TrueJoshNight Truly Dreadful Film

Titreenp SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

MoPoshy Absolutely brilliant

Edwin The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

adam_pittavino Not too long before Dances with Wolves, Hollywood in the 1960's was littered with western movies with stars such as John Wayne, Charles Bronson and Clint Eastwood. These tough, big gun actors helped create some of the greatest cowboy flicks we have come to know, the western firmly stamping itself in film history, leaving a legacy far beyond the decade it shot holes in. Kevin Costner has given himself the responsibilities of film making's trifecta with Dances with Wolves, he has directed, produced and starred in one of the most ambitious and impressive debuts since Orson Wells created Citizen Kane. Dances with Wolves opens with Union Army Lieutenant John Dunbar(Costner)miraculously surviving a suicidal charge at Confederate lines, a doomed act he had bravely opted for in favour of the amputation of his wounded leg. As a reward for his heroics, he is given apropriate medical treatment and offered a station of his choosing. He requests an abondoned fort on the Frontier, his only campanions are his loyal mount Cisco, a diary in which he pens his daily duties and a friendly wolf that he names Two Socks. As Dumbar repairs the run down fort, he attracts the curious attention of a local indian tribe, their leader Kicking Bird, played by Graham Green, is caught snooping around the Lieutenant's prized reinforcement. The two continue to meet, firstly out of curiosity and then through a female member of the tribe, Stands with a Fist who Dunbar has become affectionate toward. These encounters are the heart and soul of Dances with Wolves. Many westerns have explored relationships between American Frontiermen and the Native Indians, but none as inquisitively as this one as Costner gives the audience a rare glimpse at the trying fundamentals of human behaviour that is communication. Kicking Bird and the other members of the tribe embrace Dunbar into the camp, the leaders desire to learn about the white man, a perspective far from what we have come to witness in the American western. At this point in the film, Dunbar is completely apart of his new found tribe, his is now known as Dances with Wolves, and his love for Stands with a Fist has now become a celebrated bond under observation and respect from the group. Dances with Wolves is a film about bonds, weather its with another person, a tribe, an army or the land, Kevin Costner explores the frailties between the bonds that through effort and understanding can endure lifes toughest hardships, but are easily broken through ignorance and hate. Dances with Wolves isnt just a magnificent western, but one of the greatest films ever made.

zacfour Dances with Wolves. Hate to oversell things but forget it! It's an expertly directed movie with some truly beautiful shots, lots of gorgeous wides, the best shot of the movie IMO is at 1:34:46 of the directors cut. Kevin Costner gives his best performance of his career as do all the other actors, Graham Greene and Mary McDonnell give the best of the entire movie. It's also a movie with really good intentions portraying the Sioux with a great amount of respect. John Barry delivers his best soundtrack, Two Socks, Journey to Fort Sedgewick and the Love Theme are the best of the OST. It's also a movie that takes its time with nearly every aspect. All the characters, locations, themes (as in the emotional aspects) and scenes are all very well written, realised and developed perfectly, I guess since the movie is 4 hours long that was inevitable.I think what sets it apart from most other films is how peaceful and welcoming it is, it's a really optimistic and positive movie, a tone that is similar to the Shire scenes in the Middle Earth franchise. Also normally movies that deal with animals tend to end up feeling unconvincing. But this movie does a great job with the Wolves, the wolf trainer they got and the Costners directing merge really well to create some very believable scenes with the animals.The character of John Dunbar has an extremely optimistic view on the world he lives in. Dunbar is an every man, Costner usually portrays characters like that, a person who the audience can easily connect with and one that the audience feels comfortable going on an adventure with.The only real problem is that some people won't like hearing Kevin Costners voice for 4 hours straight and I guess it could be a bit longer.

adam walworth I gave this movie a solid ten and the reason I did so is because of how the movie touches me, it moves me spiritually and it probably moved everyone who watched it in a similar way as it moved me. Before I saw this movie I probably wouldn't believe that this was possible for a man, especially during this time zone, this story has impacted me so much, I feel like no matter what the challenge is I have to over come it with flying colors. The journey that the main character faces is at first a relieve for him but as he gets further down the road in this journey he realizes that it is going to a pain to survive in this environment and its not going to be much fun but you gotta do what you got to do to get through life and this man does just that.

aarondevoll Kevin Costner's "Dances With Wolves" involves a union soldier named John Dunbar (Costner), his leg wounded and ravaged, consciously chooses to die on the confederate line than suffer amputation. He purposely rides his horse along the enemies sideline trying to get shot. He survives and is awarded for his act of "bravery." With his leg fully healed, he relocates to a western fort in total solitude. Other soldiers unaware of his exact posting, he is left to fend for himself. As Dunbar rebuilds his new fort, he encounters nearby Sioux members. With no intentions of intimidation, Dunbar seeks out this indigenous tribe. He soon meets Stands With A Fist (Mary McDonnell), a white woman who was raised by this tribe. She mutilates herself while mourning for her lost husband. He returns her to the Sioux people and tries to communicate with them, after discovering the language barrier is too great Stands With A Fist translates between Dunbar and the Sioux. Thus beginning a relationship between white man and the Indians. Dunbar adapts to the culture and learns the language while romancing Stands With A Fist. Eventually Dunbar is given his nickname of "Dances With Wolves." After he helps the tribe defend themselves from a rival Pawnee attack, he marries Stands With A Fist and is fully integrated into the Sioux. Of course the tribe must relocate due to pressure of the white men, Dunbar of course says he will accompany them. When he returns to his fort, Dunbar is confronted by U.S army men and is arrested as a traitor. While he is transported, the Sioux track them down and kill the white soldiers and free Dunbar. Dunbar then makes the decision to leave the tribe with his new wife to prevent any further danger on the Sioux. The last shot of the film tells us that 13 years later, the last of the Sioux were subjugated to the American government.This was Costner's first film as director and for a debut, it is excellent. As far as strengths, the film has a soft, leisurely pace, which combined with a gorgeous score from John Barry, create a very lush canvas. Visually, "Dances" is strong, with compositions that are simple yet ethereal. The tone is also quite delectable. Almost poetic, as if Costner invites us to yearn for a more simpler time in American history to enjoy his tale.As far as it's flaws, the most obvious is probably the relationship between Dunbar and his wife (who is the "native" girl in the film). Although Costner handles their love scene very romantically, it's almost ridiculous the transfer of bodily fluids represents bringing two cultures together and all differences are virtually erased. This symbolism is rather stupid and has been used in several other films. More recently in James Cameron's "Avatar".8/10. For other westerns, see "Unforgiven", "Rio Bravo", or Sergio Leone's filmography. For a more unconventional western, see "McCabe and Mrs. Miller".