How Many Mountain Men Look Like Redford? Please Advise!!!

In this movie we see the usual sanitized and romanticized Hollywood view of the loner who lives way out in the woods and lives off his own resources. I thought we had gotten past that fictional and fantasy Point Of View after Danielle Boon? Instead of being a grizzled old man who is lice ridden and hasn't washed his underweaer and hair in months Mr. Redford still appears as a man only slightly weather beaten by his time in the wilderness. I give this movie 5 stars because the scenery in this movie looks pretty good.

Tale of Rebellion Meets "Coming of Age": Modern Folk Legend

JEREMIAH JOHNSON is a film that unwinds much like an old folk song or urban legend. For much of its length, I thought I was being treated to a tragedy concerning a man who leaves everything behind to begin life anew in the mountains. But in the end, the ultimate mark of tragedy escapes our protagonist and the rest of the film plays out like a tall-tale. Instead, JEREMIAH JOHNSON offers a humanizing portrait of a man whose hunting & fighting prowess earn him regional fame and legendary status. But Robert Redford's performance is not one of an over-the-top, larger-than-life character who wrestles the elements with his bare hands. On the contrary, Redford paints a rather humble portrait of a man driven by emotion and passion, the depths of which we never quite get to glimpse during the film's two hours. He is a man whom fame is thrust upon rather than sought.

The storyline is the kind that America thrives upon: a mixture of societal rebellion and "coming of age." The metaphors are endless. It is the story of a man who just will not quit, despite all of the hardships he must overcome in his transition to the wild. In fact, this transition is important to dwell upon for a moment. Many films have painted the story of one's transition from nature to society, from crude to cultured. But JEREMIAH JOHNSON tells the opposite tale of a man who is ascending to some kind of original harmony with nature. And rather than a regression or a descent back to simplicity, it truly is a story of graduation. There are a couple of points in the film when Redford's character receives acceptance from Native American tribes. These scenes are critical to the film's success, as they suggest the acceptance of Redford by the mountain, nature, and life. And it is this acceptance that grabs the audience because we all seek this sort of acceptance in our own way.

All praise aside, the image quality on this DVD is pretty bad. I thought I was watching VHS for a moment and had to adjust to the screen (it has been a while since I have seen a video cassette). Why they didn't touch this film up is beyond me. I would have granted it four stars, but I am subtracting one for the image quality and because the film (while engaging) is a bit slow in several parts and could have been more effectively edited. If you like visually stunning films about the wild, you will love JEREMIAH JOHNSON. It is a modern folk tale: part truth, part magic. Let's just hope they decide to REALLY bring it to DVD sometime.

Jeremiah Johnson gone wild!

This movie makes me wanna go live out in the mountains and quit my full time dock job. You know, have a nice horse and don't have to worry about gas prices, etc.