Sling Blade - Director's Cut (1996)

Wonderful Film, but Director's Cut Version Detracts from Original Release

As others have done a fine job of reviewing the film, I will limit this review to to the subject of this "director's cut" version. I liked the original theatrical release enormously. Yet when I viewed this "director's cut" I was disappointed. In my view, the added scenes detracted from the original and added nothing, and what was edited out took much away from movie we all saw in the theaters. Having said that, the other bonus features included in this two disc set are excellent with lots of interviews and in depth behind the scenes. September 30, 2008

"Blade Blabber"

Billy Bob Thornton at all levels. What an interesting spin on "different people" and the background material that contributes to their psychological make-up (sometimes). I loved John Ritter and Dwight Yokum in this movie. They served up their acting chops on a silver platter. Okay, Billy Bob, it has been awhile, I am ready for you to do another "written by, directed by and starred in" of this quality. September 18, 2008

Best Billy Bob Thorton movie ever!

To me, Sling Blade is byfar Billy Bob Thorton's best performance in a movie to date. Not only did Billy Bob star in it, he also written and directed it as well. Billy Bob has a pretty good set of co-stars staring with him such as John Ritter, a young Lucas Black, Dwight Yoakam, JT Walsh, & Robert Duvall.

Thorton plays a middle aged mental patient named Karl Childers. Early in his childhood, Karl would kill his mother and her lover which would make him to go and live at a mental institution where he stay for the better part of his life. After Karl gets released from the institution, he soon makes his way back to his hometown where he gets a steady job as a mechanic and also befriends Frank (Lucas Black).

Frank is a young boy who lives with his mother and her alcoholic boyfriend named Dole (Dwight Yoakam). Frank soon introduces Karl to his mother and her gay best friend (John Ritter) at her job. Frank's mother would then allow Karl to stay with Frank, Dole, and herself. After meeting Karl, Dole would cause a load of trouble throughout the duration of Karl's stay.

Karl would soon become a regular member of the family after a while. Karl opens up a lot by spending time with this good ol' family. Frank and his mother would do everything to try to get Karl to fit in with them. Frank would take Karl to play football and even settin up a blind date for Karl. Yeah Karl had a pretty good life stay with Frank which made Dole furious hafter seeing all of the attention Frank and his mother was giving Karl.

Throughout Karl's stay with Frank, he soon becomes a father figure for Frank by protecting him and his mother from the evil doings of the abusive Dole.

After a while, Karl ventures out one day and comes across his old house where he confronts his father. Karl asks him a number of things concerning Karl's childhood and his little brother Karl once had.

Dole and Frank's mother would have a fight which would cause Dole to stay out of the picture for a while. Once Dole comes back, he would confront Karl and kick him out of the house and go back to his abusive ways towards Frank and his mother which was a big mistake.

In the end Karl would get the last laugh so a speak after killing Dole with a sling blade which would cause Karl to go back to the mental institution.

Sling Blade is a very good movie with a very good story to it. I really enjoyed this movie. This movie is defiantely one of my favorite movies of all time. August 25, 2008

Scary but good.

Sling Blade is a pretty shocking and intense film. Billy Bob Thornton is unrecognizable in this gritty and challenging role. His character has just been released from a mental ward and he befriends a young, sweet boy he has troubled family issues. Sling Blade is a slow cooker kind of film, he starts off slow but the last hour is just pure intensity and madness. John Ritter also stars and he's quite good as well, very under-rated and quiet performance. Gotta see this one, enjoy! August 19, 2008

Your madula oblangatta will hurt for days.

This classic would've gotten 5 stars, but hearing the late great J.T. Walsh use the phrase ''uncircumcized penis'' made me puke up my french fried taters with mustard. l thought John Ritter's character was really funny. Not funny as in queer, funny as in ha-ha. August 13, 2008

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