The Giant of Thunder Mountain

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.

My 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!

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.

This 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!

We 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+.

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.

We 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+.

This 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!