I love this movie so much

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

It's a minor point, but the Indian tribe John Morgan was associated with in "A Man Called Horse" was the Lakota Sioux, with the warrior Yellow Hand (Manu Topou) becoming it's chief during the course of the story. If this branch of the tribe broke off from the main one, it probably should have been explained because in the latter part of the story, there's a scene in which Red Cloud of the Lakota refuses to help the Yellow Hands, as he's allied with the 'white man of river'. If one follows these things with some sense of continuity, the error seemed to be an unforced one.With the 'vow of the sun' ceremony so prominent in the original picture, I didn't think there would be call to revisit the ceremonial rite here, but that's what happened as a prelude to Morgan purifying himself and seeking his vision. More surprising was seeing how younger males of the tribe willingly submitted to the ordeal as well. There's some historical fact to back that up, for young warriors it was a physical and spiritual test that was offered in sacrifice for their people. As I watched the scene, it occurred to me that Morgan showed no scarring from his sun ceremony of five years earlier, another unforced error if I had to guess.Reading previous posters for this film it appears that it's not nearly as well regarded as it's prequel. Personally, I thought it was a decent story, but would have to concur that the original was better since it was exploring the Lakota Indian rituals for the first time. Oddly, I've never run across the sun ceremony referenced in any other movies other than these 'Horse' films, a bit surprising since the Western is my favorite genre and I've seen hundreds spanning the decades.

Lord John Morgan(Richard Harris)is an English aristocrat who was captured and enslaved by the Yellow Hand Sioux on a visit to the American west in the 1820s. Over time he fought to prove himself and eventually became a respected member of the tribe. The Sioux called him Horse. Years later, Morgan has returned to England and the Sioux are attacked by bloodthirsty trappers who massacre most of the tribe and destroy their sacred home. A jaded Morgan returns to the west to aid the Sioux in their fight against the trappers.I particularly enjoyed the first movie, A Man Called Horse(1970). It was a fascinating essay on life in a Sioux tribe that was colourful and inspiring too. This sequel however, is really just a forgettable potboiler which drags on. The characters are not allowed to develop and the plot looses itself in endless scenes of chanting, screeching and riding. The villainous trappers are barely seen and appear to be nothing but a bunch of dumb labourers. Geoffrey Lewis' head honcho had especially little to do, trying his hardest to be menacing but never really succeeding in doing so. The script feels as if it's been written by a 14 year old with several unnecessary scenes which are merely there to pad out the movie's 2 hour running time. The film is at least half an hour too long and several important plot points are tossed aside. For example the film did not delve deep enough into Lord Morgan's life at home in England with his wife and how he suffered when returned to civilised society. Also, his reason for returning to the tribe is explained so promptly that you are likely to miss it if you aren't paying attention. So much potential is wasted, the depth and atmosphere of the first movie is non-existent here .The purification ritual is featured in this film once again. In the original it was executed with professionalism, the end result being gorgeously psychedelic. Here it just looks outlandish and takes up too much time. I found it unintentionally humorous as well as corny. There isn't much action apart from the climatic attack on the fort which was pretty well shot but far too abrupt and rather anti climatic. The fact that some of the horse falls have been removed took away the tension thus making me enjoy the battle even less. Richard Harris just runs around the interiors of the fort trying not to get shot, but the special effects were really good. The final explosion of the hut was ruined by the fact that the adjacent watchtower did not come crashing to the ground. Again it was an action sequence that they could have done a lot more with by throwing in some hand-to-hand combat, ambitious stunts and maybe even Lord Morgan sacrificing himself for his Sioux brothers. Although the film did boast some fine scenery with beautiful vistas of sun kissed plains and lush forests and it at least sounded nice courtesy of Laurence Rosenthal's operatic score.Don't worry if you haven't seen this sequel, you're better off watching the original and leaving it at that. The sequel is one of those movies that is best enjoyed when one is intoxicated. 6/10.

This is a weak sequel: it lacks the interest and light touch of the magnificent "Man Called Horse" in nearly every aspect and when compared to each other they hardly seem to be the same genre.The Return is almost a parody of the first and tries to evoke different Indian ceremonies but comes across as trying way too hard to bottle the magic of the first. In this film the tribe is lost and abandoned, having lost their homelands, modern life has encroached on paradise and they are living in abject misery and poverty. Perhaps this is the point: the first film took us to a place where we would want to be, a simpler time. This takes us to broken Indians in a miserable world and the White Man is the hero and savior which rather negates the whole idea of the film.The beauty of the first lay in the fact that the white man learnt and discovered that real civilization lies in values rather than western materialism. In the second film this is all but lacking and so we end up with a weak film.A huge disappointment.

this sequel to A Man Called Horse focuses much more on the spirituality of the Native Indians.i didn't mind that aspect at all.it's very interesting.the problem i had with the movie is there just didn't see to be a point.i didn't feel there was much of a story to it.to me,it felt like they made a sequel just for the sake a making a sequel.the first movie had much more thought put into it.i did really like the musical score,though.i thought it was very majestic and poetic.if you're expecting a lot of action,you'll have to look elsewhere.this isn't that kind of picture.adding everything up,i liked the first movie more.but this one isn't so bad.for me,Return of a Man called Horse is a 5/10