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.

punishmentpark When I saw Paul Schrader credited for the original story, but not the final screenplay, I became as much enthusiastic as I grew suspicious. But I didn't get that right, because he díd co-write the screenplay... Reading his criticism (Imdb trivia) puts me in the right again, since the studio changed a lot of his original ideas; his script was simply reworked without his consent.I must say I liked this film anyway, but I am still hoping to find the book some time. The character Rane is not a racist as he would have been according to Schrader, but in this version he is still fascinating; quiet, letting things happen, but still one can sense there is a lot going on with him. I'm glad William Devane got the role instead of Kris Kristofferson, because he adds sympathy to the character and I'm not sure how well this would have worked with Kristofferson.The story is another matter. As said before, the criticism on the Vietnam War and the racist character that Rane was intended to be, are nowhere to be found. Rane is a hero, but 'dead' as he states himself and it is really hard to get a grip on him, ór the story. In the end, the only thing he wants is revenge for his murdered son, and there is still the camaraderie between him and his army buddy Vohden. In between, Rane hooks up with blonde bombshell Linda, who tries to get through to him. But between his broken family life - which is ultimately taken away from him by a merciless gang - and his new status a hero who is totally out of place, there is nothing left...A violent, nihilistic finale ensues, and I can only try to imagine what Schrader's intentions and input could have done better for this strange, but certainly not bad result.7 out of 10.

orbitsville-1 I thought I was gonna see a game-changer of a vigilante movie. Instead, it pretty much runs with the pack. As good as Vigilante, Slaughter, White Lightning--not as good as Death Wish, Death Sentence, or my big favorite The Brave One. Rolling Thunder is apparently a Tarantino favorite--and not just among revenge flicks, but among any movies! Frankly, I don't see it. William Devane is a welcome addition to any movie, and he fully commits to this taciturn pressure-cooker of a human being, back from a Viet Nam POW torture hotel, but once he has reason to seek vengeance against a gang of sadistic thugs, the character is much like what we've seen Bronson do, Seagal do, Arnie do. And an ultra-bloody finale doesn't exactly qualify as a fresh plot twist. So what's to like? Well, Devane gets it mainly right, once he commits to playing a character who has very little to say, and a lot of shooting and, uh, pronging, to do. (Although, I do agree that Devane does not seem upset enough--even seems kind of jokey--in the hospital scene right after the major tragedy that ripped his life apart.) Linda Haynes does just fine as the younger woman who sort of worships this brooding, military mystery-man with all the sexy inner pain. And like any vigilante movie worth its ammo, the villains get up to some pretty shocking behavior, only to be outdone by a marginal hero who--once he guns up and hits the trail in search of prey--makes the baddies look like small-timers when it comes to shocking behavior. If I can slip in a complaint: it's a bit dull when the hero and his lady always use the same "decoy/distraction" ploy; sure...in real life, I guess you'd repeatedly go with what works,but in an action-movie, running the same trick more than once can cause viewer ennui. I know this film has some loyal fans who rate it high, and I respect that. I really did get into its intense feel as I watched it, and there's no denying it's got a mean punch. But it did not become one of my favorite vigilante movies, that's for sure. I see a few warts, and an underused Tommy Lee Jones who seems to function mainly as Devane's secret weapon for the final dust-up...like a bazooka you keep stashed until you really need it. Also, I had just seen the film called The Outfit recently--same director, and Rolling Thunder seems to end pretty much the same way as The Outfit does, right down to what you see as the closing credits start to roll. So I'm back to repeating my complaint about repeating oneself, and I hate repeating myself.Entertaining vigilante thriller that doesn't quite get full marks from me.

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!