***Horizon - An American Saga***

17,856 Views | 129 Replies | Last: 17 days ago by ConroeAg
Rexter
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Just got home from seeing this. Overall, it was great. Very nice setting in open country. It started a bit sluggish, but came around pretty quickly. Character development was good. The end seemed like it was bouncing around with flashbacks and future scenes, but I'd see it again tomorrow.
Cinco Ranch Aggie
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AG
I just got back. Agree with Rexter's post.

Having just returned from a family vacation to Colorado, I really appreciated the majestic scenery (of Montana and Wyoming). Early on, the movie seemed to bounce around a bunch of seemingly unrelated sequences, but the writers did a great job of weaving all those disparate elements together. I kept looking at faces and thinking, is that ... so stayed for the credits and I was right on many of the faces that I thought looked familiar. Mostly Michael Rooker but also Sam Worthington, Will Patton (a regular in Costner flicks), and Luke Wilson.

The ending did seem to be a montage of stuff to come.

The entirety of this thing has a legitimate chance to be an epic American western.
Gomer95
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AG
I just got back from seeing it and I loved it. Yes it was a little convoluted with plot lines but as long as you keep in mind it is part one of a multi part series, then when the entire thing is finished, it will be one very awesome epic movie storyline. Plus, it is a western which we could use a few more of in the movies. Great flick and it didn't seem like 3 hours to me.
I hate rude behavior in a man. Won't tolerate it. - Woodrow F. Call
pfo
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AG
I really liked Horizon. There are lots of characters and story lines so you have to pay attention. It's 3 hours long. My wife and mother in law were confused and thought it was convoluted, too difficult to follow.

The settlers of the Wild West were tough as nails. Many must have had it bad wherever they came from because it was a life or death adventure. Horizon does a great job of depicting that fact.

The scenery is beautiful and harsh. The acting is good and the story is interesting. I'm really looking forward to the next Horizon movie in August. By the way, there are many good looking people in this movie.
JimboFlyFisher
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AG
Just got back. Disappointed. Love westerns, Costner fan, but the story didn't draw me in like I hoped and I never became emotionally attached to any of the characters.

Great scenery and cinematography.

Storylines rambled too much for me, and when put together are a bit stereotypical of western stories.

Will definitely watch the 2nd one, but likely from the house.
Wes97
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AG
Enjoyed it. Seemed kind of a mix of old Hollywood epic films but this time as a western. Definitely a slow burn but I enjoy those kind of films. When they have a coherent message at least, which this one did.

And interestingly not as much focus on Costner as I was expecting.
CajunAggie
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AG
Saw it tonight. Had high hopes. Disappointed. Good in spots, but not great overall. Storylines are all over the place, hard to follow, the Luke Wilson character came across as goofy to me...Costner did pretty well, as usual.

Agree that it's beautifully shot, and it does seem historically accurate. Will definitely take in part two, but not sure if in theater or at home.

Either way, I do appreciate another western in the body of art.


___________________

"Gambling is illegal at Bushwood, sir, and I never slice!"
LMCane
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TCTTS or other experts-

why wouldn't Costner have saved $38 million of his own money and just had Netflix do a 10 part series (each an hour long)

it would seem a massive epic Western is the perfect vehicle for a Netflix series rather than trying to get busy parents to spend 3 hours at a time.

up to 70% good reviews on Rotten Tomato from actual moviegoers.

Costner has been on like a dozen interviews I have seen in my Youtube feed.
toucan82
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I think it's because he wanted to do movies
Gomer95
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AG
And to add as a question for TCTTS, when I went to see it in Fort Worth, the theater was very full at an afternoon showing. Now granted, the entire audience seemed to be 50 years old and up but it was super full. So why does it not make much money? Are the theaters only full where the "Yellowstone type audience" would go and it doesn't have universal appeal to other areas of the country? I didn't expect it to make Blockbuster money but why would it not make more? Just wanted your opinion; I know you don't have a definite answer lol.
I hate rude behavior in a man. Won't tolerate it. - Woodrow F. Call
Gomer95
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AG
Whups double post lol.
I hate rude behavior in a man. Won't tolerate it. - Woodrow F. Call
TCTTS
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AG
As toucan82 said, it's because he wanted to make movies. He's been pretty emphatic about that. He did the whole TV/Yellowstone thing, but he wanted to take his passion project back to the big screen, common sense be damned.
TCTTS
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AG
Yeah, I think part of it's the "Yellowstone type audience" thing you mentioned, but it's also because A) westerns just aren't very popular anymore, B) movies told in planned, already filmed "parts" have become a turn-off for audiences (they don't feel like they're getting a complete movie), and C) it has a three-hour run time. For me, personally, I want to see it, and I plan on seeing it, but man, that three-hour runtime is what's kept me from rushing out so far. Between driving to and from the theater, trailers, and the movie itself, that's a well over four-hour commitment, and I keep thinking maybe I should just wait for streaming, then, if I like it, see the second one in theaters. I'm sure a lot of people are in a similar boat.
TCTTS
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Gomer95
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AG
Sure. That all makes sense. Thanks for your input!
I hate rude behavior in a man. Won't tolerate it. - Woodrow F. Call
wsteed311
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AG
Saw it last night, 645 show on a Tuesday, theater was packed! Movie flew by for me, did not feel like 3 hours. Great acting and cinematography. The scenes where the parents are trying to comfort and protect their children definitely pull on you as a parent. If this thing was directed by Nolan the critics would be drooling all over it. If you enjoyed 1883 on Paramount you will love this, highly recommend!
LMCane
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wsteed311 said:

Saw it last night, 645 show on a Tuesday, theater was packed! Movie flew by for me, did not feel like 3 hours. Great acting and cinematography. The scenes where the parents are trying to comfort and protect their children definitely pull on you as a parent. If this thing was directed by Nolan the critics would be drooling all over it. If you enjoyed 1883 on Paramount you will love this, highly recommend!

1883 was pretty awesome
OldArmy71
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AG
I am a big fan of Westerns and I have seen all the classics many times over.

Horizon has some admirable things about it.

The costuming and guns are all authentic, well done.

The Indian attack and aftermath near the beginning is harrowing, emotional, and poignant, somewhat reminiscent of the similar sequence in The Searchers but much more graphic. That was the best part of the movie and introduced the most interesting characters (the mother, the sergeant, the lieutenant).

There's a sort of Blood Meridian vibe with the scalphunters.

The rest was just meh.

Costner is barely in Part 1. The "previews" at the end suggest his part will increase, which is not a particularly good thing because his acting is below par in this initial episode. He is a star, not an actor, and it shows here, though again, he is barely present at all. His character and that part of the movie were not especially interesting to me and his characterization is too close to the guy he was playing in Yellowstone.

Costner alludes to (and even quotes directly from) a number of Westerns. This is clearly his "How the West Was Won," and it may get better, but the last two hours was a pretty long slog, though the scenery was beautiful.

There are some really jarring transitions. Without giving anything away, the guy suddenly appears out of nowhere as Costner is walking up the hill to the cabin. Others too, but that was the worst.

As said above, the movie reminds me quite a bit of 1883, which, generally, was better.

Just a disappointing experience.
ElephantRider
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AG
TCTTS said:



This kind of sums it up for me, and I love westerns. I think I just have Yellowstone/Costner fatigue, and 3 hours is a long time when you're on the fence to begin with
GreasenUSA
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AG
Saw it late afternoon last Saturday in a packed New Braunfels theater.

Gorgeous movie, and truly didn't feel like 3 hours. Flew by for me. Some brutal scenes. Glad there was no political correctness surrounding the relationship between the Indians and the settlers.

It's weird to me that folks are complaining about several different storylines being introduced. I'm sure they will come together in next installments, but that's what makes a good overall story.

Will definitely head to the theater in August to see part 2.
LB12Diamond
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Pacing for the movie was all over the place.

Wagon trail story line added no value. Hey lots of people are going west.

Best part was the views of the landscape.
Cinco Ranch Aggie
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The only thing that will keep me from seeing Part 2 on opening day is Alien Romulus. I'll see Part 2 the next day.
Albatross Necklace
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I was discussing it with the people I watched it with and we all came to the same conclusion independently:

It reminded us of 90s movies in a good way.

I'm excited for part 2
HTownAg
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AG
Enjoyed it! Looking forward to chapter 2
TCTTS
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AG
I love Costner.

I thought the first trailer was damn good.

I was totally game for a big, sweeping western.

I'd read the good reactions and the bad ones too.

All of this while I was also somewhat apprehensive of the three-hour runtime.

In other words, my expectations were about as balanced as could be, and I was in the perfect state of mind to go wherever the movie took me…

Unfortunately, where it took me was right out the theater and back to my car about halfway through. I'd already sat through 25 minutes of trailers/commercials, lasted an hour-and-a-half into the movie itself, and after two hours total, the thought of enduring another hour-and-a-half of… that… there was just no way.

Was it terrible?

No.

Rather, my problems were...

A) the pacing was insane and the editing was all over the damn place, to the point of both being legitimately disorienting at times. We'd spend two minutes on storyline A, two minutes on storylines B, followed by 45 minutes on storyline C, then back to B for five minutes (which it turns out was also part of A), then C again for three minutes, then B again for 15 minutes... it was all so weird. While the editing within the storylines was equally as baffling at times, especially during the action, as if actively trying to avoid giving the audience pertinent context.

B) the whole thing was shockingly - almost offensively - generic. The actors/characters (especially the Native Americans… oof)… the dialogue… that horribly cliched score, like something Costner got from a royalty free "Cowboys & Indians" stock music CD from the early 2000s… it was all so uninspired and History-Channel-level second-rate.

That's not to say I won't eventually finish it at home. Surely the second half is better, and I am mildly curious to see how it ends… but man, what a let down overall. It also didn't help that the theater was otherwise packed on a busy holiday weekend, which initially got me excited… save, of course, for our showing, of which maybe eight other people attended and I was easily the youngest.

Just a depressing movie-going experience all around.
Aggie Dad 26
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I'm going today to see is
Quad Dog
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Quote:

I'd already sat through 25 minutes of trailers/commercials,

That and the cost are big reasons I don't see that many movies in theaters anymore.
LB12Diamond
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AG
Now with assigned seats. I just walk in 15 minutes after the start time. Might see one trailer and movie starts.
Faustus
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NM.
OldArmy71
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AG
LB12Diamond said:

Now with assigned seats. I just walk in 15 minutes after the start time. Might see one trailer and movie starts.
That's what I do as well.
Aggie Dad 26
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LMCane said:

G.I.Bro said:

LMCane said:

I see your point but let's face it - there are a ton of lazy fat Americans who are not going to leave their houses when it is 100 degrees outside.


There's also a ton of Americans who would swim through miles of ball sweat to see Kevin Costner as a cowboy again

I hope you are correct but so far the media has been reporting this will be a big flop. that the ticket sales are not there based on their metrics

hopefully things have turned around and it crushes this weekend. I will go see it


Count me in the group that didn't like this movie. 3 hours of feeling bored. I was very disappointed
Goodson
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S
It felt disjointed to me at the outset. Multiple segments that didn't seem to be woven together clearly from a storytelling standpoint.

I do like the way it challenges you to think of the multi-factional segments of cultures that existed in teh Wild, Wild West rather than just the traditional "good guy/bad guy" that so many westerns present.
Blanco Jimenez
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AG
Goodson said:

It felt disjointed to me at the outset. Multiple segments that didn't seem to be woven together clearly from a storytelling standpoint.

I do like the way it challenges you to think of the multi-factional segments of cultures that existed in teh Wild, Wild West rather than just the traditional "good guy/bad guy" that so many westerns present.
My thoughts too, I did enjoy it knowing that it will hopefully all be tied together in the second movie. I also appreciate that part 2 comes out in August. I would've disliked this movie quite a bit if we had to wait a year or more for the second part.
GreasenUSA
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AG
Blanco Jimenez said:

Goodson said:

It felt disjointed to me at the outset. Multiple segments that didn't seem to be woven together clearly from a storytelling standpoint.

I do like the way it challenges you to think of the multi-factional segments of cultures that existed in teh Wild, Wild West rather than just the traditional "good guy/bad guy" that so many westerns present.
My thoughts too, I did enjoy it knowing that it will hopefully all be tied together in the second movie. I also appreciate that part 2 comes out in August. I would've disliked this movie quite a bit if we had to wait a year or more for the second part.
Well you're going to have to wait at least a year for Part 3 and then sounds like Part 4 is still dependent on the performance of the first 2.
veryfuller
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Staff
AG
I liked it.

I totally understand the criticism of it, especially how it feels like a true part 1, just establishing characters and the inciting incidents for their respective journeys, and not much else. Its also long. I also get the criticism of the screenplay, however the 90's vibe works for me.

BUT...the ending really flipped the story on its head for me and I can't wait to see where it all goes. What seemed like a pretty clich western story is going to be a lot more complex and multifaceted and I am into it. And the teaser at the end did a good job of teasing all the storylines.

I also went in fully expecting this to be like a miniseries released in a theater, or essentially the first 3 episodes of some sort of limited series. And, to me, that isn't a bad business model. Costner spent $100 million on the first 6 episodes of his 12 episode series. Its not making a ton of money, but it is bringing in theater money, and then can live as content on a streaming service where I'm sure its bound to get lots of play.
 
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