Rated: R

Running Time: 181 minutes

RT Score: 50% as of 6/26/24

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hor...saga_chapter_1

You Tube

Opens tomorrow night. I know the likelihood this thread will have much activity this weekend is probably slim. It's a 3 hour Western and it's fighting for attention against A Quiet Place Day 1. So if you don't have time to see it, all good. I won't be able to see this until sometime next week at the earliest.

But, it's a big epic Western and Costner's 1st directorial effort in 21 years. I believe it's worth doing a thread.

I'd rather watch this than A Quiet Place: Day 1. There, I said it.

I think this a movie that will probably score better with audiences. I might go see it next week.

I'm seeing this on Sunday.

i think this will be the biggest disaster of Costner's movie life.

I was interested until I learned it had a 3 hour run time...for part one?? Even this were getting glowing reviews I would have a hard time justifying this to myself, but with mediocre ones this is definitely going to have to wait for streaming. Costner should have finished Yellowstone.

Kevin Costner...check
Western...check
3hr Runtime...check check.

I'm in. But not until it hits streaming.

Seeing this tomorrow with my folks. I remember seeing Wyatt Earp with my dad, going to another Costner western three decades later was too perfect to pass up.

Me too!

Knowing that he plans on turning this into a limited series, the only thing that will really bug me is if the 3 hours FEELS like the first 3 episodes of a series.

Seeing as a lot are saying they are waiting for streaming... I wonder when WBD will drop this on Max. You'd think before Chapter 2... maybe August 2? But that seems really quick.

I was entertained by this, and look forward to the next chapter. It's a theatrically released prestige TV show, with the scope, feel, and structure of whatever show you want to pick, from Yellowstone to Game of Thrones. Here's our main characters, now lets cut away from them for the next story line, now let's have a little of a B-story line, and then circle back at the start of the next episode and repeat. I don't mind that it's fluff, but a bit disappointed it isn't cinematic.

I'm going to see it on Sunday.

It's a Western. I'm in.

To those waiting to stream it, this is why we can't have nice things.

This is kinda what I was afraid of.

Heath from Cereal at Midnight loved it. He said it was transcendent:

It's a mixed bag for sure - beautiful scenery, nice score.. but as others have said, you've got three to four storylines your following, with some more interesting than others. It does strangely feel more at home as a streaming show, the first hour would be a great pilot episode. If your going for Costner, he does not have a huge role in this one, hopefully more screen time in part 2.

I'll likely see part 2, but I'm more interested in watching the potential mini-series cut. And I have a feeling if he wants to make more it'll have to be as a streaming show. (which is not a bad thing imo)

GRUV has both chapters on 4K disc up for pre-order:

https://www.gruv.com/category/horizon_an_american_saga

Haven't even seen Part 1 but I'm going in to blind buy!

Me too. Thats EXACTLY what I was afraid of.

Semi interested but probably won’t have the time to see it in the theater.

My first 5-star rating of the year. I thought this was excellent, although it does take some patience to get going - there are a great number of characters over multiple storylines, not all of them tying together at this point. Costner's character doesn't even show up until an hour into the movie, so be forewarned. Sam Worthington is given the best role though...I think others might feel the same. My only real surprise was that Costner shot this 1:85:1. If ever a movie deserved 2.35:1, it would have been this one. Still, a great watch and I'm looking forward to Chapter II.

He's shooting Chapter III right now, so if there are any issues with making more, it will only come with the fourth (and final) film.

I loved it. It only felt like about 2:15 in length. I was stunned when the scenes for Part 2 came on

I thought it was very cinematic. I loved the photography, and the acting was really good. The three stories were all compelling, too. It will be interesting to see when and how they come together.

I can't wait for Part 2.

The pre-order for Chapter 2 was deleted.

Just got back from seeing it and it was awesome. One of the best films of the year. IMO

This.

It is the first three episodes of a series. I don't see any debating that. By Costner's own admission it "was sold as an event television movie”. They are three very good episodes, expertly directed by Costner, but this is not a good film. It is incomplete. Editing and pacing are all off. I'll reserve full judgment until seeing "Chapter 2", but this whole exercise is a bit baffling to me.

Did Costner have some sort of non-compete TV clause in his Yellowstone contract? Why not figure out a way to get full financing for the whole project before going out with this? And if you're doing it this way, some things could've been done to make more in the medium you're releasing it in. Not make it so episodic and have an arch for the 3 hours that feels like it told a story, but leaving open for more. It could've been titled "Part 1" and then have had Chapter 1, 2, and 3 title cards. The end montage (or... "on next month's episodes") with scenes for "Chapter 2" was really strange too.

When first announced Costner said:
“I’m happiest because at one point in TV — where you can get your largest audience — they’re going to get to see it the way I intended it to be seen. It will eventually be cut up into [hour-long episodes] or 42 minutes — however TV works. But their first viewing of it will be as four 2 hour and 45-minute movies. And every three months, one will come out. If you’re interested in those characters, the hope is that you’ll really want to watch the next one, but it won’t be in hour segments.” ... but it does feel very much like hour segments. It's not edited to differentiate it self from the possible TV cut and the film.

I hope he gets to make it to the 4th. But it's not great to be out there in the press with uncertainty it's going to happen.

Again, the content, scope, direction, etc. are all great. I want to see more... people should see it. I just find the whole logistics of the project to be odd.