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.

First of all although I only give this film 3 stars I give Linda Haynes 5 stars. she's not only a beautiful babe but a very talented actress and that kept me watching until the end. The action parts are well done and remind me of Sam Peckinpah. He directed a lot of gritty films like this one. It starts off OK, a vet comes home after several years as a POW and has to adjust but then the film becomes something else. Maybe it's worth watching just to see the end. For me I only stayed because I like Linda Haynes so much, she's cute and really makes this film interesting to watch. I'm a big fan of Tommy Lee Jones but maybe this is one of his first films and it seems like he's really not into the role.

Rolling Thunder is directed by John Flynn and written by Paul Schrader and Heywood Gould. It stars William Devane, Tommy Lee Jones, Linda Haynes, James Best, Dabney Coleman and Luke Askew. Music is scored by Barry de Vorzon and cinematography by Jordan Cronenweth.When Major Charles Rane (Devane) returns from being a POW in Vietnam, he finds the world is a different place. His wife has been unfaithful and wants a divorce, his son doesn't know him and not everybody appreciates his service in the war effort. When some sympathetic town citizens hold a ceremony and give him 2,555 silver dollars, it signals the start of violence that takes Rane into a new war......I'm just gonna sit here.When Quentin Tarantino proclaimed Rolling Thunder as one of his favourite movies of all time, it was both a blessing and a curse. It's great that this undervalued and under seen gem hit the press notices, even getting a new Blu-ray release in the process, but with Quentin's name comes the millstone of exploitation and cheap flea-pit cinemas showing grubby movies. Nothing wrong with that, many film fans, myself included, enjoy 70s exploitation films and spent time in the afore mentioned sticky carpeted and tobacco perfumed theatres. But Rolling Thunder deserves better than being part of this filmic cultured arc, to have interested new parties seek it out purely with expectation of a revenge driven bloodbath movie.You learn to love the pain.John Flynn's movie is one of the finest of all the revenge driven movies out there. It has rich characterisation and thoughtful insight into the pain and tragedy of post war adjustment. The performances of Devane (brilliantly understated) and Jones (haunted) really add a bite to the narrative, turning in sensitive portrayals of men who left their souls in the bowels of some Hanoi hell. Thus when the violence is unleashed in a whirl of shotgun blasts and hook handed carnage, it isn't for gratification, it's an extension of a tortured or guilty psyche. There's genuine realism in the characters during the build up, with director Flynn taking his time to let the plot unfold. From the Rane and Vohden family homes, to Linda Haynes' love interest, reactions ring true without histrionics.It's your time, boy.The violence is well orchestrated, especially for the finale played out suitably in a grubby brothel. Rest assured bloodhounds, you are well and truly catered for here as well. It's the perfect blend of exploitation and intelligence, with a good sense of time and place too. There's flaws for sure as some credibility is invariably stretched, there's a whiff of misogyny in the air (though I don't think it is intentional, just ignorance by the writers) and some may find the stereotypes afforded the Mexicans as being unappetising. But flaws be damned, this is a cracker-jack movie, a modern day Western just waiting to be discovered by a new generation of film fans. 8.5/10

I didn't know anything about this movie but heard somewhat good things about this one so decided to check it out. This movie goes in a direction where you aren't sure where it's going to go until a while. The premise to this movie is done a lot of times in other films, I am not sure if this movie started it though. It's not a fast paced movie that's for sure, at least for the first hour or so. Until the revenge part of the movie kicks in and William Devane did a really good job playing the monotone and calm Vietnam vet. And no the movie doesn't take place in Vietnam but afterwards after getting out of prison camp in Vietnam and being labeled as a hero. Which clearly shows in his character and how emotionally damaged he is. Even after things start to get worse and worse for him as the story progresses. This isn't a classic movie but it's a movie from the 70's that is worth seeing and the final shootout scene is a bonus. It's also obvious how this movie probably influenced other films that came after.7.5/10