Rating: 
Summary: The Exception to My Rule
Review: Not too long ago, I caught the tail end of a film on the cable channel which captured more than my attention. After watching what was left of the film, it left me thirsty for more. I purchased the 4 set vhs immediately. I usually make it a rule to avoid westerns; most westerns don't hold my attention past the first ten minutes. Lonesome Dove turned out to be the exception to my rule. This 6 hour saga boasts an all-star cast, beginning with Robert Duvall as Captain Gus McCrae and Tommy Lee Jones as Captain Woodrow Call, two retired Texas Rangers hailing from a small town in south Texas, called appropriately enough, Lonesome Dove. After an unspected visit from their long absent partner, Jake Spoon, played by Robert Urich, the three round up some experienced hands and head cross country to the yet unsettled State of Montana with a herd of stolen horses and cattle in an effort to build an empire in the breeding buisiness. Several storylines unfold along the way, as Captains Call and McCrae take their treacherous trek cross country, crossing seven untamed rivers along the way. Rick Schroeder plays the illigitimate son of Captain Call who refuses to recognize him as his son, but takes on the role in rearing the boy, now on the threshold of manhood. Schroeder's performance displays a side of his talents that were never fully displayed in any of his former roles on television. I can say the same for Robert Urich who shines in his portrail as Jake Spoon. Rick Schroeder's character, Newt Dobbs, although still rough around the edges, displays deeply instilled loyalties and trust in Captain Call and the men associated with them who had a hand in raising the boy practically from birth. The issue of paternity and the lack of recognition clearly tear at the compassionate sides of both men. The loyalties and ties run deep between all of them. Danny Glover plays an experienced tracker, taking incredible risks for the sake of his comrades. His simplistic yet poignant portrayal was intense enough to bring me to tears. The movie brought out a mix of raw emotions from within me, ranging from laughing out loud at the sprinkles of dry humor to wiping tears from my eyes with the dramatic side to this movie. My favorite scene was when Captain McCrae narrowly escapes an Indian attack while scouting with Pea Eye who inquires "What kind of Indians were they?" to which the dry Captain McCrae replies "I don't know. They didn't stop to introduce themselves." There are other characters who deserve accolades but it would take alot more than this small space, for me to touch on every one of them. The storylines are gripping, the scenery breathtaking and the recreation of life in an infant America is so realistic, it gave me a hankerin' to go back in time. This is a must see, with warmth, bravado and edge of your seat tension. This film not only captured my attention, but my heart. If you are in the mood for a movie with powerful insight on what life was really like in the old west, if you want heartstopping action, adventure, vivid characters and intensity that never quits, then this is the movie for you.
Rating:
Summary: Modern Western For a Forgotten Genre
Review: A side from the great dramatical aspects of the film, it is of this reviewers opinion that Lonsome Dove is a marvelous tribute to the real cowboys. Although fiction, Larry McMurtry based the story on the life of Oliver Loving and Charles Goodnight, two famous cowboys, who paved the Goodnight-Loving trail. What seperates this film from most western classics is its authentic portrayal of the American cowboy. The death, the brutal weather, the sleep deprivation, the diversity, the sacrifices, and much more is captured.
Rating:
Summary: The GREATEST movie of all time!
Review: I know that it probably has been said by thousands of folks but lets say it one more time. Lonesome Dove is without a doubt the greatest movie ever made. EVER. Robert Duvall as, no make that Robert Duvall is Gus McCrae and Tommy Lee Jones is Captain Woodrow F. Call. They embark on a 2000 mile cattle drive from Texas to Montana to set up ranch and be cattlemen. Gus is the kind that likes to play cards and get pokes and Call is all about business. They were Texas Rangers together in the old days and have a friendship that we all wish we could have. Along with Jake Spoon, Deets, Newt, Dish and the very underrated Tim Scott as Pea Eye they go and resteal horses from the Mexicans and then head on their way to Montana. Gus is not thrilled about going but is on the trip for only one reason. To go and see his long lost love Clara Allen. Along the way you are introduced to the Indian outlaw Blue Duck, who has alluded Call and McCrae from their days as rangers, Sherrif July Johnson and his deputy Rosco along with other great characters. Every actor or actress who played in Lonesome Dove seems custom made for the part they play.
In this movie you have some of the best supporting roles in movie history. You have Diane Lane as Lorie, Barry Tubb as Jasper Fant, Leon Singer as Bolivar the cook from Lonesome Dove, D.B. Sweeny, in one of the best character developments, as Dish Bogget, Rick Schroder as Calls unclaimed son Newt and many others who are just as important to the story but just to many to name. The ones above are the major characters through out the whole movie.
I really don't have the time and space to tell you about all the great things about this movie so you will need to set aside 6 hours and sit back and enjoy the greatest movie ever made.
Rating: 
Summary: Lomesome Dove
Review: This is my favoriute all time movie, however I too have seen this hacked up version. I hoped to find the original in a DVD format, but after finding it unavailable have chosen not to purchase.
Rating:
Summary: Lonesome Dove?
Review: I cannot tell you how disapointed I was after watching my recently purchased DVD. I expected this version to be complete and without edit. What I got was an extremely shortened version of perhaps my all time favorite western. The editing to me seemed to make the story choppy and without the flow of a story well told. I came away feeling I had been cheated of the true telling of the original story. I mean complete scenes had been left out. It was a complete failure in my eyes.
Rating:
Summary: THE VERY BEST ever[count em on one hand]
Review: NEARLY perfect.. picture IS, SO hear, the trumpets beat.. warm FELT EFFECTS,this IS better THAN life,IMAGINE living a complete life afrirmingORGASM INTERACTION, WITH THE TELEVISION SCREEN, comming to life, this is one to take home and be A PART OF YOUR home,[ HERE,the ole west given the time the parimeters of MADE FOR TELEVISION MINI SERIES, culls and gusses [ and their most accomplished RAG TAGGED poise ofMISSFITS, COLLECTION OF ARCHO TYPES,HumAN CASTe TYPES Cast To[ FIT EVERY DESCRIPTION,] IN legend ..... of vagabonds glued together , if you like WESTERNS, you achieve some kinda REVELATIONdrivePERFECT scope of cosmic UnFATHOMINGS, given meaning to stumble AROUND about, dusty destiny at odds with reasen, so IMMERSIVE your ONE with the cosmos, AT peace, this is worth a vacation ride, to the heart of the spirit of man what it feels to experience, having it shoved, down and dirty,BUT GOOD, JUST ALWAYS AROUND THE CORNER, the very good in,HEART taken handed dished out in,FELT STORY [LEGEND]
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed in Orlando
Review: DVD is edited. However, they give you lots of bonus material that you can use as "salt in your wounds" while you steam over the hacked up product. I was very disappointed. How do you justify changing such a well received classic?
Rating:
Summary: As to run length...
Review: According to Amazon.com's "technical details" link for this item, the total run time is 240 minutes. According to IMDB, the miniseries first broadcast in 1989 runs 384 minutes. This jives with my recollection of four two-hour episodes, with commercials, broadcast in the winter of early 1989. So YES, this is an edited version: Almost 2-1/2 hours have been removed. That seems a fairly severe abridgement. I wouldn't consider buying such a chop-up of this great, great Western. Five stars for the original film, one star for chainsaw editing.
Rating:
Summary: False Advertising
Review: To top things off, Lonesome Dove has released two versions of their film. The full length version (released some time ago) is out of stock per Amazon. The new version is 2/3 the film. But both versions show the same reviews on Amazon. So check the technical details to be sure the version that you are buying is the full length.
Rating:
Summary: LOOK AT TECHNICAL DETAILS FOR THIS DVD -240 MINUTES
Review: As to the person from Minneapolis, if you look at the technical details for this specific DVD, you will find it is 240 minutes long. Yes, there was an earlier edition that was 360 minutes long, the one I would recommend if you can find it. BUT THIS VERSION IS ONLY 240 MINUTES LONG. The person from Mineapolis is mistaken and DIDN'T LOOK AT THE TECHNICAL DETAILS FOR THIS SPECIFIC DVD.
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