Walking Thunder (1997)

wonderful movie

IT IS A WONDERFUL FAMILY MOVIE AND IT KEEPS YOU INTERESTED IN WHATS TAKING PLACE. November 3, 2006

DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS movie avoid IT. You can easily do MUCH BETTER!

If I could give a movie zero stars Walking Thunder
~ James Read (II) would be worthy of the Golden Goose EGG prize. The movie is just plain mean spirited and insulting ALL to native american peoples. The whole movie seems to reek with a level of arrogance that makes it more chore than joy to watch. I know there is a certain neanterhal sub-culture that would give this movie high praises for accuracy and maybe it is accurate. Unfortunately accuracy when dealing with the historical past often reveals the most negative base and dead common things about human beings.

We all know the aweful things about the past and I for one do not need to relive the most callous insensitive behaviors of the past when I seek entertainment. Maybe I watch movies for all the wrong reasons, but I like seeing things that make me feel good about the production. I like see people who I come to love respect and admire as the story unfolds. These people reveal themselves to be racist brutes who disrespect almost everything they encounter. I grow to hate and eventually despise the main characters as the movie unfolds. Some movies like this one made at a different time shock todays more humane mainstream sensibilities as such it has overstayed its welcome. Disney needs to put this mess back in the vault with a sincere hope it never see's the light of day again.

This film should not be destroyed it has one niche left. This is a perfect how not to make a movie object lesson. Also this movie almost ranks up there with Birth of Nation in its vile racist insensitive content. I was honestly insulted that Amazon.com offered me this junk as a Gold Box Special but it was likely a computers choice so how can I be mad. May 27, 2006

Great Movie

I think the person posting that other review isnt accurate. First of all those terms were accurate for that time. Too bad. The film is supposed to be realistic. Number 2, (Your are really funny) the indians were into scalping. Well known fact. Number 3 do you just watch movies to be a critic looking for some words like lisol and shoe polish and then scream rascism? Well you have too much time on your hands maybe you should try to look at movies more realistically and get a job. John Denver was not a rascist and would never indulge in that sort of acting. I am sure that all the cast as well as the movie makers just wanted it to be realistic! So get a life and try enjoying movies....thats what they are for. There are plenty of movies that are worse than this one. In ending, there are more movies that are much more vulgar than this stuff. Get off your high horse and back to that government paid for casino that you like!!! April 13, 2006

Maybe not for Indian kids, anyway...

I was hoping to show some Bart the Bear features publicly to local kids, and had to reject this movie due to potentially offensive material. Probably accurate to the times, but I know that some people would consider the use of the term 'Redskin' to be offensive, as well as little brother's comments that big brother, late returning home, might have been scalped. On the other hand, I think the film did make it clear that it was white Indian hunters who were doing most of the scalping. The main Indian character is an old Sioux medicine man who speaks no English, but can communicate with the giant bear. Less offensive, but still a bit of a stereotype.
Apart from that, the film was a fairly enjoyable wilderness picture, though not containing anything really exceptional apart from big ol' Bart. And it's nice that it didn't end with the kid having to hunt down the bear, as I first assumed when I read the film description. January 19, 2006

Ripped Off

This film was produced under a SAG contract, but sadly, the distributors of this film - John Denver's last movie - have decided to avoid their responsibilities to the actors - and to this day, have failed to pay ONE PENNY in residuals to the talent which made this film come alive. They have ripped off the hardworking actors in this film to the tune of thousands of dollars!

Great script, great cast, excellent film for kids. But I would suggest that potential customers NOT support this film. Do not rent or buy this movie until the distributor pays the actors what they're due!!

Watch this space for updates! June 13, 2004

More reviews at Amazon.com ...