Princess Kaiulani

Drama about the slow overthrow of Hawaii's monarchy, beginning in 1888, when foreign businessmen force King David Kalakaua to restrict royal powers. His young niece Princess Kaiulani (Kilcher), who expects one day to rule herself, is then taken to Scotland and raised as an English gentlewoman. However, Kaiulani never forgets her heritage and becomes a political activist when she learns that the U.S. military has placed her uncle's successor under house arrest. Hints at some interesting conflict but really provides little character depth or insight. Plays instead like a bland, melodramatic story with all the weight of a cable TV biopic.