Vashirdfel Simply A Masterpiece

SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

Pluskylang Great Film overall

Doomtomylo a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

dworldeater Rolling Thunder is a very high quality grindhouse revenge movie with tight direction, solid writing and first rate acting. Rolling Thunder is also the first in a wave of films to use post Vietnam America as a backdrop, predating First Blood by five years. I really like the film that was made, but if the original writer Paul Shrader had his way he would have taken Rolling Thunder in another direction. Even with Heywood Gould's re writes, Rolling Thunder remains a powerful, raw, brutal film. William Devane really brings it here as Major Charles Rane, a down on his luck Vietnam war vet and POW. He comes home to find his wife is in love with another man and his son dose'nt know him. It gets worst quick when Roscoe(from The Dukes Of Hazard) and his group of thugs murder his wife and son, grind up his hand in the garbage disposal and leave him for dead. Down, but not out Major Rane, now a cripple with a hook hand goes south of the border to Mexico for revenge. Scooping up his war buddy John Vohden(Tommy Lee Jones) they go to a whorehouse in Mexico for all out revenge and slaughter. I do agree with writer Paul Shrader that The Wild Bunch styled everyone dies in a blaze of gunfire ending that he wrote would have been a much more powerful ending to the film. Even so, Rolling Thunder still resonates and is no surprise that it is a cult classic. Great film.

Scott LeBrun This solid 1970s drama is enjoyable for operating on more than one level. On the one hand, it's the study of a character whose life has been irrevocably shattered; no matter what happens, he'll never be the same. And on the other hand, it's a tried and true revenge saga when this man decides that getting even with those who wronged him is one thing that he *can* live for.William Devane, in one of his best performances, is the man in question, Major Charles Rane, who was a P.o.W. in Vietnam and has returned home to a hero's welcome. His grateful nation provides him with gifts such as a briefcase containing silver dollars, one for each day he spent imprisoned. But this period of calm is short lived. Soon, Rane is visited by a quartet of men (among them scary goons played by James Best and Luke Askew) who demand that he hand over the loot. To try to persuade him, they shove his hand in his sinks' disposal unit, and just for good measure, they shoot his wife and son dead.Rane spends the balance of the film readying himself for the inevitable showdown, with a young waitress, Linda Forchet (Linda Haynes) in tow; she's pretty devoted to him, even admitting to being a groupie of sorts. Rane also comes to rely on his wartime comrade Johnny Vohden (Tommy Lee Jones) in his quest for revenge.As written by Paul Schrader & Heywood Gould (based on a story by Schrader) and directed by John Flynn, "Rolling Thunder" is slick, grim, and effectively brutal at times. It slowly but surely makes its way towards a big bloodbath at the end, which is extremely rousing. It's a pretty good story and one does feel sympathy for Rane, who admits to being already dead inside. He's not above using Linda, but ultimately cares for her enough to not want her sticking around until the bitter end.Devane is well supported by the young Jones, who has a strong presence in one of his earliest film roles. Haynes is sexy and appealing, and Best and Askew are entertainingly sleazy and spooky bad guys. (You have to love a character name like "Automatic Slim"). Dabney Coleman, Lisa Blake Richards, James Victor, and Cassie Yates co-star. And look for Paul A. Partain, Franklin from the classic "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre", as Jones's brother-in-law.Beginning and ending with the heartfelt ditty "San Antone" sung by Denny Brooks, this is potent entertainment that packs a pretty hard punch. One can see why Tarantino would hold it in high regard.Eight out of 10.

namashi_1 Late Fillmaker John Flynn's 'Rolling Thunder' is a gruesome & slow-paced vendetta fare, that works primarily due to Flynn's Direction, that's so Well-Done.'Rolling Thunder' Synopsis: Major Charles Rane comes back from the war and is given a number of gifts from his hometown because he is a war hero. Some greedy thugs decide that they want to steal a number of silver dollars from him. In the process they also manage to kill his wife and son and destroy his hand. And Now, The Major wants revenge.'Rolling Thunder' is slow-paced & gruesome. The Action-Sequences are unforgiving & very effective, while the pacing is slow & moves lethargically. Paul Schrader & Heywood Gould's Screenplay could've been tighter, but works nonetheless. Flynn's Direction is the biggest merit here. He's done his job wonderfully, from start to end. Kudos Indeed!Performance-Wise: William Devane plays the protagonist well. The Ever-Fantastic Tommy Lee Jones, stands out, yet again. Linda Haynes is adequate. Others offer good support.On the whole, 'Rolling Thunder' isn't Spectacular, but Well-Directed nonetheless.

octahexx A masterpiece.The movie revolves around two returning war vets from Vietnam.The main character comes back to his hometown and family and is subjected to a lot of events but he remains in the center with a silent numb removed dark aura and stays silent most of the time.After being tortured during his time as prisoner of war he lost the connection to it all and regards himself as dead. The silence is in some movies better then music and this is one of them.The only thing he holds dear is his son. During a home invasion to rob him he loses his family.That doesn't really spoil the movie though because its so much more to the film.it has violence but its not what drives the movie its just a ripple from the center of this dark tale and it reaches into the void of someone who has sunk under the ice and don't longer remembers what being human is no matter if its love sex or pain or money.The only modern movie that i can say it might be somewhat in the same category is the the hunted where we also find mr tommy lee jones acting.If you like 60s and 70s movies and sick of cheapo matic flying ninjas i truly really recommend this movie you wont regret it.