Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Well, it's been 15 minutes since the movie ended and I can not speak. Literally, my throat is closed. The writer(s), director(s), and actors all reached new territories I wager.I had no idea what the movie was about before watching it. The opening scene is breathtaking, however, diving into these peoples lives is breathtaking.What a surprise - WHAT a surprise, no - not any scene in the movie, the entire ride.The STRANGEST thing that happened to me watching this movie was I said to my wife about 1/2 way through when I started wondering where it's going, how things might turn out - I go "well honey, I just hope it doesn't turn out to be a Blair Witch" - no kidding, she looks up the actors and finds out one of the main actors? was from... Blair Witch.I mean WHAT ARE THE ODDS?I think the movie pivots around Joey and Chad in so many ways.However, there IS a scene with Saul and Chad - when Saul goes "You tell ME what it's about" heads interlocked, I found genuinely moving. random fact my wife looked up - Joey's REAL father in life ? IS Saul - he real father in this movie (no worry, that's not a spoiler, just an overlap from real life to this movie).I really do have to despise 'provider dad' but not to the point I will let his character interfere with his future endeavors - I look forward to more offerings from everyone in this movie.I will be watching it again, likely in a year or two or three just to revisit some of the delicate messages our Messiah Chad brings forth (again, that's no spoiler, I just chose to enshrine Chad in role of Messiah here - something unworldly about him - in a very good way).I STILL can't talk - it feels like I have a baseball in my throat.Do watch this when you have time to not think about a care in the world- no kidding, you will find EVERY care in the world by the time you are done. That way it will have full impact on you.I could say this movie placed Chad in a complex Messiah like role, however, I could also say this movie is a coming of age story...HOWEVER, I must be clear, it is a coming of age movie for anyone who sees it.I just wonder if Blair Witch guy hooks up with the Jeweler and does Saul hook up with - oh wait - nope - that's not gonna happen now is it - or ghost man leaves 'not gonna be that mans vessel' woman.I said to my wife is that Reese? Witherspoon, she goes no - remember Ratrace and I kept referring to her as my 5 bucks back lady.Names are not important to me - I respect every actor in this movie, this kind of movie comes along RARELY.I could only wish it was 3 hours long, instead of nearly 2, sure would have beat that Hobbit escapism trash that ran 3 hours, and how much of Sam and Bilbo can you really take with that pesky golemn.By the way- FAVORITE scene in this movie for me is 4th of July parade - Chad lets himself join this world in entirety for a few moments, and then - that damned bird shows up in the sky to take him back- high above - far away - far FAR away where he always was - looking down. Indeed Chad brings a strong Messiah element here.WATCH THIS MOVIE. heh. Be touched. Chad would want you to ! :)I could only suggest one improvement to this movie- similar to Jerzy Kosinski's 'Being There' - in the movie vs the book ? One of the two has 'Chance' end scene - WALKING on the water, EASILY the Messiah element - or otherwordly element is there. I could only wish that as all watched from shore - Chad would have gotten up and walked on the water.No real spoiler there, but I HAD to include that because it would have taken me over the top had it been in there.One MORE tidbit - just watched an interview with Johnny Redwood Tree - she said her parents wrote her a part INTO this movie - has to be a very unique family experience there heh. "My parents are taking me to get the roller-coaster park this summer - what are you parents doing? oh? My parents are making a movie and they put me in it" heh... Too much in a good way.Tim Miltz

This is a wonderful little gem of a movie. From the cinematography, with sweeping views of the Idaho mountains to the nuances of each character and their interaction, or better yet, their lack of interaction between one another. It shows our distance with one another and mis communications between family and friends. lost love and un fulfilled dreams yet our grasp at holding onto what little honor we have left. Finding redemption with the last hope of guiding ones life to fulfillment. If you take every moment seriously in this film you may not like it, but if you're smart enough to understand that this is a hyper state of reality and dive into the realm of our great Russian playwrights chaos and humor. this one's for you. It's important we support our independent film makers and not forget just how difficult it is to make movie. This is a story that should be told.

It was a really surprising movie. the black humor, and the way how all the masks fell down, and all of them struggled to face the truth, in front of their noses. Also Joey's point of view, watching everything from above, like a bird. Her innocence in the middle of that sick environment, and finally she found someone who understands her, but judge by the others. Like ravens, no matter like a raven does, it will always be judge.It's like a lesson's life, if we live in a constant lie, trying to pretend something, that lie will catch us sooner or later, even when we try to fool other people, acting in front of them, but our life is a huge mess, anything will save us from that, the bomb explodes and no more lies.

I was drawn to Among Ravens for the cast. I am an avid Amy Smart fan and the films she picks are always ones I like. I also always love seeing an actor's debut film, and this is Johnny Sequoyah's first! These leading ladies did not disappoint. Amy's ability to get inside her character's head and depict to the audience a genuine and relatable human experience is mesmerizing to watch. Johnny's character was absolutely my favorite part of the film. Her ability to show that a child's perspective can be the most insightful and truthful left me pondering how life can affect and warp our perspective's through the years and how important it is to be reminded of how we once viewed the world. Thanks to the gorgeous cinematography, I now know how beautiful Idaho is and will definitely be planning a trip there one day! It is refreshing to see a film that is both produced and directed by Cherokee Native Americans, to see their vision and control behind the camera instead of a stereotypical portrayal of them in front of it, is truly important.