The Convert

Guy Pearce plays Munro, a lay preacher tasked with looing after a new British settlement on the coast of 1830's New Zealand. The area is riven still with tribal wars and Munro becomes involved in these by accident, during other endeavours.

While this does not pretend to be an accurate retelling of events, it does portray very much the feelings of the time. Tribes who think revenge blood is the only redemption, explorers who think they have a right to other lands, a King who seeks to rule over lands he's never even seen, and the power of the passionate belief of a handful of people.

Munro, an ex soldier who has realised that war is not the route to peace, attempts to convince 2 warring tribes to find a more peaceful way. Of course, this ends in a brief war. However his influence appears to have lain on the victor as he seeks peace from now on with the vanquished.

There is of course a lot of sacrifice along the way of loved ones, some dirty dealing, some giving up of values and some compromise. But is that a fair price to pay for peace?

It's very, very well acted, and the story flows quickly yet in great detail. Guy Pearce is his usual excellent self and the story is inherently interesting and emotional. I liked it a lot so I gave it a solid 7.

The Convert, director Lee Tamahori's latest historical epic, takes us on a journey to 1830s New Zealand, a land simmering with tribal tensions on the precipice of British colonisation. We meet Munro (Guy Pearce), a disillusioned former soldier turned lay preacher who arrives at a fledgeling British settlement. When he's caught in the crossfire between warring Maori tribes, Munro's faith and identity are put to the ultimate test.

Tamahori doesn't shy away from the complexities of this period. The film beautifully portrays Maori culture, from intricate haka dances to the spiritual significance of moko (facial tattoos). There's a refreshing lack of subtitles for some te reo Maori dialogue, forcing us to immerse ourselves in the world and appreciate the characters' communication struggles. This commitment to authenticity extends to the production design, with meticulously crafted costumes and settlements that transport us back in time.

The Convert occasionally stumbles in its attempt to balance historical accuracy with crowd-pleasing action. The fight choreography, while intense, can veer into slightly unrealistic territory at times. Likewise, the film flirts with the "white saviour" trope in the first act, although Munro thankfully develops a more nuanced relationship with the Maori characters as the story unfolds.

The performances elevate the film. Pearce delivers a solid portrayal of a man grappling with his past and purpose. But it's Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne as Rangimai, a fierce Maori warrior, who truly steals the show. Her performance is brimming with raw power and vulnerability, making Rangimai a character we can't help but root for. The supporting cast is equally strong, fleshing out the Maori community and the fledgeling British settlers.

The sweeping cinematography captures the breathtaking beauty of New Zealand's landscapes, with rolling hills and lush forests contrasting with the harsh realities of tribal warfare. The score is appropriately evocative, using traditional Maori instruments alongside a more modern orchestral sound. The editing is generally crisp, keeping the pace steady without sacrificing character development.

The Convert isn't a perfect film, but it's a compelling one. It's a visually stunning and thought-provoking exploration of cultural clash, faith, and the fight for survival. While the action sequences might not be the most grounded and the narrative occasionally flirts with clichés, the film's commitment to historical authenticity and the strength of its performances ultimately won me over. If you're looking for a historical epic that's both beautiful and thought-provoking, The Convert is definitely worth a watch. Just be prepared for a bumpy ride along the way, but one that ultimately leads to a rewarding destination.

A very simple straight forward watch about the start of the invasion of west into new Zealand. I love watching Maori films , but unfortunately majority of them are terrible and unwatchable. Due to all new Zealand TV being pretty cheesy and terrible. When I was there , quality is like watching stuff from the 80's.... Anyway the film has fantastic locations and captures the maori's well . Brutal culture , very tough people. They were way more aggressive than native Indians in usa. Their general rule of thumb is they will cook you until your eyes pop out , then feast on you. This film kept me to the end and I enjoyed the acting and story. It reminded me of the last samurai with Tom cruises character, very similar to the main protagonist in this movie. It has hints of the old traditional movie ' The bounty ' as well. It's a little slow to begin with , but has some fun exciting scenes towards the end.

I honestly don't know what people expect these days. Yes, it's not great, could have been better, missed opportunities blah blah blah. But it's quite good, very good even (caughtme in justtheright mood). It has a story to tell and it tells it - in a simple and uncomplicated way. Acting is up there with the best, scenery is NZ, so no more to be said there, and with Guy Pearce and Jacqueline McKenzie giving it their all, I was happy to overlook a few things that got up my nose, which us regular, garden variety folks invariably do from time to time. If you're after a feel good movie, a bit of blood and guts notwithstanding, and not a movie buff keen to slash and burn, then have a look. I was engaged from start to finish. Somewhere around 7 is fair.

While this film tells of a seemingly unimportant bit of history from a global political perspective, it is infact a very interesting tale which is omitted from commonly known pop history.

The scenes are dramatic and don't pause, one picture almost seems better than the last. Every shot tells a story of culture and narrative, and every line of the script only adds more meaning to human nature.

In a lot of ways the seemingly small skirmish which is depicted in this film, can be far more dramatic than the large scale battles of the massive nation States who dominate the Globe. Each member of the warring tribes are not only friends but also lovers, family members and close nit family legacies.

As a history enthusiast, I also very much appreciated a more realistic portrayal of...history which is often, or almost always ignored by mega budget Hollywood fairy tales disguised as history. Yes there were some goofy flaws with weapons, but the flaws told a larger narrative and gave more color to viewers who might not be history buffs.

In the end this movie is at heart a play and not a documentary, but it's a story true to it's spirit.

Enjoy!