The Descendants

Last night, I attended the opening night of this year's Maui Film Festival's First Light Academy Screenings.  The movie that showed, "The Descendants," starring George Clooney was fantastic.  Humorous, emotional, and so real.  None of that corny feeling that you typically get when you watch a movie that is based in Hawaii.  You know what I mean, the kind where the actors try to act as if their local but don't quite pull it off.

I was especially impressed with the acting skills of the young lady who played the eldest daughter, Shailene Woodley.  We have such a blended culture here, that she made me think of my niece, Kapua, who is hapa haole.

The Hawaiian music soundtrack and scenery of Kauai and Oahu were an added plus.  I appreciated that the homes filmed in the movie did not look staged.  Especially the home that belonged to the woman who insisted that the youngest daughter of George's character's come over to apologize for sending her daughter nasty texts. I swear that that was my Aunty's house.  Well, not really but that's what it felt like.

My only issue with the movie is that there was a quite a bit of profanity and obscene language.  But otherwise, it's a good movie to see, especially if you are from Hawaii.