Rating: 
Summary: Excellant Native American Movie
Review: I have seen this movie many times and I enjoy it every time.
Rating:
Summary: film that deserves tearjerker status
Review: I saw this film back in the late '80's as part of a double bill with Last of the Mohicans. One of my favorite cinematic experiences. I sat through both movies twice, and was steeped in that feeling of being taken to another world. When I stepped out of the theatre and into the "real" world, I wondered where i'd taken a wrong turn and immediately wanted to return to the theatre.
Since then I've seen Thunderheart many more times and each time, I'm weeping and wanting to single handedly undo the centuries of wrongs we've perpetrated on the American Indian. And feeling angrily helpless, as do most decent citizens of this corporate world. Val Kilmer has yet to surpass this work, Sam Shepard is so good you want to kill him.
Don't be put off by thinking it's a "do-gooder" film. It's very entertaining as well.
Rating:
Summary: A Must See for Every American
Review: I saw this incredible film when it first hit the big screen in 1992, and immediately bought the video when it was released. It received far less recognition than it deserved, in spite of the subtle Hollywood-ish "Good guy vs. Bad Guy" overtones apparent in the conflict beteen Val Kilmer and Sam Shepherd as the two FBI agents sent to the reservation to apprehend a killer.That did not diminish it's power. Kilmer was convincing as the "Tofu and Pilaf" FBI agent who was forced to come face to face with his ancestral roots he had been trying so hard to forget. Graham Greene was outstanding as the wise-cracking Reservation Cop who had no respect for the FBI, and who had re-discovered his own heritage. And finally, a chillingly realistic performance by John Trudell came as a complete surprise, since I didn't know who Trudell was until AFTER I had seen the film! An equally convincing supporting cast of Native Americans added an even greater depth depth to the film. Thunderheart was more fact than fiction, and bore a grim reminder that the cultural clashes and the greed that drove them have continued long after the Ghost Dance disappeared and the final shots were fired at Wounded Knee.
Rating:
Summary: Thunderheart is excellent!
Review: I was first introduced to this movie by a fantastic woman... who I later married. Thunderheart is a gripping movie that takes you on a ride through the past and makes you wonder exactly what our government was thinking! This movie takes a hold of you and never lets go!
Rating:
Summary: The human spirit is alive and strong...
Review: If I remember correctly, this movie was not rated well when it was first released in theatres. I couldn't understand why since it was well made, had a decent cast and had a thought provoking plot based on true events. The cinematography is very attactive in showing the badlands of South Dakota and featuring looks into the Indian reservations. Also, the music was well done and offered a nice perspective of Native American sounds and environments. This movie also sends a message about a darker time in America's past when the govenrment perpetrated some devious acts against the Native Americans. Maybe it was high time that these events came out into the open so that more people would know what happened and know that what the U.S. government did was very wrong. Val Kilmer proved to be well suited for the "by the book" FBI agent that came of age and got in touch with his Indian heritage and learned to do the right thing. Sam Shepard, a great actor as always, played the role very well of the "dark horse" FBI agent with skeletons in his closet and a secret agenda on the Sioux reservation. Graham Greene could not have done any better as the reservation police officer. Showing his pride and dignity as an Native American along with the humorous backlashings at Val Kilmer made for pleasant interactions throughout the movie. A movie worth watching again and again.
Rating:
Summary: Why do movies like this always get overlooked?
Review: If you thought "Manifest Destiny" was over after the white man settled America in the 19th century, then unfortunately your dead wrong. This movie is based on actual events which occured in the 70's on various Sioux Indian Reservations. Basically, it's about a covert government operation to keep the lid on illegal uranium testing which has been poisoning the Indian's driking water. So, what does the government do about it? Lie, kill, steal, cheat, etc. etc. I won't say that the Government did this for racial/genocidal reasons, but rather for greed... thus, I'm not subscribing to the notion that the "evil white man did it." Afterall the government does those kinds of things to anyone and everyone indiscriminately, and not just to "poor Indians." Nonetheless, it's pretty pathetic. In conclusion, the movie was well directed, the acting was good (Val Kilmer of Doors fame, and Graham Greene from Dances With Wolves), great cinematography, and a pretty good musical score. Overall it's one of my favorite, uh... how shall I say it, movies concerning Indians and things. (Check out Last of the Mohicans, Dances With Wolves, and maybe The Doors-- although it's not really about Indians.)
Rating:
Summary: great movie, great comedy
Review: If you understand something about Lakota culture you'll get more out of this movie. I saw the preview in South Dakota when it came out.Funny then and still funny!It deals with the serious issues that occured and led to Wounded Knee in '73 and Ted Thin Elk portrays a wicasi wacon similar to Grandfather Frank (Teton) and does a good job. If you can find someone to translate what Greene says you'll get a whole lot more out of this film- the insults are great!The issues are very serious but the plot is well.........too Hollywood. It's fun to watch but doesn't do the issues justice.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun, and some truly haunting moments -- and Graham Greene!
Review: In the heat of the rediscovery of American Indians, Thunderheart was not supposed to be the first film out. We all thought the first big Indian film would be from one of Tony Hillerman's books, but Hillerman's movie Skinwalkers, moved slowly (but quite nicely) and so Thunderheart beat it to the finish line. Thunderheart is a nice film. Not great, but a good solid piece of work. The script is tight, with only a few moments of cliche, and, of course, the sheer barren expanse of the reservation dominates the film. (I always wonder why, in all those car chases across all those vast distances, no one ever runs out of gas. But that's another story.) The real joy of Thunderheart, however, is Graham Greene's performance as the Indian policeman. There is something utterly complete about Greene. He's one of our great actors and he never, ever, EVER gets enough credit. Perhaps it's the quietly sardonic quality of his voice. (Greene fans: check out his performance in Maverick and in the short-lived television series, Wolf Lake.) In any case, he puts in yet another powerful performance in Thunderheart as the voice of the "modern" traditional Indian. His lament over never having had a vision while some "instant Indian" (Kilmer) gets his own vision of running with the old ones, is truly moving. All in all, Thunderheart may not be a great film, but it certainly is a damn good one.
Rating:
Summary: Good plot and great action!
Review: In this movie, Val Kilmer stars as an arrogant, young FBI agent Ray Levoi who is assigned to investigate a recent incident on a reservation. While there, he uncovers not only a government-related cover-up, but also unveils his part-Sioux heritage. A wonderful movie which portrays one man's refusal and final acceptance of his heritage.
Rating:
Summary: Love The Movie
Review: It is one of my favorite movies. I love it from the first time I saw it. It is when a person try to suppress who truly is and then by circumstances dicovers his heritage again. It isa wonderful movie to have.
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