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As with our previous list, these are all movies that either take place in Hawaii or have scenes shot on location. This list has a surfing icon, an iconic artistic rip-off, some iconic giant lizards, and an iconic giant ape! Does that make this list iconic? Maybe!
Hawaii Moment #1: Soul Surfer (2011)
In Sean McNamara’s Soul Surfer, aspiring Hawaiian pro surfer Bethany Hamilton (AnnaSophia Robb) survives having her left arm bit off by a shark! Though that would end some people’s careers and make them afraid of the water, Bethany would like to compete in more contests, and we see how she overcomes adversity and rebuilds her career. So, even if you’re not enthralled by surfboards and surfing techniques, you have a classic element of self-determination and competition, as well as a decent movie to watch (especially during the summer months).
Soul Surfer also is a very Hawaiian movie, about a Hawaiian athlete who is at home on the big waves and loves the energy and excitement of competition. The film also has Helen Hunt, Dennis Quaid, Lorraine Nicholson, Carrie Underwood, Sonya Balmores, and Kevin Sorbo.
Hawaii Moment #2: Big Eyes (2014)
Based on a screenplay written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, the plot of Tim Burton’s Big Eyes is far-fetched enough to sound like something from another penny-a-word novelist. However, it’s actually based on the true story of the abusive, exploitative relationship between Margaret (Amy Adams) and Walter Keane (Christoph Waltz). Walter basically stole credit for all of her famous paintings featuring caricatures of people with big eyes. Walter, who had started as an apparent street artist, stormed the art scene with those paintings, claiming they were his own when they were really Margaret’s.
It’s one thing to read about such a scandal in the news, but it’s more interesting when you’re seeing the action when you are seeing Margaret’s struggle. By a certain point in the film, Margaret has moved to Hawaii with her daughter, Jane (Madeleine Arthur), and her distance from Walter gives her enough courage to finally announce publicly that she’s the real artist.
It all culminates in a great courtroom showdown (which happened in real life) where Walter is asked to produce a painting similar to anything Margaret has done. Walter talks the talk, but can he walk the walk? Well, the audience will roll its collective eyes as Walter claims he can’t paint because his arm is hurting. Walter Keane is a big liar about painting people with big eyes, and this movie technically features Hawaii enough to make this list (it’s also just a good movie).
Hawaii Moment #3: Godzilla (2014)
Though not shot exclusively in Hawaii, Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla did have scenes shot in Hawaii, with Eastern O’ahu also doubling for the Marshall Islands. In many ways, this movie was an experiment to see if Godzilla could successfully come back as a cinematic superpower franchise.
That being said, they took a chance by not having it be very Godzilla-centric, with much of the storyline being about “MUTOs” (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organisms). Nevertheless, plenty of people were fine with the new monsters. Plus, they suggest a population of monsters other than Godzilla.
Like traditional Godzilla films, the 2014 film focuses substantially on scientists and the military (with some scenes making it appear as if the creatures will be raided by SEAL Team Six). Still, after the first attacks in 1954, Godzilla has been a pretty busy beast, and in this film, Godzilla has a supporting cast of actors like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen, David Strathairn, and Bryan Cranston.
Hawaii Moment #4: Jurassic World (2015)
Filmed variously in Louisiana and Hawaii, Colin Trevorrow’s Jurassic World rather successfully revitalized the Jurassic Park franchise (or, if one wishes to induce groans, prevented it from extinction). The promise of panic induced by rampant, trampling, carcass-eviscerating dinosaurs is difficult to deny, but so is the appeal of a traditional action-adventure story. Jurassic World really delivers both, and it certainly has its own fans.
While the occasional massive herbivore has its charm, most fans surely wanted to see dinosaurs who attack, and this film has no shortage of those. This time, however, at least some of the intelligent velociraptors are trained by humans (they still operate in packs and could presumably still target humans, of course). We also get to see a powerful water-dwelling mosasaur, some menacing flying pterosaurs, a good old T. rex, and even a genetically engineered new creation, the Indominus rex (the Allosaurus is mostly saved for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Jurassic World: Dominion).
Though it would be freaky trying to evade velociraptors alone, Jurassic World does a decent job of making all the dinosaurs seem potentially dangerous. Jurassic World is worth a rewatch, so feel free to join Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard), Owen (Chris Pratt), Zach (Nick Robinson), and Gray (Ty Simpkins) on their dinosaur theme park adventure.
To state the obvious: We can currently only see the skeleton of the tyrannosaurus rex; imagine being able to see the real thing or some genetically modified freakshow dino! Also, imagine the excitement as a raptor swoops in and kills you! How fun! Would you race to a park where this could potentially happen? Maybe so. Many people enjoy danger (well, unless it’s something like contracting a flesh-eating disease, a nightmare scenario few would care to brag about later).
Hawaii Moment #5: Kong: Skull Island (2017)
In Jordan Vogt-Roberts’s Kong: Skull Island, Monarch sets out looking for primeval creatures at the mysterious Skull Island. To capture that island essence, various locations were used for filming, including Hawaii, Australia, and Vietnam (Guatemala must have been too busy). In addition to the tropical rainforest-like appearance, the team (or whatever they are) ultimately discover more than they bargained for, as there are indeed some wild creatures, including the mighty King Kong and other hostile critters John C. Reilly’s character, Hank Marlow, refers to as “Skullcrawlers.”
As one might expect, it becomes a bit about man versus beast and who (or what) will be killed or captured. Army Lieutenant Colonel Packard (Samuel L. Jackson) particularly develops an animosity toward Kong, regarding the giant beast as nothing but a butcher of his men on Skull Island. So Packard basically attempts an Army offensive against the giant ape. Unfortunately, for him, he lacks the proverbial silver bullet to take Kong down. Kong: Skull Island” also stars Tom Hiddleston, John Goodman, and Brie Larson.
What’s your favorite film from this list? Which movie best represents Hawaii? Which ones did we miss? Let us know in the comments!
