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Geronimo: An American Legend (Highly underrated movie)

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Doug.38PR:
This movie apparently failed at the box office and is practically unknown.  I have it on DVD and it's actually a great movie.  I don't know why it didn't do better.   Good cast, good story, fairly accurate historically from what I can tell, real characters, interesting characters, great action sequences, great cinematography, has A LOT of John Ford element (monument valley like settings, background music is all old American folk tunes, elements in the story are right out of Fort Apache, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande)    FAR superior movie to Dances with Wolves. 

Coal Creek Griff:
There are some historical inaccuracies, but it doesn't stop me from enjoying it.  What does nearly stop me from enjoying it is that it appears to have only been released to DVD in the pan-and-scan format. I bought two different copies which were advertised as wide screen and they're both pan-and-scan.  I find it frustrating and difficult to watch. In other respects, I very much like the movie and agree that it is under appreciated.

CC Griff

Doug.38PR:

--- Quote from: Coal Creek Griff on January 10, 2017, 11:40:33 PM ---There are some historical inaccuracies, but it doesn't stop me from enjoying it.  What does nearly stop me from enjoying it is that it appears to have only been released to DVD in the pan-and-scan format. I bought two different copies which were advertised as wide screen and they're both pan-and-scan.  I find it frustrating and difficult to watch. In other respects, I very much like the movie and agree that it is under appreciated.

CC Griff

--- End quote ---

No movie is 100% accurate, of course.   A few events got mixed up or blended together.  (The death of the medicine man and Geronimo leaving the reservation were actually two separate events I think)   One thing I didn't really get is why they killed Al Seiber (Robert Duval) off in a cantina gunfight when the real Al Seiber died in a construction accident decades later in 1907.    (Robert Duval was great for that role).

Yes, I noticed it was a pan and scan DVD.   I'd rather it be widescreen myself, but it doesn't bother me as much as I've spent to many years watching so many movies on VHS on regular TV screen and still enjoyed.  

Movie actually departs somewhat from the post 1970s politically correct westerns.  That is, basically, white men are crazy, swaggering "racists" than ruin everything they touch and Indians are peace loving hippies that are all wise and in one with nature.    A trend that started in the 70s with things like Centennial and Little Big Man and continued into the 1990s with things like Dances with Wolves.  

In this movie, the characters are a lot more complex, interesting and admirable in their own way.   More realistic.    

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Coal Creek Griff:
I absolutely agree with your assessment.  I should mention too that I think Wes Studi is superb in nearly every role he plays and this is one of his best.

CC Griff

Shawnee McGrutt:
Was a good movie...a lot better then most.
Yes, some liberties were taken, but with reel "history", it is about action.

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