Audience Member
I may have only been a tyke during the time the "Billy Jack" movies came out, but I knew adults who had recent memories of that era as I grew up-and were unimpressed by the movies. As for me, the original "Billy Jack" had some merit, but this one simply repeats itself over and over and over and over ad infinitum. The actual trial of Billy Jack only lasts a few minutes, and he spends four years in jail, but when he comes back, well...that's when the tedium kicks in full swing.
The Freedom School has prospered to the point where it even has its own TV station, and the local Indians host them. The local rednecks cause them trouble, and Billy Jack arrives, and *KICK* *PUNCH* *CHOP*. Not once, but many times over. Since the school exposes national and local corruption, the townspeople are upset and want it closed down. (Like there are no liberal townies, or ones who despise local corruption?) The school is evidently run by hippies who look suspiciously clean, and the leftists are all nice intelligent people while anyone not allied with them are one-dimensional thugs.
The most laughable part is near the end when the National Guard comes in and they start cold-blooded shooting at the members of the Freedom School, despite the lack of any justification, and then the local Indians arrive and the leader makes a speech, at which the National Guardsmen abruptly stop shooting and walk away. Yes, there were the controversial National Guard shootings at Kent State University and such, but really...
Yes, this movie has its apologists, but Michael Moore's movies place a lot less strain on credulity than this load of balderdash.
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
02/22/23
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Audience Member
Pretentious sequel picks up with Billy Jack being put on trial for the events of the first film. The original film was a surprisingly fun hybrid of 1960s counter culture and grindhouse exploitation cinema. Kind of âEasy Riderâ? meets âWalking Tall.â? A lot of the fun of that film was the unintentional irony that Billy Jack was promoting peace & love while giving a beatdown to every intolerant bigot he encounters, but this sequel forgot to include the satisfying Hapkido beatdowns and instead seemed filled with joyless self-important speeches. While I support most all of the political leanings expressed by the filmmakers, a series of hippie kids making speeches and playing terrible folk music does not make for good entertainment (not to mention having to endure Billyâ(TM)s spirit journey which includes him slapping Jesus at one point). Top it all off with a Kent State inspired finale and itâ(TM)s pretty obvious that the filmmakers (who are really just writer/producer/director/star Tom Laughlin) forgot what made the first film work. Overall, Billy Jackâ(TM)s literal and spiritual trials are boring, pretentious, and minus any good beatdowns. Just take a pass on this one. FUN FACT! âThe Trial of Billy Jackâ? was included in "The Fifty Worst Films of All Time (and how they got that way)" by Harry Medved and Randy Lowell.
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
01/31/23
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Audience Member
Oh jeez... Well that was at least an hour too long. More heavy-handed hippy drama. There's a good message in here and a few great moments, but it gets lost in boring sequences that drag out way too long, and the message loses its punch when it seems even Billy Jack can't figure out himself what choice to make between violence and peace...
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
02/01/23
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Audience Member
"The Trial of Billy Jack" debuted in November 1974 at 1,100 theaters simultaneously throughout the USA, creating a national cinema event six months before Spielberg's "Jaws." Running a staggering three hours and covering all the era's political issues, including Vietnam, Watergate, government corruption, police brutality and bigotry. The film captures the zeitgeist of mid-Seventies America, then closes in a church with the cast singing "Give Peace A Chance." For cultural historians, it's a fascinating train wreck.
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
02/05/23
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Audience Member
good stuff i remember seeing this as a teen
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
01/21/23
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Audience Member
Give peace a chance.
Billy Jack is sent to jail for four years based on his involuntary manslaughter case from the first film. While in jail, the school he protected thrives, grows, and prospers while under the direction of his girlfriend, Jean Roberts. When he gets out of jail, he tries to find himself, prevent violence, and move on with his life...but violence seems to follow him. When the children start getting shot and attacked at the school, Bill will stop at nothing for revenge.
"Where there's power, there's no love; and where there's love, there's no need for power."
Tom Laughlin, director of The Proper Time; Like Father, Like Son; The Born Losers; Billy Jack; Billy Jack Goes to Washington; and The Return of Billy Jack, delivers The Trial of Billy Jack. The storyline for this picture is on par with the first film with a little more action and drama than the previous picture. The acting was okay and the cast includes Tom Laughlin, Delores Taylor, Victor Izay, Sparky Watt, and Sacheen Littlefeather.
"I don't think you're particularly going to like this."
This is another picture that I thought could be fascinating based on the plot and the first film was okay and this sequel was about equivalent to the first film. There are definitely worthwhile splashes of action throughout the film, but there were some weird inner self sequences that just didn't work for me. Overall, this is above average but nothing special.
"You can do what you're told or get your head split open."
Grade: C+
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
01/19/23
Full Review
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