Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Beautiful film of a bygone era
Sumptuous, delicious, beautiful movie about a white soldier's journey of self-discovery with a Lakota Sioux tribe.Lt. John Dunbar, a Civil War hero by accident (he was trying to kill himself), gets a second chance at life when he's allowed to choose his next military assignment. He chooses to see the frontier--"before it's gone". Arriving at the fort, he finds it abandoned, disheveled, broken down. As he tries to rebuild the fort and enjoy the scenery, hoping to see buffalo, he befriends a wolf, Two Socks. Eventually the local Indians come to check him out, and Dunbar and his neighbors draw closer through a series of stop-and-start encounters. He draws close enough to become one of them--but then Army life intrudes into the near-idyllic scene. The details of the prairie and of Sioux village life are breathtaking. The music by John Barry is atmospheric and inspiring. I would hope those viewing the film will ask themselves what it would have been like to live an Indian village, if they would have been up to its demands and open to its possibilities.
Rating: - Great Movie - 237 Minute Version is FAR Superior.
No movie before or since has gotten to me the way "Dances With Wolves" has (it would have been even better if some guy in the theater hadn't blurted out the climax: "Hey, this is the part where..." UGH!). Though not without its flaws (the idea of a white cavalry officer deserting to join a Sioux Indian tribe--and then actually succeeding--is a bit of a stretch in the historical context) the movie is so good that you don't care! This is what movie magic is all about, the suspension of disbelief, and Costner is a master here. The photography is breathtaking, the acting outstanding, and the musical score...well, I think it speaks for itself (BRILLIANT!). A truly remarkable picture, and when one considers this as Costner's directorial debut...WOW! Is it any wonder everything he has made since, regardless of its quality, has seemed anti-climactic? If you love epic tales that don't put you to sleep, this is the one. Also, if you haven't seen the Expanded Edition at 237 minutes you are truly missing out. I hope it is released on DVD soon. If this movie doesn't bring a tear to your eye then you need your heart examined! Five stars.
Rating: - One of the most provocative American movies ever
In a word,this movie is wondrous. It gives a view of the Native American culture which used to rule this landmass with a perspicacity and verisimilitude never before seen in an American movie theater. This is truly a great American epic.Kevin Costner, who is normally as bland as the Sahara desert, delivers the best performance of his career. Although not the most exciting actor in cinema, Costner was nonetheless perfect for this part (just as William Shatner was perfect for Captain Kirk, despite his limited acting ability). Costner's direction, too, was impeccable. The rest of the cast, including Graham Greene and Mary McDonnel, team up to create an instant classic. The film takes place in the mid-1860s. The Civil War is winding down and the Union Army has begun its invasion westward into American Indian country. In other words, it takes place at an epoch that, looking back, would prove to be the beginning of the end for the Western American Indian way of life. This movie is about the last days of an extraordinary culture which would find its end all too abruptly. The story centers around a Union Army soldier named John Dunbar (Costner). He ends up on an abandoned outpost out in the middle of the plain states. During his pseudo-hermitage, he encounters a tribe of Sioux Indians. Luckily for him, they prove to be friendly and it is the forging of their relationship(s) with him that form the core of the movie's plot. This is an exceptional, powerful movie that is suitable for the entire family. It has a few scenes of mild violence, but is far less graphic than what is shown on Television series every night. The soundtrack, written by John Barry, is top notch and is integrated into the movie to an extent [both in emotional importance and in appropriate timing] that surpasses any movie score I've ever heard. This is a truly poignant film which can't help but move all who view it. As far as American movies go, this one is a must-see in my book.
|
