Chief of War

...., Hawaiian language and too much dialogue, low functioning humans. I'm 2 episodes in and Momoa is surprisingly good and the other actors are unsurprisingly phenomenal. The flow of the story has been engaging and leaves you wanting to see more and all of this before any fighting scenes. The soundtrack is beautiful, the cinematography is beautiful and whether it's 100% historically correct is irrelevant. Enjoy!

The violent and bloody history of America's 50th state. It's the late 18th century, and as one island kingdom continually goes to war with another, native slaughters native with gruesome regularity. Amid all the chaos stands the imposing Ka'iana (Jason Momoa, sporting, it seems, a knitted brow and laser-focused stare even when at rest), a former warrior who has retired to a life of swimming and shark hunting and relaxing--until, that is, he's summoned by his old boss, who wants him at his side as he prepares to launch another offensive. After much soul-searching, Ka'iana reluctantly agrees...unaware until it's far too late that his one-time mentor is more dangerous, and deadlier, than he ever imagined. The most intriguing thing about "Chief of War" is the dialogue: when the indigenous characters are on screen, they speak exclusively in their native tongue while subtitles appear below; only when the "paleskin" interlopers finally arrive is English spoken at all. Is the show without flaws? Hardly. The pace is a tad slow, especially during the first couple of episodes, the hand-to-hand combat scenes are disappointingly intimate, leading me to long for A) a bit more spear-chucking, and B) some hyper-frenetic "Game of Thrones"-style action, thank you very much, it's not always easy to tell one side from another...and (a small but pertinent point) the subtitles themselves pop up so blink-and-you'll-miss-'em fast that you may lose one here and there. "Chief of War" shows promise, though (I've caught three episodes so far), and I'm curious to see what future installments have in store. An important look--and an informative one, too--at a little-known chapter in American history. Recommended, with reservations.

I am deaf and I was born and raised in Hawai'i, but with no Hawaiian ancestry. I still have my highest respect in Hawaiian values and culture. When I heard about this TV series by Jason Momoa, I was thrilled to watch. But once I started watching, I was looking around to turn on the subtitles because I am deaf. To my astonishment, I discovered the Hawaiian subtitles!! Luckily, I took the elementary Hawaiian classes at Kapi'olani CC, and to satisfy my curiosity, I turned on the subtitles in Hawaiian and... it gave me goosebumps!! By seeing the subtitles in true Hawaiian language, I was able to read and understood some of them. Incredible!!! I'm excited to be able to watch this with subtitle options being shown in English and Hawaiian. Mahalo, Jason Momoa and the entire crew behind this TV series and Apple TV for this amazing feat!

The film starts strong, with an engaging story and a great atmosphere that pulls you in right away. The action sequences are fun, and the overall pacing keeps things enjoyable from start to finish.

That said, Jason Momoa still carries his familiar on-screen persona. While his charisma is undeniable, it sometimes makes it harder for me to fully see the character rather than the actor. It's still a solid and entertaining movie, but for me, that extra layer of immersion was a bit harder to find.

Chief of War is finally here and it has not disappointed. I've been waiting and looking forward to this ever since I first heard about it. Then I saw the trailers and my excitement grew even more. I love these types of shows and movies and I'm a big fan of Jason Momoa. He's had a lot of memorable parts in his career and this is among his best yet. It's such an original story of Hawaiian history that's never been told before. You can tell Momoa but a lot of love into this project. There isn't a dull or boring scene in the entire series. The only bad thing is all the episodes aren't released at the same time because this would be best watched as a binge. Apple TV has hit home run after home run. It reminds me of peak HBO when almost every show they put out is a must watch. I can't recommend this show enough.