Hawaii discussion

I recall seeing the movie shortly after reading the book and being very very disappointed. The film at 2 and a half hours did a pretty credible job of portraying the Abner & Jerusha Hale segment but almost none of the rest of the sweeping, epic scope of the book was included in the story-line.

Recently I saw the film again and actually enjoyed what made it to the screen and the film's message about religious arrogance and intolerance rings truer for me now than it did originally.

I was wondering what others who've read the book and seen the film thought.

Boy it is almost always hard to enjoy a film once you've read the book. In my case i say the movie a few times before reading the book. SO it wasmore like getting deeper into the story. for me anyway. Very often i think novels like Hawaii should be made into a TV series..

Since I live in Hawaii. I got the missionary viewpoints and the whole scenario. Don't think I've read the book though. The movie was accurate as far as Molokai and sending the people with Hansen's disease there.

I did not know there was a movie. I'll have to check it out. This is one of the best stories I have ever read and I can only imagine that the movie wouldn't live up, but I would love to see it anyways.

Robert wrote: "Boy it is almost always hard to enjoy a film once you've read the book. In my case i say the movie a few times before reading the book. SO it wasmore like getting deeper into the story. for me anyw..."

With a long drawn out tale with so much depth of character I agree that a TV show would be much better :)

Stephen wrote: "I recall seeing the movie shortly after reading the book and being very very disappointed. The film at 2 and a half hours did a pretty credible job of portraying the Abner & Jerusha Hale segment bu..."

I remember when the movie was made. They originally intended to do the whole book, but couldn't fit it in a reasonable sitting. That was long before they current trend of serial films like Star Wars or Lord of the Rings, and films like these require major investments. Success depends on a near cult following which the popular culture didn't provide despite the best seller status of book and author. In those years the studios still controlled a lot of what made it to the screen.

I know this is a really old discussion but would like to add in for anyone new interested in it. I found the movie poorly done they tried to write in so many of the stories into 2.5 hours. They should have either taken one part of the story and made the movie on that instend of focusing and making everything revolve around a couple of characters. But I must say Charlton Heston was a great casting choice.

I just thought I would add and point out I have just found out there were two movies made of this book. One is from 1966 with Julie Andrews and the other is from 1970 with Charlton Heston. Links to there IMDB's below.
Hawaii 1966
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060491/?...
The Hawaiians 1970
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065820/?...