The Dead Lands [Blu-ray]

This movie is brilliant. Lawrence Makoare is absolutely stunning, I've seldom seen such a powerful preformance anywhere. It's not exactly a horror movie in the classic sense of what we think of as horror, and there aren't any demons in a classic horror movie sense. On the other hand, is a war movie a horror movie? Are there demons in a war zone? The movie is all in Maori and the actors are largely or all Maori, and it's set in the time before there was anyone in NZ but Maori people. It's a horrifying story, but also remarkable, engrossing, beautifully put together, wierdly redemptive, and demands some self examination as well. I can not recomend it highly enough, though if you're looking for a classic horror movie this isn't it.

The Dead Lands is a celebration of the Maori people of New Zealand. It takes place in the past where one tribe destroys one of their old rivals. Hongi (James Rollerston) is the only male survivor and vows revenge. The film highlights the warrior culture of the Maori, their environment and their gods.You get the three themes of the movie right at the start. There’s the love of warfare. The spirits of the ancestors that provide wisdom to the living. There is a monster. There are some great scenes of the mountains and forests of the country that shaped the lives of the Maori. There’s also plenty of action that comes along as well especially when Hongi teams up with the Warrior (Lawrence Makoarea) who gets to kick some serious butt.Overall The Dead Lands is a very strong release. It gives a fictional look at the world of the Maoris from the past.C

This is a well shot movie with great characters and great action. This is the type of movie that people who like John Wick, The Raid, and Dredd will like. If you want 100 people fighting against a CG backdrop go somewhere else. This is real action. The kind of movie that Cannon and Carolco used to make, except its elevated by some really good character development that will make you wonder why more action movies aren't written this well. I could write a dissertation about all the things this movie did right that so many modern action movies get wrong but I'll stop and say 'Check it out!'

I've never been against celebrating cultures, continuing traditions, or teaching about ancestry. I engage them. I do get turned off by films and showcases that only present the glorified side. This film gives you reality. The good and the bad. Peace and war. Even the honorable, peaceful characters were shown as a product of their environment while creating their own environment, with hints at cannibalism and a tendency for war. In fact, one member finds honor in being able to finally go to war after so many years of peace. No culture or history is without it's darkness amongst their light.Spoilers:The violence was brutal, showing savage warriors going against each other. It was a shame to see some older yet apt warriors, Ka and Tane, be destroyed in the beginning. Different views of life, death, young, old, peace, war, ghosts, monsters, spirits, ancestors, etc. were presented without forcing any onto the viewer, but showing how they would truly be presented, argued, or criticized in real conversation.

Every once in a while one of these small indie movies that depict a life we have no knowledge of comes out and hits me really hard and hits me with waves of amazement and true disbelief at how amazing some films really are. Hongi (James Rolleston) - a Maori chieftain's teenage son - must avenge his father's murder in order to bring peace and honor to the souls of his loved ones after his tribe is slaughtered through an act of treachery. The action and the story are off the charts terrific and all of it is self explanatory and I was mesmerized all through this movie. The performances were great and not a bad actor among them. The scenery is gorgeous and for pure learning and history, this is a great film. Please note that there are very violent scenes in this but they are necessary as this was the time they lived in.

Disclaimer, this film is entirely in Moari, with subtitles. However, this film is not hampered by this and instead it brings to the screen a much more interesting and realistic setting. Some compare it to Apocalypto, however this film is so much better and far more interesting since it's not simply violence for the sake of violence.This was a very well developed movie. The plot is a basic revenge movie, but the setting, time and characters make it into something that the majority of Hollywood films lack, and that something makes for a good movie. Instead of mindless explosions, gratuitous violence on an epic scale and characters that, at best, are shallow cliched versions of the same villains in every movie, this film goes well beyond the average and into the excellent.

I love historical fiction, especially when there are good battles or fight scenes. Needless to say, I really enjoyed this movie. Great depictions of Maori weapons, dress, customs, and fighting. You sort of see a kind of Haka; it's not the organized dance we see today, but you see an entire group of warriors posturing and trying to look intimidating to the protagonists (and it IS intimidating). I would somewhat compare this to Apocalypto in the sense that it's entirely in an authentic (I hope) foreign language; its incredibly violent using period-appropriate weapons; and has a good story at it's core. There are plenty of better-written reviews up here, but I added mine because this film deserves at least a 4-star concensus if not higher (it was 5 stars in my book).

It was an interesting movie with some action, violence, and it was easy to follow the overall plot. There were a few confusing parts (could be due to the translation), mysticism, cannibalism, and it is probably a reasonable depiction of the era. Other things I liked: music, scenery, tribal scenes, pre-fight choreography. Things I did not like: the fight coordination, the filming of the fight scenes, some weird camera angles.Overall, if you are in the mood for a story, rather than a movie, it's worth a watch.

An absolute must see film, better than a 5 * rating. Beats by Mike's Apcolypto . Keeps you enthralled all the way through. The fight scenes are really realistic, it is as if these were real fights. Following the Maori way of life pre European. Hooe there are more like this in the future.

This is such an unusual movie. Set in 15th century Aotearoa (New Zealand). The story is like the telling of a tale from Maori mythology. I really enjoyed the fact that it was all spoken in Maori, with English subtitles. It has good characters and storyline. There was not a lot of unnecessary gore in the fight scenes. The extras making of were interesting. How care was taken to get the costumes and look of the village correct. The actors spent 6 hours every day for 6 weeks martial arts training with the ancient Maori weapons to get the fight scenes looking authentic. If you like Aotearoa and are interested in the Maori culture then it`s an entertaining must watch.

Good fight scenes but little real engagement with the film's characters who are too thinly drawn to be really interesting or sympathetic. The relationship between the boy and the cannibal "monster" is never convincing. There is more gripping tension between the murderous warriors as they retreat across the Dead Lands and the authority of their leader is called into question. But the boy's vengeance proves ultimately unmoving. Disappointing.

The dvd has a good quality of pictures and sound. It speaks a maori language and all the paintings and the people are of maori's origin. The acting is good and credible, the martial arts is excellent. The story itself is quite simple but this maori movie deserves a five star rating simply because it depicts the authenticity of the maori's culture and legend. It is interesting from beginning till the end.

Loved it . The video is spoken in Maori but English subtitles. After 20 minutes you find yourself just watching the film without reading the subtitles. The story is so enthralling you can follow what's going on