Jonathan of The Bears
Jonathan Degli Orsi
(1993)
Jonathan - Franco Nero
Goodwin - John Saxon
Also Starring: Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman, David Hess, Ennio Girolami, Rodrigo Obregσn, Clive Richie, Bobby Rhodes, Knifewing Segura
Directed by - Enzo G. Castellari
Kills: 85
Jonathan -
other -
Reviewed version - Australian TV presentation
Enzo G. Castellari and Franco Nero returns to the western genre after almost 20 years with alot of similiarities to their earlier 'Keoma'.
First half of the movie is dedicated to the birth of the 'Jonathan of The Bears' character. How his parents are killed and he grows up with the bears and Indians. Filmed in Keoma style flashbacks mixing the past with the present. Second half is about fighting Mr. Goodwin who is after the oil in the Indian reservation. Other issues delt with are the nature and race.
Filmed in Russia, the locations fits well enough for the "northern" settings. The music fits the mood well and there are even some trumpets at the final showdown. Castellari's style slow motion violence and stunts that look like they hurt.
Dedicated to Sergio Corbucci I don't think that Jonathan's Kowalski surname name is a coincidence. The same name Franco Nero had in Corbucci's 'The Mercenary'.
Even if there are similiarities, it differs in style from the old Spaghetti Westerns. It's still fun to watch the return of Franco & Enzo to the genre after so many years.
Some dialogue:
Jonathan: "-I travel alone."
Goodwin: "-A white man among Indians and an Indian among white men."
15 November 2006
