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Whale Rider
Metascore
79 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
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  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    100
    The genius of the movie is the way is sidesteps all of the obvious cliches of the underlying story and makes itself fresh, observant, tough and genuinely moving.
  2. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Ann Hornaday
    100
    One of the best performances -- and movies -- of the year so far.
  3. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    90
    A substantial film of unexpected emotional force. And when at a certain point it seems to slip the bonds of this world and take a leap of faith into an almost mythological dimension, it breathlessly takes us along for that memorable ride.
  4. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Joe Morgenstern
    90
    Seduces us with its leisurely pace and felicitous details into believing that something miraculous is afoot in a mundane rural community.
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  5. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Desson Thomson
    90
    Evokes its spirituality with deft strokes and wonderful humor.
  6. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Fred Camper
    90
    Utterly fresh and beguiling.
  7. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marc Savlov
    89
    Castle-Hughes and Paratene are nothing short of remarkable in their roles.
  8. Rolling Stone
    Reviewed by: Peter Travers
    88
    A film of female empowerment that resonates deeply.
  9. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Mark Caro
    88
    One may gripe that the tale at times seems familiar, yet that familiarity is also part of the movie's power: Here's a story from halfway around the world that somehow connects with the hearts of viewers of almost any culture.
  10. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Carrie Rickey
    88
    The rhythms of Whale Rider are hypnotic as the ebb tide, haunting as the song of the humpback sea mammal, bracing as the ocean spray. It's a movie that rewards the patient viewer.
  11. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Claudia Puig
    88
    Caro gives the fablesque story -- based on a 1,000-year-old Maori legend -- both a contemporary and timeless quality, anchored by newcomer Castle-Hughes' powerful and haunting performance.
  12. Charlotte Observer
    Reviewed by: Lawrence Toppman
    88
    You can say nothing of Castle-Hughes except that she's already a movie star: The camera loves her and we do, too.
  13. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Paula Nechak
    83
    The real find in this lovely family film is Castle-Hughes, who makes Pai's confusion, emotional fragility and devotion palpable.
  14. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Sheri Linden
    80
    The film boasts a terrific newcomer in the lead role, exquisite widescreen photography and a powerful sense of place.
  15. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    80
    what makes Caro's film a future classic is What so many movies geared toward younger audiences lack: a cool and very courageous 'tween heroine whom boys and girls of all ages can admire
  16. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ernest Hardy
    80
    Writer-director Niki Caro, who adapted the screenplay from the novel, has crafted a script replete with both crowd-pleasing touches and subtle but powerful insights into all the characters.
  17. Dallas Observer
    Reviewed by: Gregory Weinkauf
    80
    Once in a while a film comes along that is as sound, smart, sweet and significant as can be, and Whale Rider is such a film.
  18. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: A.O. Scott
    80
    Wickedly absorbing.
  19. Newsweek
    Reviewed by: David Ansen
    80
    While Whale Rider is a doozy of a female-empowerment fantasy, it’s mercifully free of any feminist smugness.
  20. Variety
    Reviewed by: Dennis Harvey
    80
    Combines straightforward coming-of-age narrative with Maori mysticism to most engaging effect.
  21. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Connie Ogle
    75
    There is magic here, enough to make Whale Rider worthy of the audience-choice awards it has earned at film festivals worldwide.
  22. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Jami Bernard
    75
    Pai is resourceful and in harmony with the natural world in a way that will charm and enthrall young viewers.
  23. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Lou Lumenick
    75
    An excellent way to teach children that movies don't begin and end with Hollywood blockbusters.
  24. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    75
    Like last year's Inuit sensation ''The Fast Runner,'' the Maori drama Whale Rider is based on a folk myth, and it's told with an elemental timelessness that feels like a swan dive into prehistory.
  25. ReelViews
    Reviewed by: James Berardinelli
    75
    Story itself is richly rewarding and uplifting -– the coming-of-age tale of a girl who must defy the odds to achieve her goals. There's plenty of humor to keep the overall tone light.
  26. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
    Reviewed by: Rick Groen
    75
    The Canadian film "Atanarjuat" travelled back to the past to meet an ancient legend on its own ground and treated the tale realistically. Whale Rider whisks its legend up into the present, and then adds a touch of lyricism.
  27. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    75
    An inviting international audience-pleaser.
  28. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Keith Phipps
    70
    Though there's a formula at the film's core, Whale Rider still has the good taste to make that formula go down easy.
  29. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Mick LaSalle
    50
    By the end, a sense settles in that Whale Rider could have accomplished as much -- and been considerably more powerful -- as a 25- minute short.
  30. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: Michael Sragow
    50
    Whale Rider is one long, sensitive downer capped by an uplifting finale. A martyr fantasy that turns victorious -- it's a surefire recipe for arthouse crowd-pleasing.
  31. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Michael Atkinson
    50
    Like the film, Pai's character is muddily conceived and ill-focused, but the coltish, tremulously delicate Castle-Hughes is a hypnotic camera subject.
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User Reviews

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User Score
6.4 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 169 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 71 out of 94
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 94
  3. Negative: 20 out of 94
  1. ryancarroll88
    6
    Keisha Castle-Hughes put all other child actors to shame in her dramatization of Paikea, a girl whose destiny as the leader of her people is constantly subverted by the traditional ideas of her grandfather. However, as awe-inspiring and inspirational as the story to "Whale Rider" is, director Niki Caro goes to unnecessary lengths to make sure you know why the movie was made, which detracts from the overall experience.… Full Review »
  2. MichaelG.
    3
    Mediocre at best. Dull, lifeless acting by all but Keisha Castle-Hughes, borderline amateur. Overused character archetypes, up to its ankles in cliches and has more plot holes then a Steven Seagal action flick. It tries desperately to be a feel good movie but by the end I was scooping my eyeballs out with a spoon, because it was far more entertaining.… Full Review »
  3. Anonymous
    10
    I absolutely loved this movie, and thought it was a great drama. I cried my eyes out towards the end. So to you, "retroboy" who says this movie was "crap" and that those of us who enjoyed it need to get a life, I say that you need to use more punctuation and learn to spell, because it looks like a ten-year-old wrote your review.… Full Review »
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