I just got done reading Richard Kiel's autobiography. In it he talks about how proud he was to have written and produced this movie. In his memoir he went into great detail regarding all the production and financing problems he had making this film, as well as distribution difficulties and finding an audience afterward, so it was obviously a labor of love for him. I'd never heard of the movie and was curious to watch it though it took me a while to finally find it on a streaming site. Low-budget films targeting a Christian audience are usually pretty bad but I was generally pleased with this effort. Kiel is good as the intimidating 'giant' who's really an orphan, an old softy with an artistic heart. The rest of the adult cast is a cornucopia of well known but generally forgotten old stars that I'm sure got hired for peanuts. Because of the casting fortunately the acting was not cringe-worthy, though some of the "kid scenes" were. The characters were generally memorable and the plot not overly simple or too preachy. I'll admit there were times throughout the story's short running time where I was alternately tense, laughing, or teary-eyed, so it's well worth a 6-star rating. Bart the Bear also made a formidable and memorable character! However the story had enough open-ended holes, and things that just made no sense, to make the overall experience of the film somewhat of a let down. SPOILERS: For example, the boys steal some of Eli the Giant's gold nuggets, rationalizing that they're just going to see if it's real and bring it back, but they never do. Later on, the evil carnies steal the reminder of the gold. Where did this all gold come from? Why does Eli have it? It's never brought up and even Eli the Giant never even notices his gold is gone. Also, at the end of the movie the town folk mistakenly burn down the Giant's cabin. Yet the "happy ending" is Eli trudging back up the mountain, waving goodbye, I assume to live as a hermit again. Um, with no home and no money -- literally nothing -- he's going to freeze or starve to death in no-time flat. So those are the two big plot "HUH'S?" but there are many other smaller "huh's" throughout, too, which mar what should have been an enjoyable children's tale.
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Jerry-11419 July 1999We rented this movie and thought it was wonderful. It had suspense, drama, comedy, and had my whole family glued to the screen for all of its 80 or so minutes. Richard Kiel is outstanding as the giant, and the supporting actors and actresses are great in their roles. I give it an A+.
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Anyone who thinks of Richard Kiel as simply a James Bond nemesis with metal teeth should see this, a film in which he stars as the victim of fearful people jumping to conclusions about those who are a little bit different than themselves. His tender relationship with the child Amy evokes similar scenes between the Frankenstein monster and another small but fearless little girl. This is a fine drama for kids -- well written, acted and produced -- although the ending, while moving, is a bit of a letdown. Ellen Crawford makes the most of her limited screen time; one wishes, though, her role had been bigger. Not quite sure why this film was rated PG; it's clearly a G, not unlike a lot of the best family movies of the pre-ratings era.
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lisastampsPPL21 March 2006My 6-year-old daughter said, "It's a good story. A happy story. Well, it's a little scary, then funny, then sad, then happy."
Good stuff for the whole family, though you may want to be there so the kids don't get too scared during the intense parts. It's so heartbreaking to watch people be so cruel, and to think that the same kind of garbage still happens today. But it's nice to have a way to teach my kids what it must feel like to be treated so poorly just because someone looks different from the rest!
We were trilled to learn that Eli (the Giant) wrote and produced it! It was fun to see so many people who have gone on to do other things, too! We just love the IMDb because we get to see why so many of the actors look familiar! -
kielfan17 March 2002This movie is so good! Everything what a movie should have is in it: humor, drama, action... The music is very beautiful, and Richard Kiel is acting very good. And also the tiny Noley Thornton. This movie is not available anymore here in Holland, or England, and I really don't know why, because this movie should be very popular!
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lyseekeller11 October 2023I know my review might be a bit biased as I grew up with this movie, but I think it says something about it that, despite having so many animated classics and exciting movies meant for kids at my disposal as a child, I remember watching this movie constantly. There is so much heart in this film and I always felt for the character Eli.
I knew I was fond of this movie as a child and wanted to rewatch to see if it holds up. Of course, as you get older, you start to be able to nitpick varies things you might never have noticed when younger. The composition and shots were all well done as far as I can tell if not a hint basic. It's sound design was quirky, to the degree that I remember the sound design of the goonies or the older Indiana Jones movies. Though I have become painfully aware how mismatched the repeating audio of the larger kid's jokes were. "I'm hungry" or "I could go for some pie" not even lining up with his closed mouth and evidently reused over and over again was slightly grating. The voice over is charming, if not exactly necessary, but I can see it becoming annoying for some. The soundtrack is well fitted to the genre and the main theme is memorable and moving. The acting wasn't too shabby and most of the adults were relatively believable. The action with Bart the Bear still holds up and had me worried about the bear until I found he was well loved and well treated. The message is kind and I wish there were more kind movies out there.
In conclusion, this is a movie like a well loved teddy bear. I can definitely see the imperfections and not everything is at the highest tier in terms of quality, but that in no way means this is a bad movie. Highly recommend to watch with your kids (after of course reviewing for yourself because it does have alcohol use and violence and plenty of christian themes {not super saturated in those themes but they are still there}) or by you if you just want to sit down for a mellow story that's fairly easy to follow. -
lor_15 June 2023My review was written in May 1991 after a Cannes Film Festival Market screening.
Wholesome, square family entertainment returns with "The Giant of Thunder Mountain". Well-mounted production offers nothing new but is nevertheless an entertaining package for old-fashioned audiences.
Actor Richard Kiel, best known for his toothy running role as Jaws in Roger Moore-led James Bond epics, is co-writer and executive producer of this wilderness adventure. He's also thoroughly sympathetic as a literal giant wh's become a legend to nearby townsfolk.
A huge bear kiled his parents, and Kiel has lived as a hermit ever since. When young siblings Chance Michael Corbitt, Ryan Todd and Noley Thornton find and befriend the big fellow, Kiel shaves off his beard and gets presentable to meet their widowed mom.
Unfortunately, crooked carnival man Jack Elam and his two sons are up to no good and Kiel gets blamed for their misdeeds. Pic effectively opposes vigilante justice and gets good mileage out of the small-town prejudices that mock and mistreat someone different, such as the 7-foot-plus Kiel.
Pic's high points are undoubtedly the scary fights involving guest star Bart the Bear, whose repertoire of moves is limited but effective. Script contrives to defeat Bart without killing him, a refreshing novelty for a usually bloody genre.
With Elam perfect as comic relief, Kiel carries the picture with an earnest performance in a tailor-made role. Cast of familair good-ol' boys is fine, and Marianne Rogers projects a mature beauty akin to Jennifer O'Neill as the romantic interet. The kids are cute but resistible.
Helmer James Roberson is experienced in this type of picture, and film scores high on Stephen Shank's widescreen visuals of beautiful, unspoiled locations. Robyn Smyth's costumes ring ture in conjuring up the right period feel. Soun effects for Bart or Kiel galumphing along the ground are overdone.