StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

The Dances With Wolves - Movie Review Example

Cite this document
Summary
This paper will begin with the statement that the beginning of the film is quite melancholic as the attention of the audience is shifted to lieutenant Kelvin Costner (John W. Dunbar), who attempts to commit suicide for he perceives death as the best option rather than live without one leg…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER95.4% of users find it useful
The Movie Dances With Wolves
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "The Dances With Wolves"

The Movie "Dances With Wolves"The beginning of the film is quite melancholic as the attention of the audience is shifted to lieutenant Kelvin Costner (John W. Dunbar), who attempts to commit suicide for he perceives death as the best option rather than live without one leg. In this scene, the theme of suffering is evident. Lieutenant Dunbar appears to be going through hard times to an extent of wanting to take away his life. If Dunbar was living a good life as a soldier, why would he even cherish the idea of suicide?

The theme of loneliness is evident when Dunbar reaches Dakota. In the company of Timmons (Robert Pastoreli), Dunbar realizes that the place has been abandoned. After releasing the wagon driver, Dunbar stays in the new station for over a month with a wolf and a horse as his only companion. Every human being needs some sense of belonging. Dunbar lives in seclusion for the first month in his new camp. His only friends and family are the two animals, a wolf and a horse. However, socializing with animals cannot fill the void that has been created by the absence of fellow human around Dunbar’s life.

No wonder he fells for the lifestyle of the Sioux. Incidences of gift giving portray familial ties of tribal life and humanity of Lakota people. Gift exchange can be witnessed when Lieutenant Dunbar prepares coffee for Lakota band that checks on him at the fort. When the warriors leave Dunbar’s camp, they are all carrying new coffee cups, which Dunbar probably gave them.When the leader of the Sioux group, Kicking Bird issues Lieutenant Dunbar with buffalo skin, a strong familial bond is portrayed.

A reflection emerges of how natives lived and their traditions. Dunbar seeks human love-a missing link in his life. He falls in love with the white lady and becomes a revered figure in the Sioux community identified with the name “Dances With Wolves”. The Sioux sail against traditional stereotypes with characters such as Tantoo Cardinal exhibiting no sign of caricature.The Sioux are wise and noble whereas the adversary tribes are the Pawnees. They are hospitable. Despite Lieutenant Dunbar being on a rival camp, they accept him as one of their own giving him a new name “Dances With Wolves”.

Christianity demands that people should accommodate one another and spread love rather than hatred. It is amazing that “Stands With A Fist”, a white lady who has lived among the Sioux since childhood found a home and a family in people who would otherwise want so much to exterminate her life. As it emerges, it is clear that the culture of the Sioux Indians is portrayed in a manner that is similar to Christian life. The Sioux are caring people.However, native spirituality is basically a divergence from the contemporary biblical Christianity.

The present biblical Christianity has substituted the native “Christianity” with mystical actions. Among the Sioux Indians, the natives raced dangerously with buffalos, a tradition that was aimed at welcoming Dunbar as a new member of the community and for abandoning his old traditions for the new one. As such, the tradition of racing with buffalos appears more like a secular practice when viewed through the spectacle of modern Christianity.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“OPINION ESSAY: MOVIE DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990, Kevin Costner, and Essay”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/religion-and-theology/1628395-opinion-essay-movie-dances-with-wolves-1990-kevin-costner-and-graham-greene
(OPINION ESSAY: MOVIE DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990, Kevin Costner, and Essay)
https://studentshare.org/religion-and-theology/1628395-opinion-essay-movie-dances-with-wolves-1990-kevin-costner-and-graham-greene.
“OPINION ESSAY: MOVIE DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990, Kevin Costner, and Essay”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/religion-and-theology/1628395-opinion-essay-movie-dances-with-wolves-1990-kevin-costner-and-graham-greene.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF The Movie Dances With Wolves

What was the purpose and meaning behind Olive's actions in the movie Little Miss Sunshine

She is too small and innocent to understand why Frank would love a boy July What was the purpose and meaning behind Olive's actions in the movie "Little Miss Sunshine".... Olive is a very caring little child who is inquisitive in her manner so that she gets to learn a lot of things....
1 Pages (250 words) Movie Review

Safety Not Guaranteed

Safety Not Guaranteed Name University Safety Not Guaranteed Directed by Colin Trevorrow, Safety Not Guaranteed is an American comedy film that takes its title from a classified advertisement in a newspaper in the film that mentions a supposedly time travelling person looking for someone to go back in time with him....
5 Pages (1250 words) Movie Review

Camera Positions in Strictly Ballroom

'Strictly Ballroom' is the title of an Australian Romantic Comedy, which was a play in 1986 and later made into a movie in 1992.... reeti 18th April, 2007 Camera Positions in 'Strictly Ballroom' Story Outline 'Strictly Ballroom' is the of an Australian Romantic Comedy, which was a play in 1986 and later made into a movie in 1992.... amera Movements and Positions In the world of movie-making, the camera is one of the main sources of adding life to the story and the characters, by capturing the drama, emotions and characterization; which carry forward the whole essence of the storyline and the objective behind making the movie....
2 Pages (500 words) Movie Review

Miss Evers Boys Opinion

In addition to this, the effective lighting done in accordance with the mood of the movie, dark as the storyline portrays torture and atrocities and brighter when the nurse cheers up, sings and dances with her patients contributes immensely to the overall impact of the movie.... My opinion on the 'Making' of the movieThe movie comprises some extremely fine performances from the lead actors.... As an aftermath of watching the movie, one is touched beyond measure, angry with the government and extremely sympathetic to the victims of this whole treatment farce....
2 Pages (500 words) Movie Review

The Hound of the Baskervilles

The paper 'The Hound of the Baskervilles ' focuses on an intriguing movie, Hugo Baskerville who plays a key role in the movie, he kills a young girl in the movie.... hellip; Sherlock Holmes is a very popular novel and there have been several movies that have been made and there are quite a few similarities between the novel and the movie.... There is a family curse which plays a significant role in the movie and Sherlock Holmes as expected solves the mystery and settles everything down, without him things surely would have gone haywire....
1 Pages (250 words) Movie Review

Movement Analysis in Dirty Dance

The form of dancing includes such close postures that the extensive use of the dance form in the movie received criticism: “The most goose-bump including dance scene ever used in the movie history”.... The rebellion against her father is shown in the movie by the debutante's starting a family with her dance instructor during the summer vacation.... The finale of the movie encapsulates a brilliant lift by the dancers and it is all about overcoming the fear of Baby, who allows her partner Johnny to lift up in the air thereby trusting the abilities of Johnny and her....
1 Pages (250 words) Movie Review
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us