Watch Dances with Wolves

"Dances with Wolves" is a 1990 epic western film directed by and starring Kevin Costner as John Dunbar, a Union Army lieutenant who requests a post on the Western frontier, hoping to see it before it's gone. The film also stars Mary McDonnell as Stands With A Fist, a white woman who has been taken in and raised by the Lakota Sioux, and Graham Greene as Kicking Bird, a wise elder of the Lakota tribe.

The film takes place during the American Civil War, and Dunbar is initially sent to an abandoned fort in the Dakota Territory, where he encounters a Sioux tribe who he befriends and eventually becomes one of them. Through his relationships with the people he meets, Dunbar learns to appreciate their way of life and comes to see the world through their eyes.

As Dunbar's time with the Sioux stretches on, he becomes more integrated into their world. He finds himself falling in love with Stands With A Fist despite the fact she is a white woman raised by the Sioux, his former enemies. The film is mainly concerned with Dunbar's character development, as he has to reconcile his new values with his old beliefs and make choices that could mean life or death to those around him.

The film presents a realistic portrayal of Native American life, their customs, and their beliefs. The Lakota Sioux are shown as complex and multifaceted individuals, rather than caricatures of noble savages. The portrayal of Native American people was a big departure from how they were depicted in earlier westerns, where they were often shown as all being the same, interchangeable and uncivilized.

The cinematography in "Dances with Wolves" is stunning, with wide-open vistas that capture the rugged beauty of the Western landscape. Filmed in South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Arizona, the movie's location is as much a character as the people who inhabit it. The sweeping shots of the untouched wilderness are breathtaking.

The film's score, composed by John Barry is a masterpiece of American folk music. The theme and score are interwoven with the visuals and provide a sense of place that is inescapable. The haunting strains of the score are a perfect match for the epic landscape where they are situated.

"Dances with Wolves" is a movie that defies categorization. It's part western, part love story, part drama. It's a sweeping epic that tackles big themes like racism, cultural differences, and the price of war. The movie becomes an allegory of the wild-west, but taken a step further. It's a film that invites the audience to become fully immersed in the world of the story.

Costner's character arc is admirably executed. His journey from soldier to Sioux is subtle and nuanced, and never feels forced or contrived. McDonnell and Greene deliver excellent performances as well, making the trio of lead actors immensely watchable. The supporting cast is also impressive, with notable standout performances by Rodney A. Grant as Wind In His Hair and Tantoo Cardinal as Black Shawl.

In conclusion, "Dances with Wolves" is a classic film that has stood the test of time. It's not only a thoughtful and poignant look at one of America's greatest historical tragedies, but it's also a touching love story and an exciting adventure. It shows that even in the most dire of circumstances, there is hope for understanding and reconciliation between different cultures. It's a must-see for anyone who loves great storytelling, sweeping vistas, and a bit of action thrown in for good measure.

Dances with Wolves is a 1990 adventure movie with a runtime of 3 hours and 1 minute. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.0 and a MetaScore of 72.