Everybody's a critic - 'Whale rider'

Three stars (out of four)

Just because the central character is a young girl doesn't mean this is a kid's movie or a chick flick. Nearly everyone should enjoy it. At first, the story is hard to follow and the characters' actions seem incomprehensible. By the end of the movie, everything makes sense within the context of local culture in spectacularly beautiful New Zealand.

Pure entertainment is fine, and this film has action and humor. But I like a movie to be about something, and this one is about something very close to my heart. It's about preserving tradition and connecting with your roots. Paikea, the main character, is destined to lead her people. Unfortunately, she was born a girl. Her grandfather, desperate to save his tribal culture, has to learn that to protect the past he also must accept change. True leaders may appear in shapes that defy conventional expectations.

- Bonnie Stepenhoff, university professor

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Three and a half stars (out of four)

This is a coming of age movie about a young Maori girl, Pai, and her struggle to overcome gender restrictions and her past to become the chief of her tribe. After her twin brother and mother die at her birth, her grandfather, Koro, resents her not being a boy and refuses to accept her as the next chief in the Maori line.

The film's backdrop depicted beautiful underwater wildlife scenes featuring the whales this movie revolves around. It's got a wonderful plot and an amazing cast to match. It uses a lot of tribal traditions to illustrate to the audience the different culture.

This is definitely a film I would recommend a family to go see. I love the fact the females are the stronger characters in the film. The film depicts a positive female hero, which is hard to find in films today.

- Hannah Stepenoff, high school student

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Two and a half stars (out of four)

Mystical, inspirational and good family viewing describe "Whale Rider."

It is based in modern-day New Zealand, where Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes) grows up knowing her grandfather wanted her to be born a boy to carry on the old traditions and values of the Maori. She sets out to prove herself worthy of the task of leading the tribe.

Movies are overrated today, and based on the following I had to give "Whale Rider" only 2 1/2 stars. At moments the movie drags, and the accents make it hard for the audience to understand what's said. Visual effects are not up to the quality of American Disney movies.

But the settings, themes, plot and actors are excellent. At the end, when the grandfather asks the question "Who is to blame?," he realizes he was wrong about women's roles in tribal customs.

- Robert Aubuchon, retiree