This one is hard to rate. As a movie it has a lot going for it. It's got plenty of action and is never boring, it's handled well and punctuates the character beats. It's got some great performances especially from Yaphet Kotto, Warren Oates, and Pam Grier (but ALMOST all of the performances are good). It even has romance, some of it healthy and others not. Plus it clearly inspired Django Unchained a bit.
The problem is it exploits its subject material in favor of pure entertainment. I can understand why some people might find that offensive. It does portray some slave owners in a positive light and it ends with our hero saving his owners life from a slave uprising (and while Warren Oates was likable we see him do and say some evil things). The other big problem is Ken Norton, the titular Drum, who's performance is terrible and even laughable at times. I can't imagine why Ken Norton is lead instead of anyone else.
I would say a movies first job is to engage the audience. Drum provides entertainment to keep your attention till the end. Even if there are some questionable things.
The problem is it exploits its subject material in favor of pure entertainment. I can understand why some people might find that offensive. It does portray some slave owners in a positive light and it ends with our hero saving his owners life from a slave uprising (and while Warren Oates was likable we see him do and say some evil things). The other big problem is Ken Norton, the titular Drum, who's performance is terrible and even laughable at times. I can't imagine why Ken Norton is lead instead of anyone else.
I would say a movies first job is to engage the audience. Drum provides entertainment to keep your attention till the end. Even if there are some questionable things.