User reviews

Distant Thunder is an overlooked but impressive film. John Lithgow gives an oscar worthy performance and the cinematographty gives the film a haunting atmosphere. This film, along with John Frakenhimer's Black Sunday, is an excellent look at Vietnam vets that has, unfourtaneatley, been overlooked.

The one scene that really impressed me was the point where John Lithgow's character does postal on a guy with a knife at a bar. It was many years ago since I've seen this film. I still remember that scene. The instant rage in Lithgow, the fear he had of his own actions, and how freakin big he really is. JL never really seemed like an imposing guy to me till then. Good dramatic actor, would like to see more...

It was the 1980s and America (and countries like Australia who sent troops to Vietnam) were obsessed with the lives of Vietnam Veterans.

John Lithgow plays Jack, a vet who eeks out an existence in a bush camp. When his friend decides to kiss a train he thinks it is time for him to try life in the real world again.

Char yes is a lovely woman who helps him and encourages him to get in contact with his lost son, but unfortunately her boyfriend does like Jack and he heads back into the bush.

I don't really blame him when his son turns out to be Ralph Macchio (of Karate Kid fame). Still this movie has a heart, but the characters lack depth, which is not made up for by cheesy dialog.

I watched this movie because I read good reviews about it in this website.

I would say watch this with hamburger hill to get a good, but superficial look at the lives of Vietnam Vets, both in country and back home (also some of the language and phrases used in Distant thunder, such as "it don't mean nothing" make more sense after seeing Hamburger Hill).

But please don't expect too much of a humble little drama like this and you will enjoy it.

Now this is a brilliant saga of a father-son rivalry in an emotional and atmospheric drama set within the backdrops of the post-Vietnam war. I remember watching this film during the year when it was just out and for some reason it couldn't let go off my mind. John Lithgow and Ralph Macchio plays two opposite characters of a disturbed father and a lost son relationship which blends to an utmost perfect chemistry and with the slick and tight direction of Rick Rosenthal,(I wonder why is he doing only materials for TV nowdays) the film delivers some outstanding cinematography and manages to grip you until the powerful climax. Even though you are not fond of humanity dramas, this movie would still please you as you watch John Lithgow's Oscar-caliber performance and the message of Peace implicitly.I enjoyed it on the whole and I am glad its out on DVD!

Most of the Vietnam Vets I know are not crazy; however, that would not be good marketing for Hollywood films if they were normally portrayed as being.......normal. This film is entertaining (which is what movies are supposed to do), but it is not very enlightening for those who want to understand Vietnam Vets better. Vietnam Vets are just like any other people. They are like WW 2 vets, Korean War vets, Iraq War vets and Afghanistan War vets. We are all the same. We have wives and girlfriends, sons and daughters, functional families and dysfunctional families, have bills, educations, jobs, and go on with our lives, just like all the other Vets did. Lithgow does a very nice job, and Macchio makes a very nice Valedictorian, but the vast majority of Vietnam vets and their families are not like that. They have the same problems everyone else has; money, jobs, family relations and diet. Those things are just not exciting enough for Hollywood, so they make these kind of films to exploit the Vietnam Vet stereotype. Too bad. It might be interesting some time to see the life of a normal Vietnam vet portrayed on a Hollywood screen sometime..

From the dark misty jungles of Viet-Nam comes this true life story written by Robert Stitzel and directed by Rick Rosenthal. It concerns Mark Lambert, (John Lithglow) a Viet-Nam Vet who returned from the war with more black memories than he could handle. Upon his return to the states, he realizes he cannot deal with his home life and thus deserts his wife and infant child. While living in the wooded highland of his state, he and several other veterans, (Reb Brown) exist day to day with their nightmarish memories in hopes of understanding them. During the same time, life continues and with it Jack (Ralph Macchio) his eighteen-year-old son who decides to locate his father. With the help of a friend Char (Kerrie Keane) the two meet and thus begins the search for who they once were. The film is brutal with explosive emotions and pent-up rage from both Father and Son who expect much, but realize time has become both an an enemy and an ally. Lithglow, gives a fabulous performance and Macchio holds his own. Together, theirs becomes a memorable moment in film history. Easily recommended for those seeking a good understanding of the Viet-Nam era and the souls it devoured. ****

I can't believe that IMDb considers this film to be one of actor John Lithgow's "misfires" (how they can lump it into the same category as SANTA CLAUS: THE MOVIE is just plain baffling). Sure, this isn't a great movie, but it is a good one with many heartfelt moments between the father/son characters played by Lithgow and Ralph Macchio (who proved that he could have been more than just the Karate Kid if the Hollywood System had just given him the chance). This is not a Hollywood movie; rather, it is an independent film that was made in Canada in 1988. Rather than be as overlooked as it was, it should have netted a Best Actor Oscar nomination for John Lithgow, who plays completely against type here. He plays a grizzled Vietnam vet, and speaks with a masculine growl throughout the film; he doesn't sound anything like himself here. It's worth seeing for John Lithgow's performance alone!

John Lithgow surprises me in this carefully penned, sombre mediative low-scale character drama masterfully directed by Rick Rosenthal (Halloween II '81' and 'Bad Boys '83'). The heartfelt topic at hand centres on a man (Nam VET) who returns home to not only to hide away from society (shacked up with a bunch of other ex-Nam soldiers in the wilderness), but also his wife and son. He would like to make contact with his now grown-up son (which is excellently performed by Ralph Macchio), but has trouble overcoming the thoughts of him seeing what he has become. The scarring mentality of combat has changed the way he interacts with people. Escaping those demons means solitude and the area (woodlands replacing steamy jungles) fits these outcasts that no one truly understands. Still he wants to live a normal life and through the caring guidance of Char (a beautifully touching performance by Kerrie Keane) he gets a job and gains the courage to write to his son to plan a get-together. But one thing leads to another, as he finds it's harder to cope and heads back to where he knows there's no expectations.

The chemistry and exchanges between Lithgow and Macchio is astutely projected, because of the actor's conviction to the material's sources. Lithgow's solemn performance is powerfully engaging in a quietly reflective manner. Where he draws upon a sturdy, but multi-facet display that shows how strong a dramatic actor he is. I'm sure if it wasn't for his performance, it wouldn't have the same imprint. Any Lithgow admirer should seek out this favourably rewarding performance.

The harrowing story has heart, where relationships are constructed, tested and formed. The war might be over now, but for those who served, it's still a great part of their everyday lives and peace will never consistently fulfil that emptiness. But for Lithgow's character his son can change that. But there's one line in the movie that sums up where this movie is going; "I'm not going to waste all of your time so I'm just going a few words. Like all of you, I would like to move on in life." Towards the end it spurts out a little bit of some thrilling action, which feels totally out-of-place with the context, but is agreeably executed. Rosenthal's accomplished handling comes up trumps. Maurice Jarre's score is exotically haunting and Ralf Bode's silky camera-work is admirably done.

This praiseworthy (if alienating) unknown feature is well worth the gander and one to really ponder over.

This movie was really good, and yet nobody has ever heard of it. John Lithgow gave a great performance as a disturbed bush-vet, and Ralph Macchio also gave an exceptional performance as his son. At first I thought that this was going to be stupid because Lithgow wouldn't be able to pull off a dramatic roll, since he is so funny in 3rd Rock, but I was proven wrong! He did a great job. The only problem I had was the stories of why the other two bush-vets were there, it barley explained Harvey and it didn't explain Mark's other "Amigo" (if you haven't seen it, that's what they call each-other); other than that, it was great!

It's ashame that Lithgow's next movies were him playing a snooty British accent (thank God he found 3rd Rock!). 8/10

I saw this movie several years ago, really late at night, on cable TV. I enjoyed the movie greatly, but, over time, forgot the name of the movie. It took me until today, after years of searching, to find the movie. Now I am off to Amazon to see if I can buy it.

The movie is great in regards to the subject, a Vietnam vet. Too many are forgotten, and many returned changed forever, such as the main Character, played by John Lithgow. He does give an excellent performance, and should have had some recognition for it. Find this movie, and enjoy it!