The Hawaiians based on a book written by James A. Michener (after watching the movie I am curious to read the book), tell story of the Whip Hoxworth (Charlton Heston) planting pineapples and plotting to overthrow the the Hawaiin monarch. Plus, he is married to a Pacific Islander (Geraldine Chaplin) It's also, follows Chinese labors Char Nyuk Tsin (Tina Chen) and Kee Mun Kee. They have a lot of children. Char prospers and Kee dies.
Here is a breakdown:
The Good: The Cinematography
Majority of the Chinese, Japanese , Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders characters were played by Chinese, Japanese, Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders....however (see ugly)
Interesting storyline however...(see bad)
The Bad:
Moments that should not have been funny but it was.
Whiplash time jumps. Movies like Gone with the Wind and the Godfather Part 1 take place over a many years. The movement of time flows smoothly and it makes sense. In this movie it does not.
Especially, regarding the birth of Char's children. Its happens at such a rapid pace but yet it seemed like not much time passed.
Execution of the storyline.
The acting.
Charlton Heston played Charlton Heston.
Tina Chen who was nominated for a Golden Globe, had moments where she shined with the lousy material she was given and then other moments I swore she was trying not to laugh at the ridiculous of it all.
Geraldine Chaplin, a talented actress was given a one dimension character and did nothing with it. Than again her character didn't do much. Her character disappears and is never heard from again.
The simplistic and historical inaccurate take on the annexation of Hawaii and the overthrow of the Queen.
When the buildings were being set on fire to kill the rats, only one rat ran out of the burning buildings. (I think it was the same rat )
Stereotypical language and speech by the Chinese and Japanese immigrants.
Stereotypical characters.
The Ugly:
Naomi Stevens , a white woman from New Jersey played Queen Liliuokalani in brown face.
Plus, Geraldine Chaplin (Irish-English decent) played a Pacific Islander however she was not in brown face. Unless the character was half Pacific Islander? At any rate, I find it interesting one actress was dressed up in brown face and another was not.
I nominate this film to be remade with a better director and a storyline that doesn't skim over the experience of the immigrants in Hawaii. Plus focus on the trails and tribulations of Queen Lilly.
Here is a breakdown:
The Good: The Cinematography
Majority of the Chinese, Japanese , Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders characters were played by Chinese, Japanese, Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders....however (see ugly)
Interesting storyline however...(see bad)
The Bad:
Moments that should not have been funny but it was.
Whiplash time jumps. Movies like Gone with the Wind and the Godfather Part 1 take place over a many years. The movement of time flows smoothly and it makes sense. In this movie it does not.
Especially, regarding the birth of Char's children. Its happens at such a rapid pace but yet it seemed like not much time passed.
Execution of the storyline.
The acting.
Charlton Heston played Charlton Heston.
Tina Chen who was nominated for a Golden Globe, had moments where she shined with the lousy material she was given and then other moments I swore she was trying not to laugh at the ridiculous of it all.
Geraldine Chaplin, a talented actress was given a one dimension character and did nothing with it. Than again her character didn't do much. Her character disappears and is never heard from again.
The simplistic and historical inaccurate take on the annexation of Hawaii and the overthrow of the Queen.
When the buildings were being set on fire to kill the rats, only one rat ran out of the burning buildings. (I think it was the same rat )
Stereotypical language and speech by the Chinese and Japanese immigrants.
Stereotypical characters.
The Ugly:
Naomi Stevens , a white woman from New Jersey played Queen Liliuokalani in brown face.
Plus, Geraldine Chaplin (Irish-English decent) played a Pacific Islander however she was not in brown face. Unless the character was half Pacific Islander? At any rate, I find it interesting one actress was dressed up in brown face and another was not.
I nominate this film to be remade with a better director and a storyline that doesn't skim over the experience of the immigrants in Hawaii. Plus focus on the trails and tribulations of Queen Lilly.