There are certain movies that are viewed as watersheds. Every subsequent film after them must inevitably be compared to this movie, in spite of the fact that it can't possibly compare to the original. These are the trend setters, the films that have snatches of dialogue or certain images burned into the mind of popular culture, the films that are studied as art. One of these ground-breaking films is the immortal Billy Jack.

For those of you who haven't experienced the amazement that is Billy Jack, here's a brief description. The narrow minded views of a small Arizona town come crashing down on the local Native American population, a near by hippie school for runaways and any wild horses that can be rounded up for sale to the local dog food plant. The only thing standing in the way of the seedier elements in the town is the school's protector, Billy Jack, a bitter Vietnam veteran who's Green Beret training helps to keep the locals in check. Hung on what is essentially the plot to a dozen kung-fu movies transported bodily into trailer park settings is scatter-shot pieces of social consciousness that get muddled by all the kick-boxing, a preoccupation with improvisational theater, attempts to tie Indian religion in with 1960's youth culture and sing alongs. It's an amazing film. Billy Jack, as played by Tom Laughlin, is a beloved figure who's adored by children, becomes some sort of Native American spiritual leader [in spite of the fact that he's really white looking] in a plot line that goes nowhere, and finally becomes a martyr who stands up to the Man. Written, produced, directed, distributed by and starring Tom Laughlin and his wife Delores Taylor, Billy Jack is a jaw dropping ode to one man's own unique vision and sense of self-importance.

Once one understands what a landmark film Billy Jack is, it's easy to understand why other movies would try to not only pay homage to, but to flat-out recreate the Billy Jack experience. Bearing that in mind, I've judged several movies not by how well they perform on their own merits but how well they emulate the sensation of Billy Jack. Among the criteria used in judging the films include: how many different hats [director, writer, producer] the film's lead wears, social politics, a preoccupation with trying to pretend to be a different ethnicity than the lead actor is as well as a desire for egotistical self-sacrifice, and how often the lead is obviously replaced by a stunt double. The Billy Jack meter is not an indication of the movie's over-all worth, it's simply an indication of how well it hews to the spirit of Billy Jack [one Billy Jack being the lowest while five Billy Jacks is the highest.]

First Blood III: While it may seem odd that the third movie in a series can switch to being a recreation of Billy Jack, it's understandable when you not only realize that Billy Jack is a sequel to Born Losers but that that the previous two Rambo movies were simply preparation so the final film in the trilogy could become Billy Jack.

Pluses: A disgruntled Vietnam vet who has renounced violence -and who entertains local children by beating people up in stick fights- is called back into action yet again in order to protect the downtrodden rebels in Afghanistan from the Soviet war machine. Starring Sylvester Stallone, who also shares writing credits.

Minuses: Only romance in film is queasy sense of male bonding that comes from dodging machine gun fire together. Pulls off the neat trick of actually being a more stupid film than Billy Jack. Political relevancy is off since the film opened after the Soviets had pulled out of Afghanistan. Film should of been directed by Stallone as well so he could of given himself more speeches to deliver while oiled up and standing in front of a row of burning helicopters.

Score: Two Billy Jacks

Dances With Wolves: A lonely soldier goes native. Starring and directed by Kevin Costner.

Pluses: Big-time love of switching cultural roles. Pointlessly long. Tribal method of naming easily lends itself to snarky abuse [Dances with Wolves, Stands with Fist, Eats with Fork, Plays with Matches.]

Minuses: Actually won awards, including the Oscar for best picture. Made Kevin Costner believe that with every other movie he makes he should try to re-make or at least touch on the same themes as Billy Jack -Waterworld, The Postman- with diminishing results.

Score: Three Billy Jacks

Braveheart: Down-trodden Scotsmen rebel Hollywood style. Starring and directed by Mel Gibson.

Pluses: Another long, violent ode to a underprivledged class with even heavier martyr themes.

Minuses: Also ended up winning awards. Even more behind the times politically than Rambo III. Mel Gibson doesn't seem to believe he's as overblown as the characters he plays [ex. in Pocahontas he sings, and that had to be a joke.]

Score: Three Billy Jacks

On Deadly Ground: Ass kicking eco-warrior blows up Alaska in effort to save Alaska. Starring and directed by Steven Seagal.

Pluses: Near blow for blow re-telling of Billy Jack. Bar fight where Steven Seagal taunts a man for not playing a children's game. Long dream sequence where Steven Seagal wrestles a bear. As the film's villain, Michael "I won an Oscar" Caine is as believable and competent as Yosemite Sam. Movie ends with inexplicable monologue extolling the virtues of electric cars.

Minuses: Steven Seagal

Score: Five Billy Jacks

When one realizes how many films have gained inspiration from Billy Jack you begin to gain a new appreciation for the work of Tom Laughlin. Okay, you actually don't, but even after all these years the denim clad arm of Billy Jack still has a long reach.

Questions, comments, and explanations as to why Howard Hessman is in Billy Jack can be sent to gleep9@hotmail.com. All right Tin Soldier, ride on back to either the Second Movie or Main page.

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