Customer Reviews

Medicine River [VHS]

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I HAD NEVER IMAGINED G GREEN AS A LOVE INTEREST IN A MOVIE. BRAVO. HE DID GREAT. THE CAST OF CHARACTORS, THE SETTING AND THE STORY LINE KEPT YOU GOING. IT REQUIRES AT LEAST KEEPING THE KLEENEX CLOSE BY.

THE TEACHING OF TRIBAL CUSTOMS WITH THE MODERN DAY PLUS THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE CHARACTORS WAS GREAT...

THERE WAS HUMOR, WIT AND INTELLIGENCE USED IN THIS FILM. BUT THAT IS WHAT I HAVE COME TO EXPECT FROM ANY FILM THAT MR GREENE IS INVOLVED WITH.

THE CAST OF CHARACTORS INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO HAVE APPEARED WITH MR GREEN IN OTHER FILM. THE DIRECTOR IS ALSO WELL KNOWN FROM TV.

MY GIRLFRIEND'S 10 YEAR OLD SON PROBABLY SIGNED IT UP BEST, "ITS OKAY FOR A GIRL MOVIE, CAN WE WATCH IT AGAIN?"

SAYS MY FEELINGS EXACTLY

"Medicine River" is one of those "sleepers" that deserves the sort of awakening that comes from exposure to a large and appreciative audience. There's none of the "Noble Savage" stereotyping (except by tribal people making jokes). Nor are we awash in the tragedies of rez life. Instead, there's this wonderfully serendipitous journey of discovery. Things don't always work out as the Grahame Greene character initially thinks or hopes, but that's part and parcel of the serendipity. If you like films like "Local Hero" (another sleeper), you'll go for this small but memorable gem.

I have seen this movie several times in the last 6 months since I first found it in the video store. Now I am buying it, and I very rarely buy a video since "I can always rent it".

Graham Greene is fantastic as a man swept away by the whims of others. It has a universal theme to it - not just about the North American culture vs. the Native American culture.

There is a saying that you can never go home again. This story explores the "what if". What if we did, what would we find, how would we feel after reaching home?

If you like Graham Greene it is a MUST SEE! The entire cast is great!

I use this film in my Native American Images in Film course when I teach; it was one of the first movies to reach out beyond some of the stereotypes of our people and reveal us as real folk with real hearts and real human challenges and the humour to get through it...Sheila Tousey, Tom Jackson--in fact, every actor in here-- does us proud (and half of them remind me of family or folk I know...)as characters, as actors and as ani'yvnwiya--"real people".

Graham Green creates an interesting portrait of someone who has a full, successful life in a world of modern technology and big cities. He undergoes culture shock when he returns to the Indian Reservation and finds himself in a world where relationships and history matter far more than material success.

A delightfully funny NATIVE AMERICAN film that many native people have enjoyed. It shows for once that not all reservations and people on reservations have drug and alcohol problems. There should be more films of this type, that show the native people as they really are. A kind and loving people that enjoy life.

I can't understand why this movie has not made it to DVD yet, when movies like "The Business of Fancy Dancing" is offered on DVD and for rental in many Blockbusters around North America, and "Medicine River" is a million times better and easier to understand than "The Business of Fancy Dancing". This movie is one of the best movies around that describes what it's like to live on a Reservation, every Native American Culture Class I've taken and visted has mentioned, recommended or shown this movie in relation to discovering current ideas and lifestyles of the Native Indian of North America (despite the fact that it takes place in Canada). The characters are well rounded and blend together to create a fun and enjoyable adventure and story. I am waiting on pins and needles for this movie to be released on DVD but it feels like it is falling on deaf ears or at this rate eyes. Perhaps if enough people write in we can get them to finally release it on DVD.
But in the mean time I higly recommend you get the video to tide you over till then.

Humorous story about a contemporary Native American careerist squaring his ethnic loyalties and identity with career demands. Greene is entertaining, and it's great to see Indian humor shine through and characters who aren't stereotypes.

This movie has heart, soul and humor. I would love to see it on DVD, have been waiting and waiting. If you like movies like "Milagro Bean Field War" you'll love "Medicine River". Graham Greenes character goes on a journey that takes him back to family, friends and the understanding of where his heart is. Home.

A funny reflection of the conflict between modern american values and traditional native american values in the life of a thoughly americanized Native American. When he returns to the reserva tion for his mother's funeral, the hero finds it more difficult to return to the white world than he expects. He journey of redicovery of his forgotten ancestral heritage is warm and amusing.