Customer Reviews

Walking Thunder

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

 

 

John Denver played the family man in this movie extreemly well. He interacted well with the other actors/actress.He seemed to love the part he was playing.He almost made you beleive he wasn't acting at all.He is greatly missed!

What a great family movie! The kind of movie they used to make! John Denver was a man of many gifts as seen in this film. How he is missed. This is a must for any JD fan collection!

If there's such a thing as a "generic" family-in-the-wilderness movie, this would be it. It's amiable, expertly done, with all the expected ingredients (yes, even a childbirth scene!). There's added interest, of course, in the fact that this was John Denver's last film (a fitting sendoff), and maybe the last project for narrator Bian Keith as well.

This movie is in the same genre as the old Disney movies like Old Yeller, a movie the entire family can watch together. Its about growing up. Its hopeful, and can open up the doors for conversation, if just one person tries. I've watched it with several family members who are not necessarily John Denver fans and they liked it.

I really enjoyed this movie. John Denver played his part as a God fearing family man very well, however naive to the ways of the wilderness. There is plenty of adventure, excitement, tension, and rescue as the good guy arrives just in the nick of time to fight off the evil bad guys. I really enjoyed the role of the old Indian medicine man as well as the old Grizzly Bear - Walking Thunder. Highly recommended....

I admit it: I bought the movie because of John Denver. I got to see him, so I guess I got my money's worth, even if poor John ends up looking a bit like the Simpsons' Ned Flanders, complete with mustache and glasses.

The film discription on the back of the box and quoted by Amazon had little to do with the actual movie. Young Jacob's family was NOT caught in a terrible blizzard - the axle on their covered wagon was broken by a grizzly bear. The only snow I saw was at a trader's camp, which, apparently was at a higher altitude than where the family built their new home, and there wasn't much snow at the camp. Jacob doesn't "confront" the grizzly, either, at least not in any way that is implied.

The movie itself was ok - nothing fantastic. It may be considered a "coming of age" type film, but certainly not in the same category as "Old Yeller" or "The Yearling".

Walking Thunder is a great family movie for all ages, and is a fantastic film to show before Family Home Evenings.
Follow up discussions and instructions of who should keep a Journal, How to write and store Journals and the benefits of Individual and Family Journals.
This Movie teaches morality, tolarance, patience, love, honesty, pride, being prepared and family values to name a few. How many points of each topic can each member point out and tell why they are important to us in todays world?
This Movie is not only highly entertaining but a great visual aid for all educators at all levels.

Keith E. Haynes SR U.S.C.G. Aux.
BSA Mount Olympus WA. District Staff

Port Angeles, WA.

"Walking Thunder" is a well-meaning, occasionally entertaining movie about a New England family's efforts to survive in the West after their wagon is demolished by a huge grizzly. The problem is that the movie, while clearly targeted at families, is at times disturbingly violent. The scenery is beautiful (shot on location in Utah), the costumes are authentic, but the performances are wooden and everything about the movie screams low budget. Many John Denver fans will purchase this movie for historical or sentimental value since it was his last film project. However, he displays little of the charm that he displayed in his debut, "Oh, God!" If you watch this movie, watch it for the heartfelt performance of Klara Irene Miracle as Denver's long-suffering wife or the quiet dignity of Chief Ted Thin Elk. The DVD features a host of extras; unfortunately, they range from disappointing (the director's commentary sounds like it was recorded on a tapedeck) to embarrassing (the amateurish "music video" featuring the unknown "Fresh"--does the world really need another boy band?). The kids may enjoy this for one or two viewings; after that, they will be requesting "Pokemon" again.

I was hoping to show some Bart the Bear features publicly to local kids, and had to reject this movie due to potentially offensive material. Probably accurate to the times, but I know that some people would consider the use of the term 'Redskin' to be offensive, as well as little brother's comments that big brother, late returning home, might have been scalped. On the other hand, I think the film did make it clear that it was white Indian hunters who were doing most of the scalping. The main Indian character is an old Sioux medicine man who speaks no English, but can communicate with the giant bear. Less offensive, but still a bit of a stereotype.
Apart from that, the film was a fairly enjoyable wilderness picture, though not containing anything really exceptional apart from big ol' Bart. And it's nice that it didn't end with the kid having to hunt down the bear, as I first assumed when I read the film description.

IT IS A WONDERFUL FAMILY MOVIE AND IT KEEPS YOU INTERESTED IN WHATS TAKING PLACE.