videorama-759-859391 Paul Schrader has cooked up another treat for us in this low profile film, that deserves much more attention, believe you me. Devane, a vet, returns after spending 8 years in a POW camp, which a couple of scenes in black and white flashback of him being tortured, are truly and memorably powerful. Everything back home has become a bummer for him. His wife is looking to re marry a town cop, and take his son. He can't sleep, and of course he's having bad dreams, but hell is about to come raining down on him very quick. His wife and son are shot, and he's deprived of one of his arms, when these thugs invade his home, on account of all these silver dollars he's been awarded, a dollar per day he spent, rotting in that stinking camp, and when they ask ever so nicely to the locale of the coins, he stubbornly and silently resists. I couldn't believe, after seeing it a couple of times, that surging killer hot water, could melt the arm and take it off. He survives, where for revenge fans, this becomes golden to the grand and explosive shootout end. Tagging along with much younger groupie (Haynes) he heads to Mexico to wreak a bloody revenge on that murderous party, who actually have the balls to think, his ruin will just blow over. Devane, has a new advantage, his prosthetic new hand. One scene has his claw hand grabbing Askew's nuts, where you too really feel it. The casting is great and interesting, especially regarding the baddies, James 'Dukes Of Hazzard' Best, and Luke Askew, who really brings some nastily polished au natural characters to the screen. They are so good, particularly Best, I couldn't believe it, Askew, an ugly version of Peter Fonda. They are just two, among many other solid and great performances. Every actor delivers RT is very violent too, where if you like a good quality revenge flick, with heavy doses of violence, you will love this, although it moves at an unhurried pace, but this movie will rope you in, and when revenge time comes, you'll be howling with cheer. Great title song, (the first couple of images of film you won't forget) where there's a lot of a country feel to this probably almost forgotten flick, you should put on your definitely must see list. Devane is the man too, not overacting at all, it's beautiful. This is his movie, and if a Devane fan, this is the one to see him. The man to man talk with the new hubby in the shed, earlier in the flick, will raise some small giggles, but also some edginess. Tommy Lee Jones looks very young too, as Devane's nervous vet mate, (the range of scarred emotions he brings, was amazing). Here's a guy who has truly been effected by the war. He assists him in that hotel showdown in the finale, which is one great part of this flick among others. Love it.

rzajac Some good writing, occasionally soaring. Good acting, generally good story management. A few editing lapses.Watched it because of Tarantino; found a couple of influences, such as the POW thing, and Tarantino borrowed a great many-on-one fight sequence concept for Kill Bill; the moment when an impaled person functions as a kind of shield to keep other assailants at bay.Interesting study in violence. Also (as T. said) not half bad character study. Being careful not to spoil, there's a surprising plot/character fillip about 2/3 through the story. A very clever way to keep the tone of the story high, and keep us on our toes.All told, worth watching as a kind of period artifact; it displays rudiments of a higher level of story quality in a low-budget flick.

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.

dra-24 I liked the first review of this movie as posted, and I have seen it several times over the years. There is a point which seems to have eluded all the reviewers I have ever read. This movie is a *western*. This was the first western movie made after the disappearance of the genre for many years. The car was the horse, the girl friend typically was left behind, the revenge theme for the raid and the deaths of his family, the returning veteran from Nam instead of the civil war, the border locale, the dying buddy/trooper, even the name "John Rayne" being close to John Wayne all scream "I am a WESTERN MOVIE!", but not one print reviewer whom I have ever read picked up on it! Not one!