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All parent reviews for Whale Rider
Average rating based on 15 parent reviews:
- 33% say there are positive messages
- 27% say there are positive role models
AGE
An absolutely beautiful movie
I checked out the Common Sense Media notes before I took my 9 year old and 5 year old to the movie. I was prepared for the opening scene with a baby and mom dying in childbirth (which happens in the opening scene) and kept checking my 5 year-old's face - it all happened so fast with alot of montage photography that it went over his head. From that point on, Whale Rider is one of the most beautiful and moving films that I have seen all year. It makes you laugh and cry. The characters are wonderful, the cinematography extraordinary. We had long discussions with my daughter afterward about the struggle to preserve native cultures and the abiilty of girls to be leaders, and the importance of pursuing your dreams even in the face of opposition - all were themes of the movie. I really can't recommend this highly enough.
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AGE
This was an excellent movie. It is definitely an enjoyable show!
This was one of the best movies I have seen for a long time. It wasn't a "grown-up" movie, and it wasn't a kiddie show. I think that it was a great movie, definately a break from the usual tired old shows, there were no "bad guys". The grandfather wasn't evil in not letting her be chief, he was just very traditional. This is a very nice change from the usual one-sided baddies in many movies. Over all, I found this movie to be a wonderful movie.
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AGE
...
I didn't like the actual whale-riding part, but the rest was really great. Good themes to discuss with tweens.
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AGE
A wonderful movie
This is a beautiful movie with a message of love, acceptance and triumphing when the odds are against you. Younger kids who watch this may not completly understand what is happening, so you may have to explain it, but all in all, it is one of the best movies I've seen in a while, and everyone who I know that has seen it loves it.
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AGE
good for 9+ when in the mood to think
slow-moving but thought provoking - a very positive experience. Kids happily stuck with it through slower, sadder patches to see the ending.
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AGE
A great family film.
Just watched Whale Rider for the tenth time. I
just love this movie. It really inspires me, and makes me really want to make spiritual movies like that. There is one drug reference but it's so hidden that smaller kids won't notice. The only other thing is a scene where an 11 year old is smoking. But the main character deals with this and tells him he should not be smoking. For girls it's a great film about strength and courage and being true to yourself no matter what. Spiritually, it shows that there is more to life than the physical. It's just a really good film over all. Very inspiring. I've watched it many times and I am still not tired of it. I real work of art. This is the kind of film you can keep in your family collection and watch over and over again.
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AGE
heartfelt exploration of other cultures and universal humanity
One of our all time favourites. Watch it
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AGE
Sad but beautiful...
The young girl who plays the lead role is really an exceptional actress. I loved the whole movie and I cried when the girl's grandfather doesn't show up for her concert. It is beautifully filmed and I liked how she keeps striving to please her grandfather and to be as good a leader as any boy even when nobody approves. Two thumbs up!
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AGE
Leadership Inspiration for Girls
This wonderful film is great film for family viewing, and I particularly love the positive messages for girls. Kids need to be old enough to pay attention through a movie with some subtitles.
The story is based on Maori folk traditions, shot on location in New Zealand. Most of the cast are local people, not professional actors. The resulting story is inspiring on a number of fronts: first, the story itself is one of hope and redemption; also, the success of a small-budget film with a mostly unknown cast is inspiring in a completely different way.
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