I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, even though I thought the main charachter should of been a boy. The main premise of the story was of two fraternal twins (boy and girl). The girl survived and was discouraged from becoming a chief. Yet she persevered and trained with the help of some other villagers even though her grandfather wanted a male heir. Her grandfather's goal was to recruit one of the boys from the village school. There were tests of fighting skills and retrieving a whale medallion that the grandfather threw into the ocean. I would highly recommend this movie because it made me feel very good to watch it. You are going to get your monies worth whether you rent it or buy it from amazon.com

Don't let the people raving about what a great family movie this is scare you away...while Whale Rider is appropriate for younger ones, it is definitely aimed at a more mature audience. Very good story, extremely moving and heartbreaking. I cried for hours.

We live in an age where moving stories of courage and determination just aren't enough. Those tales have to be accompanied by Oprah Book Club moments of overcoming handicaps and tragedy or dealing with racism and sexism. Many a great story is ruined because the real drama of life takes a secondary role to the politically correct lens through which it is told.

In Whale Rider, it is the Lifetime-esque melodramatic subplot dealing with the evil old men who run the world and try to prevent little girls from reaching their life's destiny. The story takes place inside an aboriginal whaling community, seemingly untouched by the modern cultural advancements of the past one hundred years. Of course, our liberal filmmakers decided these people needed to be lectured in gender roles, and thus the little story of a young girl over-coming an oppressive and chauvinistic world is born.

Now, that all sounds like criticism for this film, and I do admit I wish this Steinam-like depiction of men was toned down a bit. But that one flaw doesn't change the fact that this is a wonderful film, a truly remarkable achievement. Forgetting all the male-bashing, at the center of the film is a touching story about a young child who so wants to be loved, especially by her grandfather. She latches on to a story from family's her past about a great voyager who arrived at their island on the back of a whale, a great warrior whose soul will someday return in a "chosen one". The young girl decides she has as much claim to the birthright as any of the boys and attempts to prove to everyone (especially her grandfather) that she is worthy.

We seldom see young people depicted in such an honest manner. This touching story will be loved by almost everyone (and the feminists may take steps to have it canonized).

This movie is a gem! It had a PG-13 rating when we went to see it, but I've seen PG movies with more "stuff" in them than this movie had. What a wonderful message this movie has and it captivated my then 7 and 8 year old sons. Don't be deterred by the rating. This is a wonderful film.

Niki Caro's "Whale Rider" is an uplifting film that contrasts sharply from the generic Hollywood fare being churned out these days. It has an energy to it that is infectious and a story that is as unconventional as it is novel. It also showcases the most heartfelt and authentic performance by a young actress in quite some time.

A young Maori girl named Pai Apirana (Keisha Castle-Hughes) survives a birth that claims the lives of her mother and her twin baby brother. Her birth creates a problem because her father, Porourangi (Cliff Curtis) was next in line to be the chief of his people. However, he has no interest in assuming the mantle of leadership and leaves for Europe to pursue his art career. Faced with no male heir, Pai's grandfather Koro (Rawiri Paratene) - the current chief - ignores talk that Pai could be the next chief and begins to look outside the family for his successor. Supported by her grandmother, Nanny Flowers (Vicky Haughton), Pai nonetheless refuses to give up on her quest to succeed her grandfather.

"Whale Rider" is no spectacle of a film. It is a small-scale depiction of the lives of real people who experience their fair share of hardships and triumphs. On this level, the film is a charming and enjoyable production. The acting is top-notch across the board and the New Zealand backdrop is breathtaking, but it is Castle-Hughes who is most responsible for making the film work. She has a magnetic aura about her that she projects effortlessly from the first frame she appears in. So appealing is Castle-Hughes as an actress that you are glad that you accompanied her character on her cinematic journey. The spiritual aspect of the film is also is welcome departure from the standard cliches that so many filmgoers are used to seeing. It adds another dimension to the story that makes it even more satisfying. In sum, "Whale Rider" feels like a breath of fresh air for viewers eagerly looking for something original and entertaining.