For our last section in class, one of the films we watched was "Princess Ka'iulani." I have heard of Princess Ka'iulani before, but never heard so much more about her until we watched this film. I have to say that first of all, I enjoyed how recent the film was produced and published. I also liked how beautiful the film was made and laid out. However, I didn't like how misleading the film was. It seems to me that Hollywood really painted up a beautiful fairytale film and art, and then at the very end, we see that it doesn't result in a happily-ever-after tale. I won't lie; it was disappointing to me because I like happy ending stories. Seeing a film play out and mislead me to think there is a happy resolution when in actuality, there is none--just about killed it for me. It is not a film I'm interested in watching again.
I have to say that I liked how authentic the film was. They really used great actors and actresses who actually LOOK more native or Polynesian!?! Lol! I can't help but compare the non-Polynesian film actress Dolores del Rio in "Bird of Paradise" (who looks FAR from Polynesian), to native-American actress Q'orianka Waira Qoiana Kilcher in "Princess Ka'iulani" (who actually grew up in Hawaii and looks and plays the main, Polynesian female role a whoooooole lot better!!!).
In the film, the history of the story was laid out pretty well. I'm not so sure about the romance that stewed between Princess Ka'iulani and Clive Davies. I thought that was...totally exaggerated and made up. Maybe it is real, but I feel that it was made up in order to add to the storyline and drama of the film.
Overall, I liked how recent the film was produced and I have to say that I feel like this is the closest film yet to representing Hawaii and its history and the reality and truth of what it really is. :)
I have to say that I liked how authentic the film was. They really used great actors and actresses who actually LOOK more native or Polynesian!?! Lol! I can't help but compare the non-Polynesian film actress Dolores del Rio in "Bird of Paradise" (who looks FAR from Polynesian), to native-American actress Q'orianka Waira Qoiana Kilcher in "Princess Ka'iulani" (who actually grew up in Hawaii and looks and plays the main, Polynesian female role a whoooooole lot better!!!).
In the film, the history of the story was laid out pretty well. I'm not so sure about the romance that stewed between Princess Ka'iulani and Clive Davies. I thought that was...totally exaggerated and made up. Maybe it is real, but I feel that it was made up in order to add to the storyline and drama of the film.
Overall, I liked how recent the film was produced and I have to say that I feel like this is the closest film yet to representing Hawaii and its history and the reality and truth of what it really is. :)
1 comment:
When this film was released, I had a few friends who talked about how great a movie it was. After seeing it myself, I'm not so sure. You and I both agree that the fact that in order to sell this movie to the mainstream they created a fictional romance for Princess Kaiulani is sad really. Kind of like Titanic. Rose and Jack were fictional characters who fell in love for the sake of the story, but the Titanic did indeed sink. I think this movie definitely raises awareness regarding the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, but I think its depiction and storyline are too inaccurate and mislead the viewer. If viewers are aware of that and do not use this as documentation of events, then its all good. Though I would hate for someone in, say...Missouri...to use this film as an accurate account of events in Hawaii's history.
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