from bad to worse. Jake's just lost his job, their delinquent teenage son Boogie has to appear in court and they can't make ends meet with five growing kids. Late that night, they host another one of Jake's raunchy drinking parties while the children lie awake in their bedroom. When their oldest son asks for money, which Beth discovers Jake has gambled away, it ignites a vicious argument that Jake solves by giving Beth one of his brutal beatings. The tide of violence continues to ebb and flow in the Heke household until a terrible tragedy makes them confront the dysfunctional state of their family.

LaserDisc Movie Review:
This powerful drama was a major hit in its native New Zealand, outgrossing Jurassic Park in Kiwi cinemas. Jake and Beth Heke (Temurea Morrison and Rena Owen) are a couple of Maori descent who are living in a slum in Aukland. While it's obvious that they still love each other, Jake's alcoholism has driven a wedge into their relationship and has left their children emotionally scarred. Jake is charming while sober, but when drunk, he's a violent psychopath given to blink-of-an-eye mood changes and terrible cruelty against his loved ones. Liquor has also made it difficult for Jake to hold onto a job, leaving him dependent on the dole to feed his family. Nig (Julian Arahanga), Jake's oldest son, has turned his back on his father and joined a gang of Maori youths whose initiation rituals include tattooing and torture. Jake's 13-year-old daughter Grace (Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell) prefers to spend her time with her drug-addicted boyfriend --- rather than stay home and fight off the advances of her father's friends. And Boogie (Taungaroa Emile) ends up in juvenile hall when Jake's drinking prevents him from going to court to speak on Boogie's behalf. Once Were Warriors was based on an acclaimed novel by Alan Duff. --- Mark Deming

Films as honest and unforgiving as Once Were Warriors are rare. Many filmmakers espousing the stories and causes of oppressed minorities tend to glamorize the people they are promoting; not so New Zealand's Lee Tamahori. In his feature film debut, Tamahori throws an intense glare on the violent, alcoholic life of a Maori family, never bringing judgment or excuses to the story, based on a novel by Alan Duff. For her role as a woman buffeted by her drunken husband and her angry, bawdy, gangster son, Rena Owen was honored with a best actress award at the Montreal World Film Festival in 1994. Once Were Warriors is not easy to watch; Tamahori makes few compromises for the sake of entertainment in this bold, sometimes joyless, but finally exhilarating tale of overcoming poverty and social backwardness. The rough, raw footage is especially impressive considering that, a mere year later, Tamahori came to Hollywood and directed the slick, engaging, and persuasively American neo-noir thriller Mulholland Falls. --- Michael Betzold

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Reviews, Articles, Newsletter and Information for Movies on LaserDisc LD Laser Disc, LazerDisc.

Cast for Once Were Warriors

Rena Owen - Beth Heke
Temuera Morrison - Jake Heke
Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell - Grace Heke
Julian "Sonny" Arahanga - Nig Heke
Taungaroa Emile - Boogie Heke
Rachael Morris - Polly Heke
Joseph Kairau - Huata Heke
Cliff Curtis - Bully
Shannon Williams - Toot
Pete Smith - Dooley
Te Whatanui Skimworth - Te Tupaea
Riwia Brown - Bully's Girl
Jessica Wilcox - Policewoman
Charles Marsh - Jake's Mates
George Henare - Bennett
Richard Mehana - Taunter in Court
Wiki Oman - Youth Advocate
Stephen Hall - Prosecuting Officer
Ian Mune - Judge

Crew for Once Were Warriors

Lee Tamahori - Director
Robin Scholes - Producer
Riwia Brown - Screenwriter
Stuart Dryburgh - Cinematographer
Murray Grindlay - Composer (Music Score)
Murray Mcnabb - Composer (Music Score)
D. Michael Horton - Editor
Michael Horton - Editor
Mike Kane - Production Designer

Awards for Once Were Warriors

Anica-Flash Best First Film (win) Lee Tamahori 1994 Venice Film Festival

Feature Details

Title: Once Were Warriors
Feature Release Date: 1994
Genre: Drama
Rating: R
Color: Color
Runtime: 99 Minutes
Chapters: 38
Picture: Letterboxed
Ratio: 1.85:1
Playback Format: CLV

IMDB Info...

Technical Details

LD Release Date: 27 Sep 1995
Catalog Number: CC1434L
UPC: 715515007030
ISBN: 155940678X
Manufacturer: Pioneer USA
Collection: Criterion Collection
Publisher: Criterion

Diameter: 12"
Sides: 2
Cover: Jacket
Spoken Language: English
Country: USA
Video Format: NTSC

Model: CC1434L-C
Shipping Weight: 1 lbs
0 in Stock

Rare Dolby Surround Sound, Widescreen, LaserDisc Movie

LaserDisc has label and Jacket has labels, splits and heavy shelf-wear

Rena Owen and Temuera Morrison in...

Once Were Warriors

Criterion Collection

( Catalog Number CC1434L )
(1.85:1) (2 Sides) (CLV) (NTSC)

LaserDisc Special Features

Best Version on LaserDisc
Audio Commentary by Director Lee Tamahor
'Making of' Documentary
Segment on Facial and Body Tattoos in the Film
Theatrical Trailers
See the History of Criterion LaserDiscs at DaDon's...

Once Were Warriors
1994 - 99 min. - Color
Genre: Drama
Rated R
Country: USA

LaserDisc Movie Storyline:
One woman tries to keep her family together despite her violent, alcoholic husband. Based on the novel by Alan Duff.  Made in New Zealand.

For Jake and Beth Heke, life in their suburban ghetto is going from bad to worse. Jake's just lost his job, their delinquent teenage son Boogie has to appear in court and they can't make ends meet with five growing kids. Late that night, they host another one of Jake's raunchy drinking parties while the children lie awake in their bedroom. When their oldest son asks for money, which Beth discovers Jake has gambled away, it ignites a vicious argument that Jake solves by giving Beth one of his brutal beatings. The tide of violence continues to ebb and flow in the Heke household until a terrible tragedy makes them confront the dysfunctional state of their family.

LaserDisc Movie Review:
This powerful drama was a major hit in its native New Zealand, outgrossing Jurassic Park in Kiwi cinemas. Jake and Beth Heke (Temurea Morrison and Rena Owen) are a couple of Maori descent who are living in a slum in Aukland. While it's obvious that they still love each other, Jake's alcoholism has driven a wedge into their relationship and has left their children emotionally scarred. Jake is charming while sober, but when drunk, he's a violent psychopath given to blink-of-an-eye mood changes and terrible cruelty against his loved ones. Liquor has also made it difficult for Jake to hold onto a job, leaving him dependent on the dole to feed his family. Nig (Julian Arahanga), Jake's oldest son, has turned his back on his father and joined a gang of Maori youths whose initiation rituals include tattooing and torture. Jake's 13-year-old daughter Grace (Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell) prefers to spend her time with her drug-addicted boyfriend --- rather than stay home and fight off the advances of her father's friends. And Boogie (Taungaroa Emile) ends up in juvenile hall when Jake's drinking prevents him from going to court to speak on Boogie's behalf. Once Were Warriors was based on an acclaimed novel by Alan Duff. --- Mark Deming

Films as honest and unforgiving as Once Were Warriors are rare. Many filmmakers espousing the stories and causes of oppressed minorities tend to glamorize the people they are promoting; not so New Zealand's Lee Tamahori. In his feature film debut, Tamahori throws an intense glare on the violent, alcoholic life of a Maori family, never bringing judgment or excuses to the story, based on a novel by Alan Duff. For her role as a woman buffeted by her drunken husband and her angry, bawdy, gangster son, Rena Owen was honored with a best actress award at the Montreal World Film Festival in 1994. Once Were Warriors is not easy to watch; Tamahori makes few compromises for the sake of entertainment in this bold, sometimes joyless, but finally exhilarating tale of overcoming poverty and social backwardness. The rough, raw footage is especially impressive considering that, a mere year later, Tamahori came to Hollywood and directed the slick, engaging, and persuasively American neo-noir thriller Mulholland Falls. --- Michael Betzold

Thanks for Visiting DaDon's !

Reviews, Articles, Newsletter and Information for Movies on LaserDisc LD Laser Disc, LazerDisc.

Cast for Once Were Warriors

Rena Owen - Beth Heke
Temuera Morrison - Jake Heke
Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell - Grace Heke
Julian "Sonny" Arahanga - Nig Heke
Taungaroa Emile - Boogie Heke
Rachael Morris - Polly Heke
Joseph Kairau - Huata Heke
Cliff Curtis - Bully
Shannon Williams - Toot
Pete Smith - Dooley
Te Whatanui Skimworth - Te Tupaea
Riwia Brown - Bully's Girl
Jessica Wilcox - Policewoman
Charles Marsh - Jake's Mates
George Henare - Bennett
Richard Mehana - Taunter in Court
Wiki Oman - Youth Advocate
Stephen Hall - Prosecuting Officer
Ian Mune - Judge

Crew for Once Were Warriors

Lee Tamahori - Director
Robin Scholes - Producer
Riwia Brown - Screenwriter
Stuart Dryburgh - Cinematographer
Murray Grindlay - Composer (Music Score)
Murray Mcnabb - Composer (Music Score)
D. Michael Horton - Editor
Michael Horton - Editor
Mike Kane - Production Designer

Awards for Once Were Warriors

Anica-Flash Best First Film (win) Lee Tamahori 1994 Venice Film Festival

Feature Details

Technical Details

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Once Were Warriors LaserDisc, Rare LaserDiscs Clearance Items Laser Disc

Once Were Warriors DSS WS Criterion #282 LaserDisc Drama *CLEARANCE*

Rare Dolby Surround Sound, Widescreen, LaserDisc Movie

LaserDisc Special Features

Rare Dolby Surround Sound, Widescreen, LaserDisc Movie

LaserDisc Special Features

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Once Were Warriors LaserDisc, Rare LaserDiscs
Clearance Items Laser Disc

Once Were Warriors DSS WS Criterion #282 LaserDisc Drama CLEARANCE