Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale
  • Studio: Well Go
  • Release Date: Apr 27, 2012
Metascore
62 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
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  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Deborah Young
    Apr 23, 2012
    80
    Spectacular rain forest combat scenes are non-stop in an authentic-feeling actioner recounting an aborigine rebellion in 1930s Taiwan.
  2. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
    Reviewed by: Adam Nayman
    Apr 26, 2012
    75
    At times, Warriors sacrifices dramatic nuance for scale, but even its most rousing passages are tempered by a sense of loss. Rather than simply enshrining its underdog heroes' efforts, it considers their cost.
  3. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: G. Allen Johnson
    Apr 26, 2012
    75
    Warriors of the Rainbow is Taiwan's "Braveheart," with a nod to "The Last of the Mohicans."
  4. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Noel Murray
    Apr 25, 2012
    75
    At two and a half hours, Warriors Of The Rainbow has the shape of something weightier than the simplified good-vs.-evil movie it actually is.
  5. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Michael Nordine
    Apr 23, 2012
    75
    There's something to be said about a two-and-a-half-hour war epic that manages to make each of its countless decapitation scenes feel earned, even called for, in the moment.
  6. Variety
    Reviewed by: Justin Chang
    Apr 23, 2012
    70
    This wildly ambitious rumble-in-the-jungle battle epic arrives bearing so heavy a burden of industry expectations, one wishes the results were less kitschy and more coherent; still, the filmmaking has a raw physicality and crazy conviction it's hard not to admire.
  7. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marc Savlov
    Apr 25, 2012
    67
    What Warriors of the Rainbow may have going for it most of all is Chin Ting-Chang's dreamy cinematography, which presents the native Seediq amid the sultry jungle greenery that brings to mind the absurdly lovely flora of James Cameron's Pandora.
  8. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Abele
    Apr 26, 2012
    60
    Warriors is a bruising, relentless experience, one more tiring than inspiring.
  9. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Nick Schager
    Apr 24, 2012
    50
    It's not clear what Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale values more - endless preaching about ancestral spirits or gruesome CG decapitations.
  10. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Stephen Holden
    Apr 27, 2012
    40
    Despite the movie's considerable visual splendor, the pacing of Warriors of the Rainbow is clumsy, its battle scenes chaotic and its computer effects (especially of a fire that ravages the Seediq hunting forest) cheesy.

User Reviews

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User Score
9.0 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 4 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. DanielOnFilm
    8
    Warriors of the Rainbow is both beautiful, and horrifying. It's shot in rich colors; the tribesman are bathed in blue nights and vibrant red camp fires. Days are spent running through brilliant green forests. Violence is kept out of the frame for the first half of Warriors, but thereafter, depicted on screen. We can clearly see the warriors take the heads of their enemies as a blood sacrifice to their gods. Full review on my blog.… Full Review »
  2. GarrettH
    9
    Incredible! You need to watch the two part series, it's fantastic. I can't believe the official ratings are so damn low. Has no one seen Braveheart or Last of the Mohicans? Although parts of the plot are confusing from a Westerner standpoint, it gives us new perspective. You really can't beat the melee hand to hand combat scenes!… Full Review »
  3. JCM
    9
    Warriors of the Rainbow is one very detailed, very violent, and a very questionable movie. If this movie had a wide release it would be the topic of controversy and controversy it has already generated in its country. As with any violently heavy historical event, the filmmakers have the challenge of accurately representing the people, conveying a message of the event, and most importantly respect those involve in the incident. With such a difficult balance and a trouble production history which resulted in being one of the most expensive Taiwan film ever made, the end results it a great piece of history being told to audience. There's two version of Warriors of the Rainbow, one being the US version which is two and a half hours long which is the one I'm reviewing. While the two hour US version is good, you'll be satisfied if you watched the uncut four and a half hour version which is the version I'm reviewing. The uncut version of Warriors of the Rainbows is divided into two segments, the first being The Sun Flag which contains most of the story. The Sun Flag segment concentrates the struggles of between oppressive Japanese and the oppress Seediq and the events leading to the WuShe incident. Despite its long length I'm surprise at the lack of depth in character development which mostly due to the movie having many characters both on the Japanese side and the Seediq side. What's amazing is that The Sun Flag segment summarized over 30 years of events and in depth setting up the second segment. It surely feels like the filmmakers did their research and with a passion to adapt this event into a feature film, this is most notable by the fact the director chose to keep the Seediq native language intact instead changing it. Though what's unfortunate is that the movie doesn't explain the Seediq culture which results in these people looking like savages unless you know your historical background. This doesn't accurately give the Seediq a fair representation for those who know nothing of the WuShe Incident thus making the Japanese look like the heroes. All in all, The Sun Flag segment sacrifices characters depth for a well thought out and detailed piece of historical cinema with detail to accuracy. The second segment and easily the most violent is The Rainbow Bridge, which is literally in the movie. The Rainbow Bridge segment does not cover as much as the first segment, but focuses on the consequences after the Seediq attack on WuShe and the battle between the Seediq and Japanese. Now while this segment does not cover as much, it focuses on the people more and doesn't cram your heads with even more historical events. I should note that both segments combined have a lot of violence which works in case of the movie since it helps sends an unsettling feeling toward audiences. You know you're watching a good movie when it makes go through many emotions and this certainly has that effect on viewers. Unfortunately we also get some unintentionally hilarious effects as with a CG rainbow bridge and are at subpar level. I also found the women committing suicide to be both shocking (and unbearable to some audiences) as well as powerful. The story never sends a message of nationalism; it's a very detailed account of a violent piece of history. Audiences will in no doubt question the leadership of Mona Rudao and his actions which are cruel and can be interpreted as heartless in a desperate time when leadership is required in this battle. The ending will definitely leave audiences divided too, while I personally will never forget the ending some will find it to be disappointing. I should warn the movie is graphic and could be a little more than some of us could handle, especially when the body count ranges in the triple digits with a lot of beheading. .

    Warriors of the Rainbows will provide the audience an experience that they'll soon not forget. It's bigger than any Transformers movie; it's as detailed as Carlos miniseries, and it's just as impactful and memorable with any passion projects. Warriors of the Rainbows is a difficult watch and no doubt very powerful piece of cinema that's definitely worth your time and should not be missed. At best, it's a very exhilarating flawed masterpiece.    … Full Review »
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