I was also quite disappointed with Spirit...it looked like it had a lot of potential, but in the end it disappoints. And I agree with your assessment of the "white swinery". Come on, there wasn't a even one kind white soldier, or at least one not completely brutal? Give me a break.

And if I remember correctly, I think Custer was one of the soldiers abusing Spirit. I am so sick of the whole Custer-as-villain aspect that keeps popping up in modern westerns. In my opinion, it's one of the most tired, boring, overused cliches out there. **yawns**Surely there are writers out there who have enough creativity to come up with a new villain! Or at least do their research and come up with a historical figure who was just as bad, or worse.