Windwalker

..or if I dreamed this. I remember my older brother taking me to see this film when I was six years old. I was captivated by it then, and over the years, I forgot the name of the film and nobody knew what I was talking about when I would describe it. Not even my brother remembers.

Well, thanks to the wonders of the internet, I was finally able to remember the name and I ordered it not really expecting it to be as enchanting as when I was six. But I still find it to be an amazing film. Very well done with some great camera work. It is refreshing to see a Native American film without the indians merely being a catalyst for the heroism of some cowboy.

A great story and I love that it is done in Native Language and subtitled English. I noticed that they gave the "If you like this movie, you will like 'Dances with Wolves'" recommendation. Well, this is a much better movie. If only because we don't have to see Kevin Costners bare a**e. This film stands on it's own without the marquee names or the white actors with the wig and tanning cream. Check it out.

Great movie. Saw it a long time ago. It is a movie that is worth keeping in your collection.

The best part of the movie is not its story but the way the characters are handled. But if you are in the mood to have fun when you are watching the movie, this is not for you. Watch it alone and you enjoy it more. If you are watching it with people who are more interested in the popcorn than the movie, you would never understand the movie.

There are some movies that are meant to be watched and some to be seen. This is a movie that needs be seen and felt....heavy huh? :-)

Happy watching

My father wrote the book Windwalker so I am privy to a few facts you might find interesting. First of all to all those who objected to Trevor Howard, the director of this film wanted to have all Native American actors and had arranged for Chief Dan George to play the title role, but he became really ill just before shooting. There wasn't any other actors available who were Native Americans, and they were lucky to get Trevor Howard, who in most opinions did an amazing job. Every part of this film was authenticated and was extremely well received by the Native American communities. It may seem slow but then you are missing the point. It was not billed as an adventure movie and I am afraid you are comparing it with those that are. This movie was quite simply the story of a family that finally brought some respect to Native Americans who for years had been portrayed as awful cookie cutter images that were neither flattering nor accurate. Another interesting fact is that the committee that nominates films for Academy Awards did want to nominate this film but they had a dilemma. The movie had to be in the category of foreign films as it had subtitles, but a movie that is in that category has to be nominated by the country it represents. This made it a catch 22 and at the time they could see no way to circumvent the rules and so the nomination fell through.

This exceptional movie is now in the long-awaited dvd format. It was a pity about the vhs original being poor quality--this "little gem" didn't deserve that sort of treatment--evidently the video was recorded on long-play to keep costs down and the clarity suffered. Now that this film is on dvd,it should be even popular than before.

This movie is so incredible. I was instantly swept up by it. I was mesmorized, enchanted, bedazzled, bewitched. I love this movie so much and I haven't seen it for 10 years. I am almost afraid to watch again in case I can't feel the magic. Every once in a while you need to have something like this to hold on to. I was so manipulated by this film. Sometimes you prefer a movie that takes your imagination away from you and says, now look at the world like this. If you can get yours hand on it please do. If you loved "Black Robe" you will love this film.