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Summary: DVD Review
Review: I had stayed away from this DVD because of all of the bad DVD quality reviews. I found a used DVD copy yesterday and although I was disappointed by DVD standards, I found it to be a much clearer picture than I was used to on my VHS. Until it is remastered, like we know it will be(why wouldn't they want to sell it to us again?), this will do just fine.
Rating:
Summary: An Epic Film
Review: Lonesome Dove is truly an epic film. The characters are developed in such a way that you will feel as though you know them. Some will make you hate them, some you will love, and others will disgust you. It's amazing how attached you can become to this movie, it's characters and the story line. You will get mad, laugh, cry, and ponder. This is one of the best movies I've ever had the priviledge and pleasure to enjoy.
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Summary: mystery date
Review: Simply one of the greatest Westerns ever, maybe THE greatest, in the class of Red River, My Darling Clementine, The Searchers, Once Upon a Time in the West, The Wild Bunch, Unforgiven and Mann's Last of the Mohicans (if that counts as a Western), with a deathless performance by Duvall that overshadows everything else the first time you see it, until the second or third time you see it and then you realize just how fine Jones is too. But I've been reluctant to replace my video copy with the DVD, given the controversy about the DVD's quality (though I've been seriously flirting with buying it anyway because the film's so great and the video was never that technically terrific in the first place, and sooner or later the videotape will disintegrate...) and now I have more a question than a review, that maybe someone out there can answer: it appears from the above date now listed as the release date for the DVD version that the DVD that was released last February has perhaps been pulled from the market with a new release set for October. Is this the case? Does anyone know why? Are they imporving the quality of the disc after all the flack on it?
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Summary: Amazing!
Review: This is one of the best movies of all time--the kind you watch again and again. But I agree with the other reviewers who said that somebody needs to make a better quality version of it. Obviously, the DVD is no good, and I haven't had much better luch with the VHS. I've purchased this movie three times, and all three times, the sound messed up after a couple of viewings, and the picture quality is not that great. People would pay money for a better version of this movie.
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Summary: "Lonsome Dove" is the all-time best western theme movie
Review: Absolutely flawless - well, not quite there are some things I wish would have been done differently. Blue Duck was too clean to be as mean as he was. There are a couple of instances of sloppy editing. Of course I have watched it about 20+ times clear through and favorite scenes many more times than that. Most of the reviews at this site are right on so I won't waste time in going over the basic plot. If there is an ounce romance in your makeup and you ever wanted to be a cowboy or cowgirl then watch "Lonsome Dove" and hold on to the saddle horn. Unfortunately I must say that I will not be buying the DVD... My VCR plays the tape well and the general concensus is that the DVD version thus far is not that great technically. What a shame.
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Summary: The Best Western
Review: This is the best western. The characters are deep, the story intricate, the emotional impact high, and the action second to none. The extended length is a blessing. Robert Duvall is outstanding.
Rating: 
Summary: It is a shame
Review: I really, really like Lonesome Dove and this video production of the story. I give them 5 stars. What's a shame is that the VHS version was recorded in "very long play" mode. Very poor quality viewing. Can barely make it track on my machine. The whole series was done this way. I own them all. I am glad I do because having these wonderful stories are worth the poor media/production. I believe people would pay more for better quality. Now I hear that the DVD is substandard as well. It is a shame. I was waiting for the DVDs hoping to see the job done right. I am sorry to say that I will not buy them. Anything worth doing, is worth doing right. Mr. McMurtry has been done an injustice and his fans have been done a disservice in the name of maximum profit and maximum economy.
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Summary: Great Movie
Review: I love Lonesome Dove,and I think this is Duvall and Jones best work.It's probably the best western ever made.Duvall does Augustus wonderfully,as Jones does Captain Call very well.Follows the book closely,which makes it better.Too bad there aren't more than 5 stars.Buy this movie,it's wonderful!
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Summary: Even better than I remembered
Review: It's been years since I last rented the laserdisc version of this -- and i'm glad it's finally out on DVD (although the LD transfer did look better). Best non-gunfighter, western-themed movie ever made. Interesting interview clips with McMurtry, although the question-and-answer format is a stupid idea -- a straight-through interview with him would have been much more enjoyable (warts and all; it has obviously been edited-down from a longer, probably rambling discussion of the book, etc.). His discussions about evolution of the story, the parallels to Don Quixote, and where the title "Lonesome Dove" came from and what it really means are the best parts of the interview (and I'm now really irritated that for all these years I never realized what it meant).
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Summary: Shameless emotional manipulation. It's so good, who cares?
Review: Playing the Texas Ranger turned cattleman, Gus McRae, this is unquestionably Robert Duval's greatest acting achievement. Had this adaptation of Larry McMurtry's award-winning novel been made for the Big Screen rather than television, it would have garnered very major Academy Award for that year. It's also every bit as good as the book, if not better.In my opinion, this is the finest vision of the mythical American West ever put on film. It has everything: flawed good guys, horrific bad guys, Indian fights, shootouts, the hooker with a Heart of Gold, rustlers, a danger-filled cattle drive, hangings, lost loves, loyalty of friendship, cowardice, bravery, tragedy, drama, humor. The cynic will say that the film is simply a compilation of clichés. However, everything is tied together so wonderfully by Duval and a magnificent supporting cast, spectacular cinematography, authentic period costuming, and a soundtrack to knock your socks off, that it's hard to object even if you realize your emotions are being shamelessly manipulated. I've plugged the video tape of this epic into the VCR more times than I can count. If you've never seen it, rent it this weekend, have a box of Kleenex handy, and indulge your senses.
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