Rating: 
Summary: Wyatt Earp - A Must Have for All Earp Fans
Review: Wyatt Earp is an outstanding movie on the life and important times of Wyatt Earp. It gives much more detail than Tombstone, which really only focuses on the O.K. Corral incident. Wyatt Earp gives information before and after the O.K. Corral. And by the way, Dennis Quaid was phenomenal as Doc Holliday!
Rating: 
Summary: Ok, but it's not Tombstone
Review: Wyatt Earp was ok, but it just doesn't measure up to Tombstone, the movie about the same subject which was released one year earlier. Pros: This movie covers all of Earp's life and allows us to see him develop more as a character, especially in regard to his wife and the woman he lived with for most of his life before the city of Tombstone. Cons: The musical score seemed very repetitive and less-than-impressive. Kevin Costner and Dennis Quaid simply do not compare to the Tombstone performances of Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer (Even though I do not think that Kilmer is that great of an actor, his role as Doc Holiday is one of the best characters I have seen on screen). In comparison, I'd give this movie 2 or less stars, but judging it on its own, I have to give it at least 3, if for no other reason, for its grand scale.
Rating:
Summary: Decent western... but just to dang long
Review: OVERVIEW: Good story. Outstanding cast. Some good dialogue. A few good gun shooting and fight scenes. But, plain and simple - director Lawrence Kasdan's "Wyatt Earp" is just WAY TOO LONG (3+ hours). You shave 60-70 minutes off this movie to bring it down to the 2 hour mark and perhaps it's a better ride on your sofa. THE CAST: Main stars are Kevin Costner as Wyatt Earp, and Dennis Quaid as Doc Holiday. The rest of the entire cast is secondary. Tho secondary - the rest of the cast is superb - featuring Gene Hackman, Mark Harmon, Isabella Rossellini, Catherine O'Hara, Tom Sizemore, Jobeth Williams, Tea Leoni, Michael Madsen, and James Caviezel. I thought it was an added bonus to see some of these actors trying their hand at a true western picture - like Rossellini (mostly drama or romantic type movies), Sizemore (mostly war pictures), O'Hara (mostly comedies), Williams ("Big Chill" & "Poltergeist" and that's about all I remember for her)... and not even remembering Caviezel in this picture until seeing him in "The Passion Of The Christ" and then having to go back to watch "Wyatt Earp" again. DVD EXTRAS: This is a 2-disc set... where did the bonus features disappear to? I figure with most movies that Kevin Costner has something to do with, they're usually long, somewhat tedious, and lots of attention to detail... despite if the picture might make some critic's worst-ever movie list (i.e. "Waterworld", "The Postman", "The Bodyguard"). "Wyatt Earp" has 2 short 15-minute documentaries, some deleted ("lifted") scenes, and a trailer. No lie, that's it. I wanted to like this movie more... as much say, as I thoroughly enjoyed it's sister flick from the year before, "Tombstone". Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer (in the role of his life) were awesome together in "Tombstone"; not to mention a nicely cast group of nasty boys featuring Powers Booth and Michael Biehn. "Wyatt Earp" succeeded with Costner and the supporting cast, but Quaid's "Doc" was missing some flare. Not that this was soley Quaid's fault. But, because Kilmer's redention was so good in "Tombstone" that anyone else portraying "Doc" in any movie afterward was destined to be somewhat of a let down. Another bonus in "Wyatt Earp" is the sweeping views of the land - some truly wonderful cinematography. "Wyatt Earp" is much more detailed than any of it's predecessors in following Wyatt's early days... from Wichita, to Dodge City, to the OK Corral in Tombstone, AZ. This was a good movie - just not the best on the subject of the Earps.
Rating:
Summary: Western Classic
Review: No doubt this movie is a western classic. I saw it years ago and loved it. I don't have anything negative to say about the movie itself. I almost picked up this 2 disc set until I learned it's a cut down or edited version. Why is the complete 212 min version only available on VHS ? That's just stupid. This is a great movie worthy of a director's cut edition maybe 3 disc set? I'd spend the extra cash on a deeper edition, until then I'll save my money. Please, please release the FULL version on DVD!
Rating: 
Summary: Thank God for Fast Forward
Review: This had to be the longest, dullest movie I have ever watched. Though to be honest I did fast forward through a great deal of it because it was so incredibly boring. Way too much Kevin Costner! Dennis Quaid was okay as Doc Holliday, though Val Kilmer was much more fun and interesting in Tombstone. Lewis Smith as Curly Bill definately could have been developed more. He's a gorgeous guy and should have been in more scenes and given a few lines to speak. His character was spoken about amongst the leading characters quite a bit leading the viewer to think he was 'important' though his character never developed in this rendition of the story. In Tombstone, Curly Bill was definately a major character and I just wish Wyatt Earp had done the same instead of making the viewer wonder what all the talk was about.
Rating:
Summary: Why bore an audience with 3 hours of Cosner?
Review: Tombstone or Wyatt Earp? This seems to be the prevailing comparision. But why? Some reveiwers have referenced Kasdan's brillant western masterpiece Silverado to bulk up this movie and to justify the poor choice of Cosner's Earp. From my perspective, other than his portrayl as the dead body in THE BIG CHILL, SILVERADO was the only movie of value Cosner has ever been involved in. His portrayl of Earp is as exciting as his portrayal of the dead body in THE BIG CHILL. (Which was cut from the theatrical release. Maybe his choice of charactor was to wooden for that film as well?) One reviewer has stated WYATT EARP in not an "action film" like TOMBSTONE. They are right. Cosner's Earp does not need to engage in gunplay to kill. He can kill his opponents the same way he does the viewers, bore them to death.
The running time of the original theatrical release was approximately three hours. The DVD release has been shortened, but unfortunately it can not be edited enough to add life to a listless charactor portrayal.
Tombstone on the other hand moves at a quick pace, protrays the importance of family, honor, integrity, and most importantly friendship. I've read reviews knocking Val Kilmer's portrayal in Tombstone as Doc Holiday in an attempt to bulster Quaid's performance in Wyatt Earp. Acting next to Cosner, any sign of life is an improvement. So Quaid certainly looks better when not compared directly on screen with Kilmer. But Kilmer's Doc in TOMBSTONE examplifies and highlights friendship as the motive for Doc's riding with the Earps.
The legend of Doc Holiday and his feared reputation, is more aptly shown in Tombstone than in WYATT EARP. Doc's reputation as a killer, though not as widely known today as when he lived, far eclipes that of Wyatt. And had he lived past 36, he might have been the central figure of the legend of the OK Corral.
The Earp legend is in part due to Earp's living until 80 and befriending film makers in Hollywood. On Jan. 13, 1929 Wyatt Earp died in Los Angeles at the age of 80. Cowboy actors Tom Mix and William S. Hart were among his pallbearers. Earp was not a lawman for a great part of his life. In fact, he was more successful as a gambler, prospector, real estate investor and entreperneur. But we don't see many movies of successful business men, however, Cosner may have exploered that side of Earp and attempted to portray that throughout the movie. That would provide some explaination for his wooden portrayal.
So the time in Tombstone, AZ is the highlight of Earp's lawman career, and as shown in the movie WYATT EARP, why waster three hours of your life on the rest. Besides, TOMBSTONE has the beautiful and senuous Dana Delany playing Josie, the woman with whom Wyatt would end his days.
Rating:
Summary: Better then Tombstone
Review: I have seen and heard a lot of rhetoric comparing WYATT EARP with "Tombstone". In my opinion, there is no comparison. WYATT EARP tells the story of a man, his brothers, and his life in general. The main theme of "Tombstone" is the infamous gunfight at the OK corral. The movie version is protracted and bloody (not to say that the real fight wasn't) and quite removed from real history. Historians who know of what they speak inform us that the gun fight lasted only a couple minutes and took place at a range of about 7 yards with all the combatants facing each other.In WYATT EARP that has been reasonably faithfully recreated.
When released this movie got some big time boos from some critics, but personally, I've been there before and have seen them shoot down some pretty good flicks and give thumbs up to some real garbage (I.E. EYES WIDE SHUT & THE THIN RED LINE just to cite a couple)
If you like good western movies, rent or buy this one. You won't be disappointed. It's long, but does not drag.
Rating:
Summary: 1a and 1b
Review: Many people draw comparisons between this film and "Tombstone" (released a year earlier). But what it really comes down to is personal taste. One is not better than the other. I consider them 1a and 1b in the "O.K. Corral" in the western movie mythos.
My personal preference, obviously, is this film. I loved the epic feel of it. "Tombstone" for me, was more Hollywood with thinly drawn characters, who played second fiddle to the climactic battle, and lots of gunfighting. "Wyatt Earp" took its time. Some say that that is its biggest drawback. I never once felt the movie was getting long in the tooth. Following Earp around, watching him grow into the legend he'd become, was fascinating. There was more drama to it, more emotion. I absolutely adored this film and recommend it to any fan of Westerns and of Wyatt Earp in particular.
As side note I'd like to say that anyone who believes Kilmer edged Quaid as Doc Holiday must not have been watching the same movie. Kilmer with his pale make-up and hollywood jezibelle accent just doesn't hold a candle Quaid. Qauid dropped 40 pounds for the role. His skin looked loose and sickly. His voice was a booming, phlegm-filled southern drawl accented with frequent bouts of severe coughing. Dennis Quaid became Doc Holiday, whereas Kilmer merely starred as the character. Unfortunately Quaid doesn't get half of the screen time as Kilmer, which is why Kilmer has become the popular choice.
Rating:
Summary: Not Tombstone, Not Meant To Be
Review: Released around the same time as the movie, "Tombstone", this movie is unfairly compared and it is true that the sequences surrounding the gunfight at OK Corral are more enjoyable to watch in "Tombstone" (where we got to know the villians better and therefore got to hate them more, neccesary in a good action movie)
But "Wyatt Erp" is not an action movie. It is an epic, concentrating on a character study of what made this man the legend he became. Costner does a superb job. (better, and with more depth than Kurt Russell, although Russell was also good, so this is a compliment to Costner, not a complaint about Russell) Dennis Quiad is as good as Val Kilmar in his portrayal of Doc Holiday but he is not featured as much as Kilmar was and does not have all the good lines Kilmar had, such as "I have two guns, one for each of you."
I liked it. If I had not seen "Tombstone" first, I would have loved it and that is not fair to the producers so I am giving it a top rating.
Rating: 
Summary: Rent "Tombstone" instead
Review: This movie is entertaining, but not as good as "Tombstone" which was released about the same time. Kostner's Earp comes off somewhat flat and the script, while giving a hard, authentic look at life in the wild west, lacks the snap of "Tombstone." Recommend it instead for the better casting (especially Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday and Sam Elliott)
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