Rating: 
Summary: Probably the Greatest Western Ever!
Review: A few years ago I had the opportunity to speak personally with Robert Urich about his role as ill-fated Jake Spoon in the epic western Lonesome Dove. Simply put, he said that it was "the most fun I have ever had making a movie. Think of it. Riding and shooting every day with two of the greatest western stars ever: Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones! I won't have that much fun ever again!" I am sure that he could have gone on for hours but, unfortunately, time would not permit. The look on his face and the light in his eyes said it all. Tragically Urich passed away a year or two thereafter.The legend and the story live on in the Pulitzer Prize winning book by Larry McMurty and in this faithful video depiction of the classic story. A star-studded cast, headed by Duvall, Jones and Urich, along with one of the most beautiful western soundtracks ever composed make Lonesome Dove a viewing experience that you will enjoy time and again.
Rating:
Summary: Where did the past go...
Review: See also McMurtry's book of the same title. The film is exceptionally faithful to the book. But see the movie first, because Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones fit the two main characters perfectly: you'll hear their voices as you read the book (warning to Germans: don't buy a dubbed version of the film!). No one can write about Texas like McMurtry, and no actor can play a Texan like Duvall! What's it about:? The short transition period from the time of the outlaws (the lawmen were also outlaws now and then, as is portrayed in the film) and Indians, and the transition to the boring money-civilization of banks, shopkeeping, and corporate ranching. In this connection, see also the oral histories collected in the fine book 'In Their Own words'. My Geman wife hates kitch, smells it a mile a way, and loves both Lonesome Dove and The Evangelist, both played by Duvall. She also loves West Texas but hates the fences there. There's much more freedom of motion in Europe than in the fenced-in U.S. In Europe, you can walk across a farmer's land without asking permission, whereas in Texas you shouldn't.
Rating:
Summary: Rather Outstanding
Review: I hereby thank a good friend of mine for introducing me to this very fine film, which indeed deserves high honor in the TV miniseries Hall of Fame. LONESOME DOVE, a sprawling and picturesque epic set in the old American West, is based on a novel of the same name by author Larry McMurtry. This is a saga of two friends, retired Texas Rangers Augustus McCrae (Robert Duvall) and Woodrow Call (Tommy Lee Jones), who dare ensue seeking out what fellow former Ranger Jake Spoon (Robert Urich) has described as a "cattleman's paradise" - the virgin wilderness of Montana. Before long they're off, stealing back from thieves across the border large herds of cattle and horses, readying themselves for a journey that's quite destined to become -more or less- the great American odyssey. This bold undertaking, originating in the southwest of Texas, is reckoned to end - once having conquered the vast unforgiving wilds of Indian country - in the rich wide openness of western Montana. Gathering a motley crew of cowboys and other notables: among them an old comrade in arms, Joshua Deets (Danny Glover), Captain Call's illegitimate and unacknowledged son Newt (Rick Schroder), the town's kind-hearted prostitute, Lorie (Diane Lane), and Gus's two pet pigs, Gus and Captain Call embark upon their grand ambitious trek. It is a trek filled with unrelenting adventure - fraught throughout with quirky happenstance, scenic romance and omnipresent danger. In addition to horse thieves, snakes, and Indians, Gus and Call must contend with a vicious, murderous half-breed named Blue Duck (Frederic Forrest). Also, in an interesting sub-plot, the ne'er do well Jake is pursued by a sheriff from Arkansas for an accidental murder committed there. However this sheriff, July Johnson (Chris Cooper), soon changes his course after finding out his pregnant wife had run off on a whiskey boat in pursuit of a wastrel lover. Meanwhile, after having rescued Lorie from the clutches of Blue Duck and his gang of nasty villains, Gus makes room in his ample heart for the love of two women: Lorie, who's evermore from that moment devoted to him, and Clara (Anjelica Huston), an old flame he intends to visit while en-route to Montana. Just as Dickens did, McMurtry fleshes his characters out - even the minor ones - and gives them souls. Gus and Woodrow are, in particular, drawn forth with amazing depth and insight - Gus's warm sensibility plays perfectly off Call's stern straightforwardness, and it makes for a friendship that is rich, pure and patent. Truly Duvall must be a real cowboy at heart, and the role of Gus McCrea was just made for him! And Tommy Lee Jones was absolutely stellar. My favorite minor character is Janey (Nina Siemaszko), a girl from Arkansas who chucks rocks with perfect aim at a scurvy bunch of backwoods outlaws trying to rob her new friend - my 2nd favorite minor character - Deputy Roscoe Brown (Barry Corbin). The acting is actually superb throughout, which I suppose should well be expected from such a first rate cast: two with Oscars already tucked under their belts (Duvall and Huston), two future Academy Award winners (Tommy Lee Jones and Chris Cooper), as well as a future Oscar nominee (Diane Lane) - it lends no insignificant amount of credit to a television movie when there are actors of such renowned caliber starring in it. I cannot say this film was quite as moving as I had expected it to be - though realistically portrayed, some of the tragedy seemed too coincidental or, in some subtle way, even contrived. Yet, although this movie is somewhat slow and slightly dry at the beginning, it does gradually warm into an alluringly endearing glow by the end: a spark lovingly fanned along the way by Basil Poledouris's exquisite score. The dry dusty landscape is exquisitely filmed, and much of the dialogue is woven with bits of subdued genius. Overall, I must say that though this is a brutally honest drama, it is possessed, much like Homer's Odyssey, of a mythical quality all its own.
Rating:
Summary: Lonesome Dove is a Keeper
Review: I have watched this series several times, and like a few other movies I have seen in my 45 years on earth, it always captures my attention. Superb actors at their best in the most scenic settings; plus a storyline with heart and action. A keeper.
Rating: 
Summary: Dry as the Desert!!
Review: Lonesom Dove dragged on and on and on and on.........> It's very dry, and even though Tommy Lee Jones and other well known stars appeared in it, it still was TERRIBLE. If you want to see a REAL western, watch Wyatt Earp (Lawrence Kasden) - NOW THERE'S A WESTERN!!
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Old West Entertainment
Review: The greatest gift of this 1992 masterpiece made for television series is the development of the relationships of the main characters. They did a superior job in casting Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Duval, Diane Lane, Danny Glover and Robert Urich in the lead roles. I don't even like Anjelica Huston but in this movie she is great. The dialogue is clever, insightful and reveals the pioneer way of life. You truly fall for the characters in this heart-felt western drama. And don't forget Rick Shroeder! I have watched Lonesome Dove more times than I can count and now need a DVD version. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: "ON TO MONTANA"
Review: IN A DAY AND AGE WHEN HOLLYWIERD IS SO ENTHRALLED WITH SI FI THRILLERS, ESCAPIST ACTION FLICKS AND OTHER NON REALITY, PROFANE LADEN GARBAGE, ONE OFTEN HAS TO PLUG IN A GOOD VIDEO TO REDISCOVER QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT.
IF QUALITY VIDEO IS YOUR MARK, LOOK NO FURTHER THAN 'LONESOME DOVE.'
ABOUT ONCE A YEAR I REWIND THIS ONE AND OVER A PERIOD OF WEEKS, WATCHING A LITTLE HERE AND A LITTLE THERE I ONCE AGAIN THRILL TO THIS MAGNIFICENT MASTERPIECE.
THE FOUNDATION OF THIS CLASSIC IS LARRY MCMURTRYS NOVEL.
MCMURTRY WHO MAY BE A SHADE ODD AS A PERSON SHINES AS A MASTER OF THE MODERN TRAGEDY.
ITS A SHAME ALL OF HIS NOVELS ARENT THIS RICH IN CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND QUALITY DIALOUGE.
COULD IT HAVE BEEN ANY BETTER CAST? I DOUBT IT. EVERYONE IN THIS FILM IS IDEALLY SUITED TO THEIR ROLES.
THE PLOT IS SIMPLE AND SECONDARY. THE CHARACTERS TAKE CENTER STAGE ON THIS ONE, AND WHAT CHARACTERS THEY ARE.
RETIRED TEXAS RANGERS WOODROW F. CALL (TOMMY LEE JONES) AND AUGUSTIS MCRAE (ROBERT DUVALL) LEAD A SCURVY BUNCH OF "ADLED BRAIN COWBOYS" NOT TO MENTION THE TOWN WHORE AND TWO PIGS ON AN EPIC CATTLEDRIVE FROM SOUTHWEST TEXAS NORTH TO MONTANA. THERE ARE
MANY DANGERS, DIVERSIONS AND OTHER OBSTACLES IN THEIR PATH. BUT THEY PERSEVEARE TO THE VERY END LOOSING MUCH BUT GAINING MUCH MORE ALONG THE WAY.
SIMON WINCER HAS COME TO NOTERIETY DIRECTING WESTERNS. IT SEEMS TO BE HIS FOR TE.
THE CINEMATOGRAPHY IS BEYOND BIG SCREEN QUALITY AS MANY SCENES ARE BEAUTIFULLY DONE IN THE GLOW OF DAWN AND DUSK.
THE SUPPORTING CAST READS LIKE A WHOS WHO FROM T.V. AND FILM.
DANNY GLOVER, ROBERT URICH, D.B. SWEENEY, ANJELICA HUSTON, RICKY SCHRODER AND THE LIST GOES ON.
THE VERBAL SPARRING BETWEEN MCRAE AND CALL IS WIT AT ITS BEST.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SHOWS THAT THE VIEWER MUST WATCH CLOSELY.
NOT BECAUSE OF FREQUENT PLOT TWISTS THAT HAVE BECOME INANELY POPULAR IN OTHER FILMS, BUT BECAUSE OF THE CONSISTANT QUALITY OF EVERY SCENE.
PAUSE IT IF YOU MUST ANSWER NATURES CALL OR RAID THE FRIDGE.
THIS IS A POETIC TALE THAT YOU DONT WANT TO MISS A SEACOND OF.
FILMED ON LOCATION IN AND AROUND DEL RIO TEXAS GIVES THE MINI SERIES THE GENUINE VERACITY A LOT OF MOVIES LACK THESE DAYS.
THERE ARE SO MANY MEMORABLE SCENES AND BITS OF GENUIS DIALOUGE THAT THEY ARE TOO NUMEROUS TO REPEAT HERE. THE PHILOSOPHICAL RAMBLINGS OF DUVALLS GUS GIVES US INSIGHT INTO THIS SURFACE SIMPLE MAN WHO WREAKS OF ARTICULATE OMNI INTELLIGENCE.
MCRAES CUTTING UP PLAYS WELL OFF OF CALLS STOIC ONE DIMENSIONALISM. DUVALL AND JONES ARE GREAT TOGETHER AND ITS A SHAME THE TWO HAVE NOT COLLABORATED ON MORE FILMS.
THE DRY DUSTY LANSCAPE IS A CO STAR IN THIS EFFORT ALONG WITH BIT PLAYERS WHO ARE ALSO COLORFULLY DRAWN.
THE MUSIC IS BOLD, UNAPOLAGETIC YET NOT INTRUSIVE.
YOU WILL RUN THE GAMUT OF EMOTIONS WHILE ENJOYING THIS PIECE.
FROM LAUGHTER, TO SADNESS AND MAYBE A TEAR OR TWO.
WE REALLY GET TO KNOW THESE CHARACTERS AND ARE DEEPLY MOVED AS SOME OF THEM MEET THERE END.
LIKE MOST GOOD WESTERNS THERE ARE MANY MORALS HERE. MCRAE AND CALL ARE SO COMMITTED TO THEIR CODE THAT THEY GRUDGINGLY HANG A FRIEND WHEN HE "CROSSES THE LINE." AND THEY HAVE ENOUGH WHIMSIES TO RESPECTFULLY JOKE ABOUT IT LATER.
CALL IS FORCED TO ACCEPT HIS ILL LEGITIMATE SON 'NEWT' AND SWALLOW HIS REVERED PRIDE IN DOING SO.
THEY CONSTANTLY TAKE TIME OUT FROM THEIR SACRED MISSION OF "ON TO MONTANA" TO RIGHT VARIOUS WRONGS AND LEND AID TO UNFORTUNATES ALONG THE TRAIL.
AT THE END, THE UNEMOTIONAL CALL BREAKS DOWN SOMEWHAT UPON REFLECTING ON THE COSTS OF HIS IMPOSING WILL. FOR THE PURIST CROWD WHO SEEK HONEST DRAMA AS OPPOSED TO FLAKY FLUFF THIS ONE SHOULD SATISFY ABOVE AND BEYOND YOUR EXPECTATIONS. DONT BE FOOLED BY THE FILMS PROMOTIONAL SIMPLICITY. THIS IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A BUNCH OF COW POKES GOING 'ON TO MONTANA.'
Rating: 
Summary: get the other edition!
Review: Be warned: this edition of "Lonesome Dove" is cut down to 240 minutes, from the original 360. This is perhaps the greatest television miniseries ever made, and it would be a shame to see it in anything but its complete form. Spend the extra couple of bucks to get the other DVD edition! My rating of the movie itself would be five stars, but this cut version is a terrible injustice.
Rating: 
Summary: Great, but one flaw
Review: This is a great movie. I have watched it over and over on vhs and recently purchased the dvd. I was dissapointed to find out that the DVD version of the movie is broken up into sections like it is being aired on TV. During climatic parts of the movie, it stops and the credits start to roll.I feel like it is time for commercials. Then in the next scene, the movie starts over again with the opening theme song and the cast and directors names on the screen. I bought the DVD movie version to get away from the TV style of showing it over a couple of days. This totally defeats the point of having it on DVD and kills the moment in the movie. Bad mistake on who ever did this to the DVD version.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Western Of All Time!!!
Review: This is a wonderful story of love, hardships, and friendship. This is the best western of all time. I just love old Gus's take on life. I really hope that you will take the time to watch this wonderful moive!
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