History YMMV / DancesWithWolves

** Colonel Spivy immediately crosses it [[spoiler:when he lies about John's journal and steals it for ''no'' reason knowing that Dunbar is going to be executed as a traitor without any proof.]]

** This isn't the only time that Creator/{{Graham Greene|Actor}} has played [[VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption2 the role of a Lakota Indian]].

* HypeBacklash: Mainly from ''{{Film/Goodfellas}}'' fans who thought the movie was too long, boring, and a VanityProject. Also, some people have since labelled the film racist for having elements that border on MightyWhitey and WhiteSavior, despite the film itself being nothing but respected and praised by Natives.

* TearJerker: [[spoiler:The deaths of Two-Socks and Cisco, in rapid succession.]]

* FairForItsDay: In hindsight, ''Dances With Wolves'' was to race relations what ''Film/RainMan'' was to autism. How the film was received then and how some see it now: in 1990, the film was praised for being a positive representation of Native Americans, but in recent years, the film has been blamed for jumpstarting the "WhiteMansBurden" subgenre of films about racism. These films usually are told from the point of view of a white character, subsequently leading the minority characters to be portrayed as either [[MagicalNegro saints who guide the white lead]] or [[WhiteSavior victims for the white character to save]]. Even if this particular movie averts both, it still gets all the blame for opening the floodgate.

* HoYay: Wind In His Hair calls Dunbar his ''kola'', which in Lakota custom includes sleeping in the same blanket when part of a hunting party and in some cases even sharing wives. This also qualifies as FoeYay since they didn't like each other at first.

* VanityProject: Creator/KevinCostner directed, produced and starred in this film, however, it is [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools regarded as being a]] [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dances_with_Wolves#Reception well-done vanity project]] that managed to win four awards.

* VanityProject: Creator/KevinCostner directed, produced and starred in this film, however, it is [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools regarded as being a]] [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dances_with_Wolves#Reception well-done vanity project]] that managed to win four awards.
* VillainyFreeVillain : While the sadistic Spivey and cowardly Bauer were clearly meant to be AssholeVictims, the rest of the Union Soldiers who captured Dunbar and transport him to be court-martialed and probably executed for treason were just doing their duty in dealing with an officer who had deserted his post and joined a perceived enemy.

* VillainyFreeVillain : While the sadistic Spivey and cowardly Bauer were clearly meant to be AssholeVictims , the rest of the Union Soldiers who capture Dunbar and transport him to be court-martialed and probably executed for treason were just doing their duty in dealing with an officer who had deserted his post and joined a perceived enemy.

* HarsherInHindsight[=/=]HilariousInHindsight: The villainization of the Pawnee in this movie will come across as bitterly ironic to anyone who's seen ''Film/TheRevenant''.

* VillainyFreeVillain : While the sadistic Spivey and Bauer were clearly meant to be AssholeVictims , the rest of the Union Soldiers who capture Dunbar and transport him to be court-martialed and probably executed for treason were just doing their duty in dealing with an officer who had deserted his post and joined a perceived enemy.

* VillainyFreeVillain : While the sadistic Spivey and Bauer were clearly meant to be AssholeVictims , the rest of the Union Soldiers who capture Dunbar and transport him to be court-martialed and probably executed for treason were just doing their duty in dealing with an officer who had abandoned his post and joined a perceived enemy.

* {{Anvilicious}}[=/=]SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: Nowadays it can come off as extremely preachy, but at the time of its release it was one of the first positive portrayals of Native Americans to reach wide acclaim. Not counting [[HistoricalVillainUpgrade the Pawnee]] of course.

* CatharsisFactor: After being forced to watch the soldiers KickTheDog throughout their screentime, it becomes ''absolutely'' satisfying when the Sioux rescue party and Dunbar take almost of them out in brutal, but very deserving deaths, special mentions on Spivy and Baur.

** The squad of Union Soldier crosses it [[spoiler:when they killed Cisco, John's horse to be eaten by the , and Two-Socks for their own sadistic pleasaure.]]

* AlasPoorScrappy: The death of the revolting [[{{Jerkass}} Timmons]] is so brutal that it's hard not to feel sorry for him, even though [[SortingAlgorithmOfMortality it wasn't very surprising that he died]].
** He dies pleading with the Pawnee to [[spoiler: not hurt his mules]] even as he lay there suffering and bleeding out. He was a disgusting little troll [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold with a core of pure platinum]].

* {{Anvilicious}}[=/=]SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: Nowadays it can come off as extremely preachy, but at the time of its release it was one of the first positive portrayals of Antive Americans to reach wide acclaim. Not counting [[HistoricalVillainUpgrade the Pawnee]] of course.

* {{Anvilicious}}[=/=]SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: Nowadays it can come off as extremely preachy, but at the time of its release it was one of the first positive portrayals of American natives to reach wide acclaim. Not counting [[HistoricalVillainUpgrade the Pawnee]] of course.

* HilariousInHindsight: This isn't the only time that Creator/{{Graham Greene|Actor}} has played [[VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption2 the role of a Lakota Indian]].