Early Review of COMANCHE MOON on CBS
I just finished watching the six-hour mini-series event COMANCHE MOON, and all I can say is that if you are a fan of westerns, then this is for you. The last time I watched such a well produced western mini-series was HBO’s Into The West. I am always looking forward to mini-series as some of you may know, but they do not always live up to my expectations. Comanche Moon exceeded them. It brings us such a big array of wonderful actors including Val Kilmer, Steve Zahn, Rachel Griffiths, Karl Urban, Linda Cardellini, Elizabeth Banks, and West Studi, it was hard to go wrong.
Comanche Moon is mini-series based on the book by Larry McMurtry, and the final chapter in the "Lonesome Dove" saga to be made into a movie. It will air Sunday, January 13, Tuesday, January 15 and Wednesday, January 16 at 9 pm each night on CBS.
First I would like to talk about the performances in Comanche Moon. One thing that struck me is that the performance are just so true, it allowed me to separate the actors from their character and fully experience the story being told, which I am not always able to do. Every single character is so well defined and portrayed, I cannot criticize any of them, and I am usually the first one to complain when I don’t believe an actor’s performance.
I would like to make a special mention of Val Kilmer, who really stood out to me. He is almost unrecognizable as he immersed himself so much into his character, Captain Inish Scull. I was so impressed that I could not take my eyes off of him. You should tune in if only to see his performance.
And then there are Rangers Augustus "Gus" McCrae (Steve Zahn) and Woodrow F. Call (Karl Urban) who I’m going to call the Odd Couple, because that’s what their relationship reminded me of, especially in part one and two of the mini-series. Circumstances make it so that they become co-captains and have to lead the Rangers together at some point, which gives us some pretty funny moments.
The ladies of the story are all different and bring out a different side to the story. Rachel Griffiths’ portrayal of Inez Scull, Captain Inish Scull’s wife but also a free spirit, is a big change from her performance in Brothers & Sisters, although if you have been following her career, this can only be added as one more amazing performance in her already remarkable career.
Linda Cardellini and Elizabeth Banks also both hold their own as the love interests of McCrae and Call respectively.
As for the story, I started watching without reading much about it and am glad I did. Each segment moves the story along at just the right pace. It doesn’t feel too rushed or too slow. Scenes with the Texas Rangers on their “adventures†are balanced out with scenes from their return to town and their interactions with the women in their lives.
The Texas Rangers and Comanche are both shown equally throughout and the story does not take side. I think what it does especially well however, is foresee what will happen to the Comanche people.
I was also surprised by some of the violence in the mini-series, it's not something that I have come to expect in television, but it made it that much more true. It really didn’t feel like television, but like a movie.
Finally, the escalation to part three makes sense and is a natural progression from part 1 and 2. The end leaves you wanting for more, and I guess that's where Lonesome Dove comes into play.
I think it is important to note that I have not seen the sequel of Comanche Moon, mini-series Lonesome Dove, and not read the books by Larry McMurtry. I thus cannot say whether or not Comanche Moon lives up to the expectations of fans of the sequel. But as the target audience for Comanche Moon, I was totally satisfied.
It might have been six hours (well technically 4 hours and a half without commercials), but I didn’t see the time go by. It is a definite must-see for me, and not only because there is not much to watch on TV, but just because it’s such a fulfilling TV event. It felt good to see that there is still some good quality television out there.
Make sure you tune in on January 13, 15, and 16 to watch Comanche Moon at 9pm on CBS.
View more pictures from Comanche Moon here.
Story: Comanche Moon follows Texas Rangers Augustus "Gus" McCrae (Zahn) and Woodrow F. Call (Urban) as they deal with the ever-increasing tensions of adult life - Gus with his great love, Clara Forsythe (Cardellini), and Call with Maggie Tilton (Banks), the young prostitute who loves him and bears him his son, Newt (Joseph Castanon). Kilmer plays Captain Inish Scull, a Yankee aristocrat and hero of the recently concluded Mexican War. Griffiths plays Inez Scull, the Captain's sexy wife who doesn't hesitate to fill her time with other men when he's away from home. Wes Studi plays Comanche Chief Buffalo Hump.
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I am still not finished watching the first part on CBS and I am extremely impressed with Steve Zahn. Following a role that Duvall played is a tough act and he pulled it off. Hats off to Zahn!
Are you kidding. Zahn is awful. Can't continue watching it is so bad. A shame too because I really wanted to see a quality production of this great story.
What a dud.
Why did you not follow the story line.
Did the casting director even read the book, the black vaquero is not black,
buffalo hump does not have a hump.
The movie is disjointed .
The acting is terrible (who are these people)
As mentioned I, too, thought Zahn captured his role as Gus to a "T". To me it allowed a seemless transition to Duvall's performance.
Val Kilmer was almost unrecognizable. I liked his screwball role.
Further if you have a HD TV it adds a further dimension. Will enjoy the rest if it keeps the quality.
Are you kidding me?? Who wrote this review? A crappy movie salesman. This movie is horrible, if you like westerns... you'll want to hang yourself if you watch it. There is nothing good about it. Storyline is Garbage and the writing is horrible, acting is non existent. I think the actors must be embarassed of the finished movie. The critics who claim this is worth while should be noted as incredibly bad themselves!!
I have just finished watching the first part and I actually really liked it, as opposed to some of the people here.
I thought the actors were great, it was entertaining and I am looking forward to the second part.
whoa whoa whoa! anyone insulting Steve Zahn's performance.. go back and watch Dead Man's Walk to see David Arquette's portrayal of the role... you will be BEGGING for Zahn back(and Zahn does great, he doesn't overplay the part, and he even "talks with his hands" like Duvall and he comes off very believable that he could be a young Augustus)... and secondly.. its not a "western" it's just a story that takes place in that time frame... Thats like watching "The Longest Yard" and saying "Oh thats a horrible portrayal of NFL football" just because its football doesn't mean its NFL, just because it was in the "western" era doesn't make it a western. Its a great story with action, comedy, drama, suspense, romance and all wrapped into one, just as Lonesome Dove is...
Speaking of which... If you haven't seen Lonesome Dove then you don't know what story they are telling.. so watch that and maybe you'll understand this film... and IF YOU HAVE SEEN LONESOME DOVE... let it be... nothing will ever be comparable to that film, so just this one stand alone and you will be able to enjoy it... if you keep comparing the two, of course you will be disappointed. I learned that from turning Dead Man's Walk off the 1st two times I tried to watch it because of David Arquette's horrible follow up of Gus' character... but when I was able to separate the two, DMW was an enjoyable experience....
This mini-series is agonizingly terrible so far. From the acting to the writing, I am utterly disappointed. The first few installments of the Lonesome Dove are far superior.
I loved Lonesome Dove and had high expectations of Comanche Moon. So far, after one episode, I 'm disappointed. Steve Zahn is doing a good job as Gus (complete with Duvall hand gestures)but Val Kilmer's character portrayal is coming across as silly. (And I like Val Kilmer as an actor). If the second installment doesn't increase my interest I will probably skip #3.
I thought it was wonderfu
I thought the girls were purty
The show is not as good as the origonal shows so far.
The portrayal of women, Native Americans, and Mexicans is hateful & offensive. Apart from that the directing is terrible, the writing is worse, the acting is all over the map, the plot is disjointed, the cinematography looks like 1970s movie of the week quality, and the death by parrot scene is just embarrassingly anticlimactic... there is nothing redeeming in this absolute mess of a mini-series.
after watching Lonesome Dove and falling in love with the movie and especially Robert Duvall...nothing can compare to it...but knowing the story line and the characters as i do ....i did enjoy Comanche Moon and i was amazed at the way Steve Zahn played Gus...you could see Robert Duvall coming through...the hand gestures and even the voice were absolutely Duvall. Zahn did a terrific job as Gus ....sometimes if you looked away you could see Duvall because the voices were so much alike. Hats off to the mini-series. You did have to remember it was not Duvall and Jones...but you can't take anything away from the parts these actors portrayed,especially Zahn
Nothing will ever be comparable to Lonesome Dove so I have to keep telling myself that. Lonesome Dove is my favorite movie of all time so this is my view of the Commanche Moon series having finished last night.
* Zahn is actually a decent portrayal of a younger Gus. No one will ever match Duvall's portrayal but I found myself wanting to see more of Zahn. This is probably the only bright spot for me in the series.
* Actor portraying Mccall is just horrible. He over did it on being stiff and unemotional. Since when is Mccall 8 inches taller than Gus anyway. Just didnt fit.
* Chronology issues. As a die hard LD fan, I found myself trying to link the events and kept coming up with issues. In LD Gus hadnt seen Clair in nearly 20 years, yet the girls were werent very old in LD. Newt looked to be about 5 yrs old in CM, but again, after 20 years, Newt would have been older in LD. In LD, Clair talked with Gus about wanting him to be there when her boys died, but she already talked to him about it in CM in the last episode.
* Blue Duck - I thought he was a half-breed? In LD he looked half Mexican/half Indian. In CM he looked full blooded Indian. What gives?
* There was just not enough substantive action involving Gus/Call. Too much time devoted to Indian dialgoue, Maggie, etc.
* The small stories didnt weave together near as well as LD.
Disappointed overall but I would watch Zahn again in a similar role.
I just wanted to touch base with my opinion of "Comanche Moon" and the images of Comanches. I am not really sure about the Blue Duck in history.
In 2008- Stereotypes on CBS are continuing to carry out the ideas savages lifestyles.
-5 men have to rape a woman during a war scene? (stupid)
-Blue Duck kills his father, Buffalo Hump? (as if we are not humans and don't love)
They don't really show both sides to each story and what the Texas Rangers did to my people. Comanches roamed Texas and other states, but their orders were to Shoot...Kill...the Comanches for being trespassing against the US Govt. and our People were starving trying to survive.
Proud Numunu, Comanche
Martina M,
I have much respect for you and your case but Comanche Moon failed in soooooo many ways to be an accurate historical representation (not to mention that it was a horrible piece of work). The main thing to remember is that, under Sam Houston, the Republic of Texas chose to try to live with the native Americans and set up frontier trading posts for the tribes and even supplied them with government sponsored gunsmiths. Sure, there were problems along the frontier as the white settlements encroached but it was not the policy of the Republic era Texas Rangers to attack first. When Texas became a US state, all of that ended. They discontinued the friendly policies and became much more hostile towards the Comanche. Just FYI.
My family has been in Texas since the original 300 settlers and I am the author of the soon to be released book on The Texas Gun Trade, 1780 - 1899.
Chris H
Hey Martina M., Blue Duck did kill his father in the novel and the white women were raped and murdered by the comanches. If you are looking for an accurate portrayal of Western history don't watch a non-fictional mini-series.
Steve Zahn did do a pretty good job as Gus and the two ladies that played Maggie and Claire also did well. Where was Buffalo Hump's hump? Why did Famous Shoe's talk like a surfer? The list goes on and on. The story line was lacking to say the least; it seemed like they focused on all of the boring, non-important aspects of the novel. The casting was terrible and the music was even worse. I wish they would have quit after Lonesome Dove.
This was a disaster! Who could have written such horrible, depressing, existential script. You kept waiting for one saving thing to happen, and it didn't. The Head ranger gets bagged by the bad guy, and his men just sit around, sipping drinks instead of rushing headlong after their leader to get him back, much less leave him in the first place. How a hero could sleep with his bosses wife is amazing. How the father of a cute little boy could just abandon and ignore him and his mother is amazing! How no man seems to have enough gumption to just get the woman he loves to marry him. The ranger hanging himself was pathetic, and suddenly treating his wife like trash, used goods, just because she was the victim of an Indian rape. Where was tenderness. Every man was totally selfish and weak. The Rangers were just wanderers, doing nothing significant. Kilmer's work was retarded, and he leaves us with a nut in the end! A windmill tilter. The only characters who seem to really try hard are the women. The Texan men are morons in every way. An Indian killing his aged and enfeabled father is so way out. The series doesn't conclude anything, has no happy endings, just morons and pin heads and sorrow. That little boy at the end being left all alone and his father out chasing meaningless shadow indians is retarded. This was the most depressing, pointless, disjointed, unfinished series of weird and totally unreal characters except for the women who didn't appreciate adultry, abandonment, negligence, and the Indian's portrayals were stupid and unrealistic. The most hillarious rediculous character was the Indian who would rather run than ride a horse, and the moron Rangers who would use a man on foot for a guide when timing was crucial! Who would keep running tirelessly across the desert, never wearing out his shoes, feet, or being tired, and running as fast as horses? No one! This movie was a joke!
I thought it was al in all pretty well done and left us wanting to see more as I didn't realize I had veiwed the last show. There was no indication that was it and we watched for the next episode to air. I thought all the actors did well especially Steve Zahn ( he is doing a lot of good things)with the exception of when Famous Shoe had to open his mouth . Didn't the director see anything wrong with his fake american indian speech?.......Rick
The acting was good but the story was disjointed and too many plots that were never resolved. Is this bad editing? My husband and I feel like we wasted too much time waiting for the rest of the story that never happened.