The UK's best film magazine The Empire has called Taika Waititi's film Hunt For the Wilderpeople "As close to a perfect film as you can get." They also called it the best film of 2016.
2016 was a huge year for movie addicts. And of all films the UK film magazine Empire Magazine picked The Hunt for the Wilderpeople as the best of 2016.
Magazine Editor Tim Keen told Te Kāea, “There are scenes that are, devastatingly emotional, but it's never played for pathos. The scenes are some of the funniest things I’ve seen all year.”
Editor and Chief of Empire Magazine, Tim Keen said of the thousands of films only 9 films of this year were given 5 stars.
“Films like Arrival, Love and Friendship, La la land, these got 5 starts and Hunt for the Wilderpeople got 5 stars. Because when we saw it…....We could not stop talking about it for weeks, maybe even months, but certainly for weeks, everyone we meet, and anyone we meet we were telling to go and see this movie.”
University lecturer Ella Henry says film director Taika Waititi's story telling has contributed to the film’s success.
“The main skill that Taika has is that he is a person that is able to tell a story about the pain of life and wrap it in humour and joy. All of his films have a deep sadness, but they also have a great hope and that for me is what the best story tellers bring.”
Keen says, “Julian Dennisen is amazing, he's such a talented guy and Sam Neil. It's one of the best things Sam Neils ever done. Honestly! Even Taika as the minister giving the eulogy is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. The bit when he says, what’s in that other door? And Ricky just goes, vegetables? It's just perfect, it's amazing.”
Taika's next project is with marvel giant Thor, and is set to hit the big screen next year in November.