I can almost hear the discussions in the Warner Bros. executive suite after being presented with writer/director Kevin Reynolds follow up film to the enormously successful 'Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves'. How are we going to market a film about a handful of Pacific island natives from 300 years ago? Apparently, they couldn't figure it out, for in the end, they did nothing. Not only have I not found anyone that had seen 'Rapa Nui', I have yet to speak to anyone that has even heard of it. Well, not matter. This is what video is for.
'Rapa Nui' was co-written and directed by Kevin Reynolds and produced by Kevin Costner and Jim Wilson ('Dances With Wolves'). The film stars Jason Scott Lee (now you know what happened to him after 'Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story'), Esai Morales ('La Bamba') and Sandrine Holt ('Black Robe'). Set some 300 years ago on a remote Pacific island named by it's inhabitants, Rapa Nui, and later named by European explores, Easter Island. The society of Rapa Nui is a rigid class system with the aristocratic Long Ears ruling the working class Short Ears. It is the Short Ears that quarry and carve the rock of Rapa Nui to create the legendary statues of Easter Island. Among the Long Ear clans is an annual competition to decide who will rule for the next year. Jason Scott Lee is chosen to represent his clan but seeks, in return for winning, the approval of the ruler to marry the woman he loves though she is a Short Ear and forbidden to marry a Long Ear. When the Long Ear Chief demands that the newest and largest statue be completed before the next tribal competition, the Short Ears, led by Lee's boyhood friend (Morales), seize the opportunity to demand a place in the competition and Morales, now a rival for the woman's affection, demands the right to marry the woman if he wins.
Reynolds story is a rather obvious (and heavy-handed) allegory for modern society. The class struggle, the systematic plunder of the environment as the natives continue to cut the few remaining trees on the island until the last one falls, soon followed by a destructive civil war leading to the tribe's ultimate descent into barbarism. Reynolds characters are little more than cliches. Lee is the idealistic aristocrat who finally sees the injustice of the system, the ruthless High Priest, the aging chief oblivious to the decay around him, the young rebel finally pushed too far and the beautiful woman torn between opposing sides. This is not to say that 'Rapa Nui' is not without merit. The story, despite being somewhat incongruous to the setting, is well paced and acted. Reynolds has recreated the ancient island society on an ambitious and near-epic scale. The stark Pacific island vistas are, at times, glorious to behold. And then, of course, there's the native girls (no, they don't wear tops <G>).
The transfer for this laser disc is mostly very good. Colors appear accurate and contrast and brightness are excellent. The image is very sharp and this leads to some of the only weaks spots. A number of scenes have an intense orange color and these tend to have high levels of chroma noise enhanced by the high level of sharpness. A few of the night scenes also exhibit graininess. Fortunately, these scenes are few and most of the picture looks terrific with excellent detail and clarity. The film was shot in anamorphic Panavision and this transfer has been framed at about 2.30:1. The wide framing is, in my opinion, essential to the enjoyment of this film.
The soundtrack of 'Rapa Nui' contains a number of very deep bass effects as well as deep tribal drums in Stewart Copeland's nicely evocative score. The digital audio track is more than up to the task. There are a number of good directional effects and dialog is clear and well balanced (most of the action takes place outdoors). There is more than enough low bass to please the subwoofer crowd.
The film runs 107 minutes and the disc contains 34 chapters. No trailer or other extras are included. List price is $34.95.
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