Rating: 
Summary: How many Versions are there?
Review: How many versions of "Lonesome Dove" are there. Most reviewers don't mention their copies being edited. "A Viewer" says his states "running time 360 mins" but I checked the version listed here on Amazon and it states "running time 240 mins"????
What gives? The $11 price tag makes me suspicious about this being the full length, unedited series as originally broadcast.
Rating: 
Summary: A severe case of editing
Review: I saw the original Lonesome Dove series on TV and fortunalely was able to tape it. After buying a DVD player I bought the DVD because of the supposedly better picture quality and no commercials.Was I ever dissapointed. Parts of the program were edited out as the story went along. The unforgiveable sin was the abrupt ending of the story leaving out atleast a third of the story and the conclusion. I want my money back. Bob Glover
Rating:
Summary: The DVD IS the complete miniseries.
Review: I don't know what the viewer from San Antonio was smoking, but I've checked several other websites and the back of my DVD to get the correct running time for this and they all say 360 minutes, or six hours which is the complete miniseries!
Rating:
Summary: NOT THE FULL LENGTH ORIGINAL VERSION
Review: This version is only 2/3's the original. While I don't consider Lonesome Dove to be as great a film as The Unforgiven, consider The Unforgiven being cut down to 2/3's it's original length. Would you consider it to be worth considering over the original. I doubt it. Major character development and plotlines would have to be cut. Lonesome Dove, in my opinion, is one of the greatest, if not the greatest mini-series to ever play on television. Robert Duval and Tommy Lee Jones give Academy Award deserving (if it was on the big screen) performances. However, everyone should wait for the original, full length version to come out on DVD. I know I will. If this DVD had been the original, it would recieve 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Lonesome Dove Deserves a Better DVD Edition
Review: I don't think I can add anymore than what's already been said about Lonesome Dove. This is one of the best mini-series of all time. And overall probably the best Western I've ever seen. But Lonesome Dove fans deserve a better transfer of this film to DVD. The original broadcast on CBS wasn't crystal clear with eye popping colors either but it was certainly better than this murky hazy looking print. Other studios have taken important groundbreaking mini-series like Roots (and most recently Shogun) and gave them stunning transfers that look even better than the original broadcast. And Roots and Shogun first aired more than 10 years before Lonesome Dove!! Lonesome Dove the book and the TV series has become part our collective memory of the Mythological American West. And has done as much to make us rethink Hollywood cliches about Westerns as Unforgiven or previous Westerns by Leone, Peckinpah, Hawks, or Ford. I'm glad its at least available on DVD. But I can't help but say this series simply deserves better. Why do I care? Again, its an "important" Western. And for selfish reasons as well. I re-watch Lonesome Dove about once every year. It should look just as good as most of DVD's out there today.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the best
Review: I am 56 & say with certainty that Lonesome Dove was the best thing that I have ever seen on TV. Duvall & Jones probably gave their best ever performance. I am not skilled at giving it the superlatives that it deserves. I will only say that no matter what your tastes in movies, you won't be dissapointed in this one. Great story, acting, charactors, & direction.
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Summary: Classic Western with memorable characters
Review: Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones give what is undoubtedly one of the best westerns ever made it's heart and soul. They are supported by a splendid cast and the dialogue and screenplay adaptation of Larry McMurtry's fantastic book is right on the money. There are so many memorable lines that I find myself quoting this even years after seeing it for the first time. The cinematography is beautiful. If you are hankering for a real old-faxhioned western that can be watched with pleasure again and again look no further. One of my favorite films of all time. Hard to believe that this was made for TV. Why can't television come close to being this good on a regular basis?
Rating: 
Summary: Not the full lenght version
Review: The original TV version of Lonesome Dove was 384 minutes long.
This DVD version has been cut to 240 minutes,so be warned if you want the original version.
Rating:
Summary: A great film
Review: First, please read Larry McMurtry's excellent original novel. It is a rich tapestry of characterization, language and vivid descriptions of place. Simultaneously brutal and lyrical LONESOME DOVE is one of the finest American works of literature ever produced. That said the film version stands as one of the greatest novel to film adaptations ever made. Capturing much of the rich novel's immense depth and vision, this epic film is perhaps one of the finest dramatic pieces ever created for television. Clocking in at over six hours, this film never drags and possesses, with the exception of THE WILD BUNCH, simply the finest ensemble acting ever seen in the Western Genre. Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones give textbook examples of effective film acting. The literal volumes they communicate about the human soul with only a blink of an eye or the wave of a hand stand as a lasting testament to the art of acting. Granted while McMurtry's brilliant omniscient point of view is lost for the camera, Duvall and Jones and the rest of the cast completely capture each characters'dynamic inner life. The film also contains standout performances from Angelica Huston, Danny Glover, Tim Scott, Diane Lane, Rick Schroeder, Chris Cooper, Steve Buscemi and many others. In a perfect world this would have been produced for the big theatrical screen in 70mm widescreen. The framing and cinematography do appear sadly cramped for such a sprawling work. Such is the case with a film made for television. On that note, the DVD possesses a rather poor transfer that renders the film rather shallow visually. Still this is but a small matter as LONESOME DOVE is as close to the American Odyssey as THE GRAPES OF WRATH and other great literary works. The timeless theme that life is full of changes is brought home in a most profound, beautiful and ultimately entertaining package. Simply put, this is not a film to be missed, it is to be sought out and treasured like the dearest family heirloom.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Westerns of all time
Review: Retired Texas Ranger Captain Woodrow Call (Tommy Lee Jones) and friend Augustus McCrae (Robert Duvall) demand respect for their part in "winning the west" by launching a blood campaign against the comaches. Life had really slowed down for the two as they home steaded a ranch in a small town called Lonesome Dove. Life in Lonesome Dove is a mixture of meals prepared by a mexican, who has left a wife and daughters in Mexico, Augustus sitting around drinking whiskey on hot summer days, and Captain Call breaking in a white stallion. With the arrival of Jake Spoon (Robert Urich) and scout - Joshua Deets (Danny Glover) life changes and the idea is sponsered to herd cattle and horses stolen, from Mexican bandits, to Montana. Two themes run through the movie: the cowboy theme of herding 2300 cattle and horse to Montana and the eventual death of a relatiatory half-breed called Blue Duck. The cowboy theme centers around Newt (Rickie Schroder) who is the illegimate son of a prostitute whose father is Captain Call. Captain Call never does tell Newt, he is his son, rather promotes him to range lead and gives him his horse. Captain Call values his horse more than his name and thinks the gift is more of a honour. Blue Duck is formable opponent who does not fear the Texas Rangers catching Gus somewhat off guard, at a bathing creek, for which, Blue Duck boldly drinks from the creek telling Gus how disgusted is with the Texas Rangers and that it will be a pleasure to kill them. Gus rallies the men to kill Blue Duck, but misdirection leads to disaster. Blue Duck unexpectedly doubles back and kidnaps prostitute, Lorie (Diane Lane), who is enroute with Jake Spoon for San Francisco, a journey that would never be completed. Jake has no intention to marry her and left her vulnerable to Blue Duck abduction. After Lori's abduction Jake would associate with cattle theives and sod buster murders and be hung by Captain Call and Gus. Gus would say Jake died with class. Gus would aggrandize Texas Ranger status as he would lead a single man rescue to return Lori. In the end Gus would kill all of Blue Duck mercenaries but not be capable of killing Blue Duck. Blue Duck would escape, Gus would rescue Lori, and Lori would fall in love with Gus. Gus would love two women: Clair, his first love and Lori because of the rescue. Gus may have consider Lori more of a common law wife then Clair. In the end Lori would receive Gus's portion of the herd when he died. Clair would love Gus be realized he was the type who needed to be free and avoiding marriage was a relief for Gus. My favorite part of the movie occurred at the end when Blue Duck was captured. Blue Duck the harden killer who raped, murdered with a hugh knive, and stealed for pleasure was going to die. One really hates Blue Duck by the end of the movie. The community really wants to see Blue Duck hang. Captain Call would meet up Blue Duck, a second time, proceeding Blue Duck's capture while enroute to bury Gus near a creek where Gus and Clair fell in love. A hanging was prepared. Captain Call wanted to see Blue Duck immediately and upon meeting him again, Blue Duck seemed spiteful and rancerous claiming that an old indian woman taught him how to fly. Implying he could fly away and avoid being hanged. Captain Call told him that he wasn't going to be able to fly away from this hanging. True to Blue Ducks cold hearted killing nature, he grabbed the sheriff , pulled the man through a high window, the fall causes both individuals to die on the ground below. Whereupon, Captain Call kicks Blue Duck over and says, "the old woman didn't teach you well." This is one of the best Western movies of all time. I recommend watching all three parts at once. Start early because that six hours of high quality entertainment.
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