Curapedi
I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.
ThedevilChoose
When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.
BeSummers
Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.
TM-2
Loved this from my first screening. Great acting, great story and great action. Probably couldn't be made in Hollywood today because of the need to be politically correct. Thank god for the 70s.
Erik Nyberg
Besides being listed by Tarantino as one of his favorites, I didn't know a lot about this movie before seeing it. Heck, I didn't even know Tommy Lee Jones had a role in it, but I'm glad he did, because it was actually one of the movie's few delights. You see, the 95 minutes spent watching this movie were some pretty wasted ones.Despite that harsh verdict, I don't think this movie's a terrible one. It's just irrelevant. Everything in it has been done so much better in similarly themed movies, both since and before.Rambo did the action far better. The sleazy grindhouse movies did the gore better (or at least they had a lot more of it). First-class films like Taxi Driver and Deer Hunter did the drama and story about the misfit 'Nam veteran way better. Actually, these first-class films also did the action better. And Rambo did the drama better than Rolling Thunder as well. Not to mention all these movies were a lot better entertainment and interesting pieces of cinema history. This film doesn't deliver anything unique besides mish-mashing shoot-outs, gore and story into a single unremarkable and forgettable movie.This could all be forgiven if it had the charm of a zero-budget exploitation film, but it doesn't even come close, being a far too professionally made film to ever be so bad it's good. It's just so bad it's boring.
coolghouls13
Rolling Thunder isn't better known because it needs to be sought after. It's a very powerful film. One of the best role of Tommy Lee Jones & one of the very best revenge pictures ever conceived.Devane's character is pure testosterone.What it is: A Definite must see for any fan of 70's sinema,"GRINDHOUSE/ /Drive-INN/,road-movies/, Strange 70's dramas/, or any A film for fan of seriously intrepid film making! Or anyone looking for an uncompromising vision in all it's ugly glory, & honest story telling.I'm truly amazed at the cinephiles who love 70's style insane character dramas,revenge,horror,gore,etc."grindhouse-a word thrown around a bit too much of late.) I don't exactly categorize this film as "grindhouse". Though no doubt I'm sure it had it's run. But these films i always imagine to relate more in style to the "southern" drive-Inn style of action pictures.-(Dirty Mary,Crazy Larry, Gaitor Bait & tons more.) This film has little relation to Gaitor Bait, other than violence & bright southern scenery in parts,does have a great: " Dirty Mary, crazy Larry" feel towards the end.Rolling Thunder isn't better known because it needs to be sought after. It's a very powerful film. One of the best role of Tommy Lee Jones & one of the very best revenge pictures ever conceived.Devane's character is pure testosterone.I was around ten when my father 1st showed me the film,& I remember being somewhat confused/uncomfortable as to why the hero was trying to get his "friend" to hurt him. My father then explained: "Devane" has had no real contact, in war people tend to seal up & they become machines or they brake apart. -*(My father fought in the Korean war.I only mention his part because I thinks it's a very brave choice to leave the scene in, where i can see a studio/producer wanting the scene out due to the fact it shows a damaged part of the psyche of our hero/anti-hero-Brando-personified & then mixed up again.*(Elements of "The Wild One" of course are present even if only subconsciously).I feel as if parts of this film, can only be truly understood by those who've seen the true horror of war. These scenes have that very dual nature Very brave & honest characterization scenes.Building like a roller-coaster, the film opens with our hero returning from a war, more scarred than only a veteran could understand. Met with praise for slaughter & mental anguish. The only thing he knows is war. Not love for his wife as she seems to have forgotten any hope. a mere stranger to his son.His eyes are cold, Devane really pulled the darkness from his soul for this role & you will feel it! It's heartbreaking to watch the silent dynamic unfold between a lost little boy & his yearning father whose not even a memory to his son. The boy shyly wants to know his father & The couple decides to divorce, he keeps getting social praise as the things that matter slip away all, but the love for his son. He's then rewarded, as gangster types get involved-not to give too much away, but he ultimately loses his son & his hand & wife in a horrific, scenes that have to be seen.The game is on!Cherry Red Cadillac,Reflective Sun-glasses & the open road, not to mention enough hate inside & artillery to take down the terminator.The soldier takes over & it's a road movie to hell at all costs. With nothing to lose he heads towards Mexico where he mets a beautiful woman who gets involved & it becomes just a man hunting down his own demons, in the flesh & the ones in his soul. Few movies really compare with the dynamic portrayed by the characters, in most revenge movies before & definitely after. (not that they were bad, just they didn't take the time to really suck you in get to know just how dark the character is. But this is where Devane shines. Righting wrongs that can never be healed. just like the scars of war.
octahexx
A masterpiece.The movie revolves around two returning war vets from Vietnam.The main character comes back to his hometown and family and is subjected to a lot of events but he remains in the center with a silent numb removed dark aura and stays silent most of the time.After being tortured during his time as prisoner of war he lost the connection to it all and regards himself as dead. The silence is in some movies better then music and this is one of them.The only thing he holds dear is his son. During a home invasion to rob him he loses his family.That doesn't really spoil the movie though because its so much more to the film.it has violence but its not what drives the movie its just a ripple from the center of this dark tale and it reaches into the void of someone who has sunk under the ice and don't longer remembers what being human is no matter if its love sex or pain or money.The only modern movie that i can say it might be somewhat in the same category is the the hunted where we also find mr tommy lee jones acting.If you like 60s and 70s movies and sick of cheapo matic flying ninjas i truly really recommend this movie you wont regret it.
