'Whale Rider' gets my early vote as being the best picture of the year. 'Whale Rider' is one of those movies that literally comes out of nowhere and steals everyone's heart. It's such a complex story that it's pretty difficult finding a good way to start this review.

Basically, 'Whale Rider' is the story of an island and the Maori people. I don't know much about the history of the Maori people, but 'Whale Rider' tells the story of how a once proud group of people come into conflict with changing times. It tells how the Maori people struggle between retaining the traditions of their past when most anybody wants to do is get off the island.

The two central characters of the story are Pai, a young Maorian teenager and Koro, her traditionalist grandfather. The entire story revolves around how Pai is wanting to bring the tradition and pride back into her people, and how that struggle butts heads with Koro who wants a male to lead them into the future.

The movie also discusses the importance of myths and traditions. Koro is a man of the past who believes so deeply in his heart that he is right, and that his ancestors way was the right way, that he is willing to foresake his own family and friends. Koro is the very definition of a stubborn man, unwilling to change.

Pai is the surviving sister of a birth that took the life of her twin brother. Koro had believed that the birth of the baby boy would be the sign that better times were ahead so he took it extra hard when his grandson died during child birth. Pai had to live her whole life with her grandfater who had a chip on his shoulder. She probably thought that her grandfather wished that it had of been her that died during childbirth.

But Pai was a special type of person. She excelled at everything that she did. Like her grandfather, she is stubborn in the fact that she isn't going to let anyone get in her way of fulfilling her potential. She sees things differently than others on the island and is more than willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill her potential. If that means training with the boys, then that's what she'll do.

Keisha Castle-Hughes played the difficult role of Pai wonderfully. I don't say this lightly and I've thought about it many times since seeing the movie, but her performance is the best performance I have ever seen from an actor or actress her age. There are 3 great child acting performances that I've seen. Henry Thomas as Elliot in 'E.T.' is one of them and Haley Joel Osment's Coal is another that comes to mind. Any of the cast members from 'Stand by Me' would rank in that category as well. Well, Keisha Castle-Hughes towers over them all. If her role doesn't get at least a nomination, then I'm going to throw a hissy fit.

If there is one scene in the movie that completely seals the deal for Keisha Castle-Hughes, it is the scene where she is giving her soliloquy on the stage. Her tears are so real, that I almost forgot that I was watching a movie and thought that maybe I was watching a real life person. As she searches the audience for her grandfather, you can feel every single thing that she's feeling, completely because of the way she acted. She really did an outstanding job in the movie overall, but that one scene alone is priceless.

Rawiri Paratene is another actor that gives an outstanding performance. His Koro is so on the money, that it just deserves all the kind of awards he can get. If there aren't Oscars nominations handed out for the many different performances in this movie, then there really doesn't deserve to be an Academy Awards.

The directing was pretty solid. There really wasn't anything spectacular other than the performances that would make the director stand out in any way. Niki Caro showed her solid hand in the direction of her actors. There really isn't a bad performance in this movie. A few times, it was hard to understand what the actors were saying, but I'm guessing that had more to do with the budget of the movie and the accent of the lead actors.

Probably the biggest feat that Niki Caro accomplished was not turning 'Whale Rider' into a Spielberg-esque saccarine fest. The ending of the movie could have very easily turned into this over emotionalized, sap fest. You could tell that Niki Caro was holding back on the reins and not letting her movie get away from her. Bravo to her for that.

Some times, I heard different people in the audience laughing at the different faces that the actors gave in their training sequences. I understand why people would laugh, because seeing these faces out of the blue is kind of disjarring and somewhat humorous. But when you think about it, those posed faces with the tongue sticking out is part of their culture. They make entire statues and monuments with these types of faces. I understand the need to laugh, but sometimes I think that American audiences are always looking for a reason to laugh. They think the most minute thing is funny, when it really isn't supposed to be.

I absolutely love the final scene of the movie. I don't stay stuff like this very often, but the last scene of the movie is burnt into my brain now. I love the shot of them in the boat, singing, with Koro's arms around Pai's shoulders. It's just a really sweet, loving scene.

In a summer filled with "Bad Boys" and "Pirates" this little budgeted "Whale" movie stands head and shoulders above the rest.