The Mystic Warrior (1984 TV Movie) User Reviews (9)

this movie was politically challenged

[eaamon · 10/10 · 26 August 2009]

I enjoyed this, no I was glued to the screen. this was what was quoted at answers dot com. the original was to be 10 hours. indians may not be bl**k but some discrimination may have CANNED this. hope this explains why you will not see it soon....if ever.

The five-hour miniseries The Mystic Warrior began life in 1979 when producer David L. Wolper announced plans for a ten-hour adaptation of Hanta Yo, an epic historical novel by Ruth Beebe Hill. Using as her main source a full-blooded Sioux named Chunksa Yuha, Hill fashioned what amounted to a Native American version of Roots, chronicling the history of the Matho tribe of the Ogala Dakota Sioux. Although Hill was briefly the darling of the literary cognoscenti, her book was ultimately attacked and discredited by a veritable army of Indian historians, teachers, and activists, who accused her of distorting and falsifying truths in order to promote her own (and Yuha's) sociopolitical agenda. Suddenly, all of the Native American support that had been promised to the miniseries version of Hanta Yo evaporated; even the filming location had to be changed from New Mexico to Thousand Oaks, CA, so as not to offend the Indian tribes in the former state. When the project finally aired on May 20 through 21, 1984, its running time (and budget) had been cut in half, and the producer was obliged to qualify the credits by noting that the teleplay was based partially on Hill's book, but mostly on "other sources." Judging by the results, those sources would seem to have been such Hollywood fictional films as Cheyenne Autumn and A Man Called Horse. Set in the years 1802 to 1808, the finished film focused on a young brave named Ahbleza (Robert Beltran), the son of a Matho chief. Blessed with supernatural visionary powers by the ancient Mahto seer Wanagi (Ron Soble), Ahbleza set about to save his people from the devastations of the future, among them the invasion of the white man. After a lengthy, truth-seeking odyssey fraught with tragedy and sacrifice, Ahbleza assumed his rightful place as spiritual leader of his tribe. Mystic Warrior was entertaining enough, but failed to draw viewers away from such formidable competition as The Jeffersons, Alice, and One Day at a Time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

note I would watch this again, bluray buy it. I would really like to see the original 10 hour version though on bluray.

The Mystic Warrior

[spade-13 · 10/10 · 31 October 2006]

I used to have this series on tape a long time ago. It was a great story!! If you like a good mini-series and appreciate Native American culture, this movie would be a must buy in my opinion.

It takes you through the life and death of Ahbleza, from his issues from childhood and his determination as a man who just wanted to live in peace! It also contains the power of having visions to see events happening in the future and the trials he goes through learning the ways of the land. It also shows the brutality of war between rival tribes and the coming of the white man to their lands.

I just want to know why hasn't this movie been put on DVD yet, so I can buy it! It needs to be on DVD!

A fine series with real Indians, great entertainment and educational

[hansbe · 9/10 · 25 February 2006]

I still remember fondly watching this series and recording it on my VCR in the 80s. This series really focused on life of the plains Indians, mainly before the white settlers arrived. All the Indians in this series looked real. A lot of care was given to the details of how they looked,dressed,painted themselves and their horses when they went to war, also to their way of life in the camps or villages, the growing up of the young warriors, how they went to look for a vision and thereby acquired a name. A lot of interest was invested in the life of the shaman and his role in the community. There was also a lot of action: the competition among the adolescents, the buffalo hunting, the warfare among the tribes, and finally the confrontation with the whites. This series was running in the afternoon and targeted at children, but I admit to having been fascinated by it even as an adult. This series was never boring and absolutely deserves to be offered as a (double) DVD. I would certainly buy it immediately. I think this series was equal to or better than Dances With Wolves for people interested in native American life on the great plains before it was drastically changed by the whites with their limitless greed and disregard of mother nature. Hans

The film is credited to Warner Brothers

[hotchkiss-jeep · 4 January 2005]

The film is credited to Warner Brothers, but i cannot find it listed on their website. Have emailed them and awaiting feed back.

Film shown in the UK on BBC 1 on the 20th and 21st of August 1986 and has never been repeated. Should have been on general release, but never was.

I have asked the BBC to show it again but they cannot find it!

The film only covered the later part of his life, and i would have preferred it to have been part of a trilogy. As per the book.

The details in the book and the film correspond to the research on the Native American peoples,

A movie people remember for almost 30 years and want it back.

[mrsmlbj · 10/10 · 25 May 2013]

When I watched Mystic Warrior almost 30 years ago, I recorded it on a Beta VCR. Later on I transferred it to a VHS. My tape is scratched and my VCR is in the basement somewhere along with my precious tapes.

As I was reading the reviews here I noticed they were written over the years...back in the 90's, early 2000's and now 2013. That should tell those that matter that the movie, or I should say, the story has stayed in the hearts and minds of the people who saw it. I have looked on every internet source I could think of with no luck.

So whose email box do we need to fill or whose mailbox do we need to send letters? We need to get our wishes to the right person.

Thank you for reading.

great film

[rhegedm · 10/10 · 27 April 2012]

1 saw this aired on the BBC. in England ,outstandingly beautiful film and close to the book, well before the dances with wolves, should have been released, would be really good in American history to balance the view of the first nations as noble savages or murdering barbarians, really good to understand an alternative viewpoint. The portrayal of the culture and spirituality was a breathe of fresh air. Would like to see it out on DVD. the cgi was really sympathetic to the process of vision questing and not at all over the top. Does anyone know if there is a DVD out there? It was good to see native American actors but more would have been even better. the film i thought flowed easily.

I thought this was good!

[ladyval · 24 August 1999]

I wanted to watch this for Branscombe and I was pleased by

Robert Beltran's role also as well as Rion Hunter. Good storyline...some of the effects were a little hokey but I liked the details.

MYSTIC WARRIOR EXTRA !

[sequoyahbutler · 10/10 · 23 March 2019]

I was an extra in this movie and have only seen it once, back in 84' Mystic Warrior was the only movie I've ever been in. It was a great experience on the set and I met a lot of great people and up and coming actors (James Remar, Will Sampson, Apollonia and Branscombe Richmond) I wish, I could obtain a copy of this movie to pass on to my children and grandchildren and say' "Hey check out the movie dad / grandpa was in when he was young" If only the Great Spirit would bless us, with a reissue of this movie on DVD, it would be greatly appreciated by viewers young and old.

This movie has always been my favorite.

[saltyoldman · 10/10 · 4 February 2017]

I recorded this movie on the western channeL and have saved it all these years always fascinated by it. My maternal grandmother was a Cherokee Indian.I also like Windwalker as it only deals in Indian Lore and mysticism.The writer's had to do a lot of background work i production. My wife is from South Dakota, near the Black Hills and grew up with many Sioux Indiansin the 1940's and 50's. Where they found so many buffalo has always amazed me. Also never knew there was so many sub tribes within the Sioux family's Dancing With Wolves is entertaining and Hollywood's impact in it deterred from it's originality, and it does not compare with my 2 choices. Allan