Genres

Visitors Review

2012-05-25 21:45:39

An epic western

This epic western brings back the harsh reality of life in the 1800's. A really well made and acted movie of the wild west and the men who lived in these times. Be prepared to settle down for some time, as this movie is a little longer than your average. However, while this was a little longer it still ended too quickly.

2012-05-25 00:21:41

Johnson County War

This review is from: Johnson County War (DVD) Really liked the movie. Beautiful scenery. A sample of lifein years gone by.

2012-05-23 20:34:44

JOHNSON COUNTY WASTE

DO THE WORDS 'HOSS APPLES' MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU?DONT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THIS ONE. MISCASTING AT ITS WORST. LACKLUSTER SCRIPT, AND POORLY PLAYED PARTS. IM SURPRISED TOM BERENGER WHO, IS AN EXCEPTIONAL ACTOR WASTED HIS TIME ON THIS ONE. THE SCENES WITH HIM ARE TOLERABLE BUT THEY CANT MAKE UP FOR AN OTHERWISE UNREALISTIC HALF STAB AT A WESTERN.IT IS A SHAME TO TAKE AN HISTORIC EVENT AND MAR IT LIKE A BAD PAINT JOB.THIS ONE PLAYS SLOW BUT NOT TRUE. THE PROFANITY IS OVERLY EXCESSIVE AND IT IS OBVIOUS THAT MOST OF THESE PREPPIE ACTORS HAVE NEVER SAT A STEED OR FIRED A GUN FOR REAL.THERE IS LITTLE BELIEVABLE ABOUT THIS ATTEMPT AND I CANT IN GOOD FAITH RECOMMEND IT.WHAT A DISSAPOINTMENT.

2012-05-23 06:43:49

very enjoyable western

i found the johnson county war to be a highly entertaining horse opera with a great cast (burt reynolds is superb in this- and i'm not a burt fan), nice scenery, and plenty of good western moments too. western fans should enjoy it. i did. i enjoyed the hell out of it.

dkosich 2012-05-20 01:02:01

Good, old-fashioned western based on actual events

This movie inspired me to do further research. There really was a JohnsonCounty war in Wyoming. A number of events in the film, which I thought hadto be fiction because they were so unbelievable, actually did happenalthough the names of the characters had been changed. The range wars oftheWest were extremely vicious.Tom Berenger does a very good job and is very much the hero. The rest ofthecast are also very good, particularly Michelle Forbes, Luke Perry, andChristopher Cazenove. Frankly, the scenery steals the picture. Themountainsand the surrounding forests and streams are incredible and beautifullyshotby the cinematographer.

2012-05-19 13:18:09

Cowboy at Heart

This review is from: Johnson County War (DVD) I was disappointed with this movie. I loved Tom Berenger in Last of the Dogmen, which although a bit soapy was fun to watch. This movie, because of the script, dress and acting left me cringing. At the same time I also watched Toshiro Mifume in several samurai movies. The old black and white movies enveloped me because of the acting and authenticity of the experience. Johnson County War seems to have been made by people that do not really understand the classic western. This could have been much better than it actually is.Johnson County War

2012-05-16 00:59:23

Not terrible, not great

This review is from: Johnson County War (DVD) This is a very uneven movie, especially from an acting standpoint. Tom Berenger and Luke Perry have moments in which they seem to be asleep while acting, but then are just fine at other points. Burt Reynolds is woefully miscast. Adam Storke and Michelle Forbes are fine throughout, though. As for the story, it is a mishmash of just about every Western cliche you can think of, none of which pay off very well, as the movie comes to a flat conclusion. Still, there are occasional flashes of inspiration, so if you're a die-hard fan of either Westerns or writer Larry McMurtry (who adapted the screenplay), then this might be worth a look.

2012-05-15 17:35:30

Range War!

This review is from: Johnson County War (DVD) Not your typical ride into the sunset western. Sometimes the hero waits too long to do something right. Purdy good western!!!

Katatonia 2012-05-13 11:38:23

Great western epic

I thought that this TV miniseries was really great. It starts out a littleslow, but it makes perfect sense as the plot advances further. Thecharacters were developed and likely, and some repulsive (in a good way).The acting was highly professional, and i think the casting for the film wasright on the mark. Tom Berenger did a spectacular acting job with the leadcharacter of Cain Hammett. Luke Perry, Burt Reynolds and Jack Conley alsoacted quite admirably.I especially enjoyed the last hour of the movie. It was highly action packedas much as any pure action movie would be. I was very tense just watching itall, i was cheering when the bad guys got gunned down in the epic endbattle...which is unusual for me to do so. This was a major gunbattle!If you like Westerns made right, then you'll love Johnson CountyWar.

2012-05-13 02:39:55

Brotherly Love Keeping In The Family During A Range War!!!!

Let me first say that this is one of my favorite westerns. I love it. It is well paced, never slow, and develops in an unpredictable way. Most westerns, I think are far, far to predictable, but not with this particular movie. The ending will not be seen coming so far away that when it does you will just be glad it is done. No, this one will end in a way that will make you mad that there is not more to offer. Along the path to this fantastic ending you will be introduced to many sympathetic characters, including three brothers and the one brother's wife, whose fate you will come to worry about. It is well filmed and does not look like it is not a big budget movie, so you will not be disappointed with this one.

2012-05-05 23:52:41

expect a bit better

This review is from: Johnson County War (DVD) It's hard to find a great Western but I really enjoy watching this genre so I ordered this based on other people's reviews. I guess the made for TV movies are a different breed - I find them too drawn out. I liked Loneome Dove a lot better than this one.

Bobster36 2012-05-05 17:02:18

Entertaining but not accurate.

I enjoyed the movie for its entertainment value. But a movie titled TheJohnson County War should endeavor to tell the story of its namesake.Especially since it is not a well known event and viewers are likely toaccept the movie as historically accurate.The basics are intact. The cattle barons declared war on the smallranchers over the issue of open range. The small ranchers wereliberally declared rustlers in order to justify prosecuting them withextreme prejudice. A small army of mercenaries was hired to do thedirty work. Those familiar with the history of the Johnson County Warknow that a rancher named Nate Champion stood off the mercenary army inhis cabin for a considerable length of time.The movie takes that event and fictionalizes it with Tom Berenger'sCain Hammett making that stand instead of Nate Champion. The details ofthat fight are fairly accurate. But Berenger's character is fictitious,with subplots about brothers and spouses. It is not Nate Champion byanother name. So it makes little sense to me to make a movie about ahistorical event and pretend that it happened to someone different.Kind of like Custer's Last Stand with some fictitious guy named ClydeSmith as the leader of the Cavalry instead of Custer.The movie makes for a good western. But Nate Champion's story isentertaining in itself. Christopher Walken portrayed him in Heaven'sGate, which is also about the Johnson County War. But in that movie,director Michael Cimino took the names of Jim Averill and Ella Watson,two small ranchers hanged early in the dispute, and assigned them tothe Marshall portrayed by Kris Kristofferson and the prostituteportrayed by Isabelle Huppert.The Johnson County War is a little known and interesting part ofAmerican history. Too bad that movie makers play so fast and loose withthe facts.

woodys_world 2012-05-03 02:46:41

Another fine Western Epic (mini series)

Johnson County War: The Series Based on a true event, is in a class withthelikes of movie greats, Tom Horn, Lonesome Dove or The Jackbull. Coherentwriting, attention to detail of the period for which the series tookplace,i.e.: clothing, set decoration, realism. Staring Tom Berenger & Luke Perrywho play brothers, are completely believable cowboys comfortable onhorseback or living in the back and beyond, play out this drama. Theactingwas excellent for the entire cast with the benefit of the great Wyomingvistas. A seeming look at the way it must have been, because it feelsreal.

Bjorn 2012-05-02 16:41:49

Highly recommended

This is an expertly made TV western with a top notch cast.A grandiose kind of story involving cattle ranchers and their feudswith cattle barons gets a first rate production and presentation fromHallmark. The cast is great, Tom Berenger terrific as always, LukePerry surprisingly tolerable and a very feisty and evil Burt Reynoldslooks smashing.One of the better recent westerns to have come out in long while. Beatsout most of these big budget Hollywood releases by a long shot. Highlyrecommended.8 out of 10.

DIAN BURRIS 2012-05-01 01:22:20

Great western,,,,,make more!!!!

***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS***I thought the characters were very well protrayed. Luke Perry was ourhero,but my big cry came, when Ton Berenger was killed.Everyone did great. Burt came across as the dirty marshall, and we wereglad to see him "get it."All in all this was not as predictable as most westernstoday.Thanks for the great job.....and I love Tom Berenger!!:)

Dianna Trent 2012-04-30 22:31:00

"War Against the Poor"

If you love the wide open space of horse & cattle country, you'll lovethismini-series!Spoiled rich cattle barrons in the 1800's want to drive out the poorsquatter/settlers who gather up & keep any stray calves they may find.Butthat's not the real reason they have to be driven out. It's just plaingreed& prejudice.Rachel Ward is always likable & here plays a harlot w/a newspaper-writinghusband.Tom Berenger is clearly the star of this series & is the eldest & mostrespected of the 3 Hammett brothers doing battle w/the barrons & tryingtokeep the peace. Luke Perry is certainly playing a different role here &deservedly so. I heard he didn't know how to ride a horse before hesignedon for this part. You'd never know it watching him do practically nothingBUT riding in this! (Goodbye, 90210!)The ending is too long for my taste & is very disappointing. I will notspoil it here by telling you who else is killed though.One romantic scene I must comment on: When Berenger is getting his haircutout on the porch by his widowed sister-in-law. Ladies, you will totallymelt...

2012-04-29 00:22:30

Johnson County War

This review is from: Johnson County War (DVD) I found this film to be in the same class as Lonesome Dove - it was totally enthralling and I was sorrywhen it finished.

2012-04-28 13:07:21

WESTERN POWERFUL SAGA AT ITS BEST!!

This review is from: Johnson County War (DVD) but why be so lousy and do not add at least english subtitles? would have worthed full five stars, but without subtitles the viewer is left at the mercy of the actors, not always so clear in their speaking!

2012-04-23 08:45:45

Fantastic western

Although westerns are not as popular as they used to be, this past decade or so has seen some extremely well-made ones: Tombstone, Lonesome Dove, Unforgiven, Dances With Wolves, Conagher, & Streets of Laredo. Add to that list this remarkable film, written by Larry McMurtry (of Lonesome Dove et al) Tom Berenger (Rough Riders, Gettysburg, Avenging Angel) is one of the most under-rated actors of today, and here is able to fall into an excellent portrayal fo a 19th century cowboy. As noted in the Amazon review, the cinematography is enthralling, which just adds to the over-all feel of the western period.

stean-805-134981 2012-04-22 16:33:28

Despite the very bad ending, it is still a good movie

If I omit the very bad ending, I can really say that this movie isgreat. It was very interesting and REALISTIC plot, well developedcharacters with their lifelike and, I repeat, REALISTIC interactions,which is rarity in today's movies, that are overblown and just cannotmake you feel the story. I was impressed and, as the movie was goingon, more and more anxious to the point were my heart was beating likecrazy... BUT the ending was disappointing! This video game thatpresents two men killing "thousands" of enemies... that just wasn't thesame movie. Too bad. 10 for the most parts of the movie, 2 for theending. PS I read the historical background