Open Range (western movie)

Crystalclear · January 2004

Did anyone see this movie at the theater?What was your take on it.The DVD release for it is this tuesday by the way...:)

VR3 · January 2004

We watched it last night and I watched it Friday, yes on DVD...I love that haha

IT SUCKS...have a nice day

Crystalclear · January 2004

Thats it?Why did it suck?No plot to the movie,action is cheesy,surround sucks,what?

VR3 · January 2004

Its 2 hours long, drawn out, its just an overly boring movie...

If you like long drawn out westerns with a tip off a lousy fight scene at the end...watch it...

Rush Limbaugh · January 2004

it's not bad for a Kevin Costner movie, but that's not saying much.

Spoonman · January 2004

OK, I'll be the odd man out. I like this movie........a lot!

I thought it was a good story with strong acting especially Duvall and about the most realistic gunfight I've ever seen. But then again I like westerns.

Ron-P · January 2004

I've heard and read many excellent reviews on this one. I LOVE Westerns and this is said to have a very good final gun battle. Can't wait until tomorrow.

This and Once Upon a Time in Mexico.

Peace Out~:D

Ron-P · January 2004

Here's one from a tough critic over at HTT.

Two men grazing cattle in the open range discover that each has chosen the solitary lifestyle for different reasons, or perhaps not.

On the surface this may look like a typical western. Two cowpokes fighting to maintain a way of life, but it isnt that at all. It is a study of human nature.

Synopsis from Lasersedge:

Boss Spearman, Charley Waite, Mose Harrison and Button freegraze their cattle across the vast prairies of the West, sharing a friendship forged by a steadfast code of honor and living a life unencumbered by civilization. When their wayward herd forces them near the small town of Harmonville, the cowboys encounter a corrupt sheriff and kingpin rancher who govern the territory through fear, tyranny and violence. Boss and Charley find themselves inextricably drawn towards an inevitable showdown, as they are forced to defend the freedom and values of a lifestyle that is all too quickly vanishing. Amidst the turmoil, life suddenly takes an unexpected turn for the loner Charley when he meets the beautiful and warm spirited Sue Barlow, a woman who embraces both his heart and his soul.

Costner plays Charlie Waite, a man that has reached the point in life where his past not only haunts him but works against his efforts to better himself and his future. He is struggling with the poor decisions of his youth and has "run away to join the circus" circa 1800's...he has become a free range cowboy. He thinks that by not having attachments to things, places or people, his past will stop tormenting him. He is of course mistaken.

Robert Duvall (in the best performance I have seen him give in a long time) plays Boss Spearman, a man that has also run away from life, but for different reasons....reasons that even Charlie, his trail mate of 10 years, cannot guess.

The film progresses nicely and there are some great shoot-em-up scenes. The inner conflict of the two men come to be the focus of the plot and are resolved in the end. Annette Benning plays the love interest as the aging prarie woman that has kept her love for so many years that she is reluctant to allow anyone to become close to her.

Typical western stuff one might think, but there is more going on under the surface than in many westerns of the past. This is a modern western if you will. It deals with the fact that people of that time were just as psychologicaly troubled as the people of today and for many of the same reasons.

I highly recommend this film, it is a thinking mans shoot-em-up done in the finest style of the old cowboy films we all know and love. The image is fantastic and the sound is just what you would expect. Those looking for a "subwoofer workout" should look elsewhere however, Winchesters dont sound like bazookas.

This is a very good film about the human condition and the mental conflict we all experience as we age. It is well acted and well written. One of Costners better efforts in my opinion.

Peace Out~:D

kberg · January 2004

I think this is one of those movies that mostly falls into the "really liked" or "really hated" categories.

Crystalclear · January 2004

Ron-P,wow what a review.Going to finally watch it tomorrow night.:D

scottvamp · January 2004

I will skip the "Western" but I will check out Once Upon a Time in Mexico. The Good "commercial" Reviews are enough to say it will suck.

jdavy · January 2004

Is this a good movie? Actors look good and I liked Desperado for what it was.

Thanks for the advice. BestBuy has the triology tuesday for $25 total.

scottvamp · January 2004

I was surprized to see Cabin Fever out. I am more excited about this one than the other two. Love good horror movies......:eek:

PETERNG · January 2004

"Open Range"is one heck of a Western movie since "Unforgiven". Well acting, good stories, close to reality, and the DTS track is execellent for those gunfight, thunderstorm and rain, especially for those gun shot, it shock the heck of my subwoffer. Don't misjudge this movie, this one is a must have movie in your collection. Robert Duvall and Kevin Cosner are great...* 1/2 over 10 is my final score, I give the soundtrack a score of 9.95

Crystalclear · January 2004

Yepp,I give this movie a A.My Sunfire loved those thunder storms and the big shootout.I didnt really care for all the small talk,I just wanted to hear the .44 cals going off.A couple of scatter gun shots sounded like the real deal!This movie did remind me a little bit like the Unforgiven.I wonder where they filmed those scenes of the cattle grazing in the begining of the movie?Out here in California were lucky to see 20 acres of undeveloped land.:(

mrpergo · January 2004

I watched this one last night and really enjoyed it:D
Thunderstorms and gunshots were grade A.I especially liked the scatter gun.

Ron-P · January 2004

Filmed in Canada I believe. I've heard, not watched yet, the documentary on disk 2. It's supposed to be very good.

Peace Out~:D

Spoonman · January 2004

Filmed in Canada I believe

Alberta if I'm not mistaken.

F1nut · January 2004

Previous posts lost........

Excellent movie, a true classic.

Dr. Spec · January 2004

Ditto. Loved it. Soundtrack was great. PQ was a bit soft with mild color oversaturation in some scenes, but overall I'd give PQ and 8.5/10.

We won this DVD over the local talk radio station the morning after we rented/watched it.

izafar · February 2004

I watched it this afternoon at the loudest level in current apt (-10 on AVR). Loved the movie, and the sound of thundetring clouds and gun shots in DTS gave my sub a good workout. PQ is also very decent, overall a very recomeded movie.

trubluluc · February 2004

It was great to hear realistic sounding pistols, rifles, and shotguns.
In alot of movies, they all sound the same.

-Luc

kberg · February 2004

A good review for those interested...

DVD Review

Frank Z · February 2004

Me and the wife watched it last night after having followed this thread.

For the most part we enjoyed it....but, we both kinda felt that adding the romance element into the last 10-15 minutes was kind of cheesey. I think that a bit more character development would have helped a great deal.

The video was great, no complaints there, and the audio was pretty mpresive as well. That damn shotgun blast almost woke the neighbors a few times.

Great rental, but I'll skip the purchase.

braveheart · February 2004

Costner is one big bore. He has never had any charisma or presence but when placed in a movie of epic proportions(Dances With Wolves) or alongside a strong co-star ( ex. Sean Connery and Robert Duvall) he's better.
Im a big fan of Westerns so I got this movie thinking Duvall would be like his Lonesome Dove role and make it worthwhile.

I thought the movie was very good. The characterizations and chemistry of the two leads was good. The action was not overwhelming like a lot of the new movies. The sound is what blew me away. The gunshots in DTS sounded unbelievable. I have never heard them so powerful and lifelike. My wife noted this from the next room. What was also cool was the way they showed how inaccurate the pistols and rifles of that day were no matter who used them. Notice how close the gunfights were with none of that unrealistic long range shots shown in other westerns. Definitely worth a rental and turn it up on DTS!

braveheart · February 2004

Costner is one big bore. He has never had any charisma or presence but when placed in a movie of epic proportions(Dances With Wolves) or alongside a strong co-star ( ex. Sean Connery and Robert Duvall) he's better.
Im a big fan of Westerns so I got this movie thinking Duvall would be like his Lonesome Dove role and make it worthwhile. I
thought the movie was very good. The characterizations and chemistry of the two leads was good. The action was not overwhelming like a lot of the new movies. The sound is what blew me away. The gunshots in DTS sounded unbelievable. I have never heard them so powerful and lifelike. My wife noted this from the next room. What was also cool was the way they showed how inaccurate the pistols and rifles of that day were no matter who used them. Notice how close the gunfights were with none of that unrealistic long range shots shown in other westerns. Definitely worth a rental and turn it up on DTS!