James A. Michener's Texas

Rating:
Summary: Texas with no Comanches (or anyone else)
Review: At the beginning of the movie Charlton Heston tells us that there are 7000 Hispanics, 20,000 Anglos(?), and I forgot how many Native Americans (I only use this phrase because I know so many people from India and it seems odd calling others Indians). Wonder why there were only 7000 Hispanics after hundreds of years of Spanish rule? How about Comanches and other North American Indians (okay so I said it)? The Spanish had little trouble dispensing with the more agrarian Central Mexican tribes. However, they and their Mexican descendents NEVER got north of San Antonio (except to be slaughtered). Also, non-Hispanic Texans were contained for years by the Comanches (and others). So, how is it that the movie characters living on along the frontier only have troubles with Comanches twice in thirty years? I liked the actors (for the most part). Other than that, this is just a poor re-telling of the Alamo.

Rating:
Summary: Texas History and battle / war buff classic
Review: Based on Pulitzer Prize author John Michener's Texas. GREAT FOR TEXAS HISTORY buffs and of Epic quality.

Students of Texas History will find is makes the material come to life. However the sound quality is poor on the VHS version. I'd rent it before I bought a copy to know what the sound quality is like before purchasing.

Rating:
Summary: Texas History and battle / war buff classic
Review: Based on Pulitzer Prize author John Michener's Texas. GREAT FOR TEXAS HISTORY buffs and of Epic quality.

Students of Texas History will find is makes the material come to life. The battle scenes and cultural diversity clashes are overviewed in dramatic portrayals. For these reasons it is a must have for students.

Includes battle for the Alamo, among others.

Rating:
Summary: A good movie.
Review: I read the book before I saw the movie, and even so I wasn't disappointed. The movie told a good section of the story and stayed as true as possible to the book. I just wish that they had been able to do more of the book. I had two minor problems with it, though: Some of the footage (like the fall of the Alamo) looked like it might have been borrowed from an old western. Also, during the battle right before Otto and Yancey captured Santa Anna, I don't understand why they had Sam Houston galloping around the edges of the battle in slow motion, hardly fighting at all, looking like an early-nineteenth-century Captain America. I don't think that served any real purpose. Other than that, I liked it.

Rating:
Summary: disappointing
Review: I wanted so badly to like this movie from the outset. I am a big fan of Michener's multi-generational epic novels, such as Centennial, Texas, Alaska, Chesapeake. When Centennial was produced,it was done as a 12 part miniseries. Sadly, the producers tried to boil a great story (Michener's book) down into a few hours worth of entertainment that resembles very little the basic storyline of the book except the names of the characters. A love story between Matty and Steven Austin? What were they thinking? THe battle scenes were OK, the acting was fine, but the screenplay falls flat. I urge anyone who disagrees with me to get Jim Michener's book and read it (despite it's length). The character development is fantastic in the book - from the backgrounds of the people who settled Texas to the individual stories that were typical of Texans throughout.
The producers wished to make a briefer movie unlike the 12 part Centennial. I just wish they could've stuck to the storyline better.

You can add a star to my review if you never read the book.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT MOVIE !
Review: Its hard to believe nobodys written a review of this movie at amazon! I really enjoy reading the customer reviews and how people,s opinions differ so much, but I never thought that I would ever write one but this movie deserves a good review. Let me start by saying this is a long movie (over 3 hrs.) at amazon it states its on one vhs cassete, but the copy of the movie I recieved was on two, recorded in sp mode with superb sound and video as good as any vhs movie. This movie is about how the USA battled and won Texas from Mexico a truly remarkable piece of American history, in this movie the acting is terrific, its the kind of movie that keeps your eyes glued to the screen, this is a must for viewers who like movies with lots of battle scenes, and I think others will enjoy the movie as well. Well I hope to many people dont laugh at my only review but after viewing this movie and due to the fact that no one else had written a review, I felt the need to let people know this is a great movie in fact it is one of my favorates. My final words BUY IT! you wont regret it. PS: Anybody that has seen this movie please write a review , I would love to read your opinions of this movie.

Rating:
Summary: The Last Command 40 years later
Review: James A. Michener's Texas is a quality TV miniseries that tells the story of how Texas became a state. The movie condenses almost 30 years of history into about 3 hours which is one of its bad points. Narrated by Charlton Heston, the miniseries shows Stephen Austin's colonization of Texas, cries for war, the Alamo, the Battle at San Jacinto, and the struggle to help the Republic of Texas survive all while following the story of several fictional characters.

The cast for the movie is really very good. It stars Benjamin Bratt, Rick Schroeder, Patrick Duffy, Chelsea Field, Randy Travis, Anthony Michael Hall, Stacey Keach, John Schneider, David Keith and many other notable faces. Bratt is very good as Benito Garza as is Schroeder as Otto MacNab, a young Texas Ranger. Overall, the movie is pretty good, but everything seems a little rushed. For one, the footage from the Alamo attack is from The Last Command made in the 1950's which looks very out of place. Also, San Jacinto is done almost all in slow motion which just doesn't work. Still a good movie though if you're looking for a basic history of Texas.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully engaging western-a must see
Review: This DVD equals a two-tape VHS,which means approximately three hours of watching,but you won`t feel that you`re wasting a single minute in the company of these larger-than-life,yet still realistic and believable,heroes who all played a part,big or small,in making Texas a state. The colorful and engaging story of the Lone Star State is being told with pride and love in this TV production.You`ll learn ever so much,and it`s extremely entertaining as well.A very nice "The making of..." is included,where you`ll get interviews with most of the actors.
This is definitely Stacy Keach`s film. In his portrayal of "Mr.Texas" himself,Sam Houston,he makes "Texas" what it is,with the help of Patric Duffy as a sensitive,intelligent Stephen Austin,David Keath as a hell-raisin`,good-timin`Jim Bowie and Grant Show as the corageous,defiant William Barret Travis.
Other actors also do a good job,including country singers and actors Randy Travis and John Schneider(who,as Davy Crockett,is the man who produces the best rousing rebel yell of this movie!)

The best argument for purchasing this film is what Grant Show says in "The making of...": "It`s an adventure."

It really,truly is!

Rating:
Summary: educational and entertaining
Review: This movie was really better than I thought it was going to be. The acting was good and for the most part the history was correct and interesting. It is well worth the money and time to view this movie and learn a different side of history regarding Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston. I love history and if you are a history buff then you will enjoy this movie.