I remember Billy Jack ‘blowing me away’ as a young child, so I decided to stream it last night for a novelty. Billy is an ex Green Beret, now protector of wild horses and a free-art school. Good thing he is an expert in martial arts and shooting, because that’s what it takes to protect those long haired pacifist hippies (to borrow a common phrase of the times) from the conservative towns-folk. OMG, this was so steeped in late 60’s idealism, it almost seemed comic to me now. Sure, it is always fun watching the good tough guy take it to the the bad guys, but the enjoyment I got from this film was more about the history of American culture than any acknowledgement of movie making prowess.
With a few exceptions, like Clark Howatt, the acting was more like film-student quality rather than natural talent. Tom Laughlin himself looked a bit out of place, which may have been on purpose. After all, if he sported long hair and Indian tribal-ware, he may not have gotten as far as he did with kicking the white-man’s butt.
Some boobage, but nothing too graphic.