Watch Skinwalkers For Free

Highly Overrated But Still Good

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Movies in sub-cultural settings become exceptional when you quickly forget that it is, in fact, a sub-culture. Within minutes of the opening scenes of "Skinwalkers", I no longer dwelt upon the thought that a murder movie on an Indian Reservation is an unusual setting and, instead, focused on the murder mystery itself. In this sense, it reminds me of "Barbershop" (http://us.imdb.com/Title?0303714) in its ability to portray a particular sub-culture in America without actually dwelling on the differences between that sub-culture and America as a whole.In other words, these movies become successful when you are drawn into the story so deeply that you realise that the sub-culture is as much a world in its own right as the so-called "majority" of America.I would love to see this film turned into a weekly series. There's certainly enough potential depth of storylines to allow that.

I noticed that "Skinwalkers" was filmed in the Phoenix area, but Mr. Redford knew that he'd not be filming taboo places around Phoenix as was a problem with "Dark Wind".Navajo and those associated closely with the language will note that the actors are not flawless by any stretch, but at least they tried. Adam Beach is interested in the language and the people. I give credit for trying... twice! ("Windtalkers")Tony Hillerman's books are always going to be better than his movies. I think the reason that they made Leaphorn so ignorant of his people's ways is so that bilighana (Anglo) (and you have to admit that most people watching any movie are not going to be Navajo) can understand why Chee does some of the things he does. Makes sense to Navajo and friends, but most others would just turn it off thinking it "weird" without the movie explaining thoughts and motives.I hope this is enough of a success that they will try ALL of Mr. Hillerman's books which honor the beauty of a gentle people and their beautiful home. I would like to see them try Navajo actors, but Adam Beach is giving an admirable performance, especially in capturing the wonderful quiet ways of the Navajo.

....to, maybe, a series of adaptations of Hillerman's books? PBS, Robert Redford, Tony Hillerman and company has done a decent job here. I would have thought that, given the material, they could have given us at least two full hours (maybe three?) to flesh out the story a little but, hey, I'm not complaining here. The casting was superb. I was thrilled to see Sheila Tousey as Emma Leaphorn. Tousey, who played Maggie Eagle Bear in 1992's "Thunderheart," is probably one of the least appreciated actors working today. Wes Studi plays Joe Leaphorn a little close to the chest, but the casting of him playing opposite Adam Beach was brilliant. Alex Rice is the perfect Janet Pete. I would think, also, that this quintessentially American series would be something that PBS would be able to sell back to the Brits. Let's all deluge our local PBS stations with demands for more ...perhaps with a pledge to show we're serious?

I grew up on the Navajo Nation, and right away in the first 30 minutes I see that the movie was filmed over 200 miles away from the Navajo Nation where the story takes place.The movie has been filmed in the Phoenix area and the buildings that were shown were not anywhere near where they should have been.The first movie based on a Tony Hillerman movie had actually been filmed on the Navajo Nation. Too bad Redford decided to stray from the book.The casting is very dissapointing to see only people who succeed in butchering the beautiful language that we speak.The Navajo Police cars and uniforms are correct, but Joe Leaphorn is a Navajo character that does not know the lanuguage and customs. This is not correct... Leaphorn in all the Hillerman novels knows the customs and traditions.In the Dark Wind, Leaphorn was played by a Non-Indian who was able to speak Navajo. Lou Diamond PHillips did a much better job in attempting to speak Navajo. It appears that Adam Beach who butchered Navajo in Wind Talkers is doing a great job of butchering Navajo again here.it's now 44 minutes into the movie and i'm very dissapointed that i missed Malcom in the Middle.