(RATING: 4 out of 5)
THIS FILM IS RECOMMENDED.
IN BRIEF: In the hands of a master filmmaker, Tim Chey has made a beautifully crafted but preachy historical drama.
GRADE: B
JON'S REVIEW: As a non-religious person, I found The Islands to be incredibly thought provoking. The movie grapples with the heavy theme of faith. The movie centers heavily around Kapiolani's character, including voice-overs.
Aside from the plot and themes, the directing, editing, acting, and cinematography are all top notch in this movie. This is a gorgeous movie that shows the time and effort that the director put. Teuira Shanti-Napa deserves much praise for her fantastic portrayal of Chiefess Kapiolani. The Hawaiian/Polynesian actors do a great job with speaking in Native Hawaiian. The movie shows the age and time period of the movie incredibly well with sets and costumes that appear authentic to the period. The only downside to this movie is perhaps its length. For some audiences, the movie could be repeating the points too much and it can be a slow beginning.
Overall I would recommend The Islands to any audience member that is a fan of Chey or a fan of the themes of faith. The movie took much care to show the struggles of faith in the face of oppression.
