UHD Review A Few Words About A few words about...™ - Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1 -- in 4k UHD (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

I'm going to part ways with many of the critics on Horizon.

I was able to view the first two hours last night. I've been looking forward to it for a couple of weeks...

And I found it to be a brilliantly created motion picture, and one of the finest westerns I've seen harkening back to the Ford days.

Mr. Costner has created a master work.

I can understand why some found it problematic, as much of the first three hours (the first film in the trilogy) is in many ways a set up to what will follow. Sequences allow background and introduce the viewer to different groups of characters.

Shot in 6k/8k on a Red with Leitz optics (you've heard of them), and completed in 4k. The imagery captured by DP J. Michael Muro, a superb cinematographer whose work goes back to films like the fan favorite Street Trash, is magnificently represented in Warner Bros 4k UHD release mit Dolby Vision.

The audio is likewise recorded for Dolby Atmos, which goes from in your face to delicate. And it all works to create a magnificent sound field.

I'm loving this film!


Image

Forensic - 10
NSD - 10

Audio – 10 (Dolby Atmos)

Pass / Fail – Pass

Plays nicely with projectors - Yes

Makes use of and works well in 4k - 10

Worth your attention - Yes

Slipcover rating - 4

Very Highly Recommended


RAH




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[owen35]

Thank you for your recommendation! I was hoping to watch it but was on the fence due to all of the criticism of the film. I'll give it a spin in a few weeks after my travels. A cold evening with a strong shot of bourbon to accompany it.

 

[HarleyDog]

I wholeheartedly agree with your thoughts on the film. I viewed it recently on Max, thought the three hour running time flew by and can’t wait for future installments. I can, however, see why it failed at the box office since I believe it plays better on home video due to its episodic nature. I haven’t enjoyed a western this much since the original network showing of Lonesome Dove.

 

[Robert Harris]

I wholeheartedly agree with your thoughts on the film. I viewed it recently on Max, thought the three hour running time flew by and can’t wait for future installments. I can, however, see why it failed at the box office since I believe it plays better on home video due to its episodic nature. I haven’t enjoyed a western this much since the original network showing of Lonesome Dove.

Viewed the final hour, and came away thrilled. An extraordinary motion picture. Waiting for part two.

I believe the film has been unfairly maligned.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

Viewed the final hour, and came away thrilled. An extraordinary motion picture. Waiting for part two.

I believe the film has been unfairly maligned.

It’s a fantastic film and I applaud Costner for following his passion and using his resources to have made it the way he wanted to.

If this had come out as a streaming limited series running 12 hours, instead of as four 3-hour films, he’d be getting all the Emmys. I think the film’s “rejection” was more over venue than content and it’s my hope that it’ll find its audience.

 

[Kyle_D]

Agree with the comments that Chapter 1 plays much better when viewed as the first few episodes of limited series than when viewed as a standalone film. It’s structured much more like episodic television than a theatrical feature. I look forward to Chapter 2, and I hope Costner is able to complete chapters 3 and 4.

 

[Robert Harris]

3 apparently started shooting in May.

 

[Kyle_D]

3 started shooting but halted production when Cannes financiers declined to fund the project after the first chapter's muted reception at the festival. Costner hopes to restart production and film 3 and 4 back to back next spring, but AFAIK, he still hasn't secured financing. At one point, I read Netflix offered to buy the first two chapters and finance 3 and 4, but Costner balked at Netflix's refusal to give 3 and 4 a theatrical release. I suspect financiers are waiting to see whether Chapter 2 sustains or builds upon the audience for Chapter 1 before committing to finance 3 and 4.

 

[Wes Candela]

Shot in 6k/8k on a Red with Leitz optics (you've heard of them), and completed in 4k. The imagery captured by DP J. Michael Muro, a superb cinematographer whose work goes back to films like the fan favorite Street Trash, is magnificently represented in Warner Bros 4k UHD release mit Dolby Vision.

You’ve got me right here. Thank you, Mr. Harris now I will endeavor to watch the first entry in the horizon trilogy. Thank you thank you thank you, my friend.

 

[David Weicker]

Why do people keep saying ’trilogy’?

It was planned as FOUR parts

 

[jayembee]

People are too used to thinking in terms of trilogies rather than tetralogies.

 

[Malcolm R]

Four films was the plan. Given the struggles, we'll see if he even gets three made.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

There are allegedly offers on the table for him if he moves it to streaming. I think at the end of the day, if he can’t find a suitor for theatrical and can’t self-finance in full, he’ll take one of the offers.

The alternative is having an unfinished asset that has no longterm value because it’s going to be very difficult to get an audience to continue to watch Part 1 or bother with Part 2 if its widely known that it’s a story that will never be finished.

I have to believe that’s a big part of why there’s no public movement on Part 2’s release yet. Part 2 will be impossible to sell to audiences in theaters or streaming if the audience can’t be told that the story will have a conclusion.

I’m thinking right now of that adaptation of young adult novels, the Divergent series. The movies were reasonably successful so they went with the trend of splitting the last novel into two films. The first part flopped, so they never got to make the second part. And now, that whole series has very little value compared to Hunger Games and Twilight because it’s a lot harder to entice audiences to start something that will never be finished. Whatever Costner chooses, it’s my opinion that he needs to avoid that outcome at all costs, even if that means it’s now a Netflix limited series instead of a theatrical saga.

 

[JoshZ]

There are allegedly offers on the table for him if he moves it to streaming. I think at the end of the day, if he can’t find a suitor for theatrical and can’t self-finance in full, he’ll take one of the offers.

The alternative is having an unfinished asset that has no longterm value because it’s going to be very difficult to get an audience to continue to watch Part 1 or bother with Part 2 if its widely known that it’s a story that will never be finished.

I have to believe that’s a big part of why there’s no public movement on Part 2’s release yet. Part 2 will be impossible to sell to audiences in theaters or streaming if the audience can’t be told that the story will have a conclusion.

I’m thinking right now of that adaptation of young adult novels, the Divergent series. The movies were reasonably successful so they went with the trend of splitting the last novel into two films. The first part flopped, so they never got to make the second part. And now, that whole series has very little value compared to Hunger Games and Twilight because it’s a lot harder to entice audiences to start something that will never be finished. Whatever Costner chooses, it’s my opinion that he needs to avoid that outcome at all costs, even if that means it’s now a Netflix limited series instead of a theatrical saga.

He really should have made this for streaming in the first place. The whole thing is already structured as a one-season limited series. It was pure ego that made him insist that it be a theatrical release.

 

[Wes Candela]

Why do people keep saying ’trilogy’?

It was planned as FOUR parts

I’m saying it’s a trilogy because I thought it was.

A planned trilogy

I was not aware that it was for films until you posed your question and stated in all capital letters that it was in fact”FOUR” movies

Now, looking at Wikipedia, I see this

They are currently filming a third part

people get very touchy about misinformation on this form I have found I don't think it's healthy.

 

[ghostwind]

There are allegedly offers on the table for him if he moves it to streaming. I think at the end of the day, if he can’t find a suitor for theatrical and can’t self-finance in full, he’ll take one of the offers.

The alternative is having an unfinished asset that has no longterm value because it’s going to be very difficult to get an audience to continue to watch Part 1 or bother with Part 2 if its widely known that it’s a story that will never be finished.

I have to believe that’s a big part of why there’s no public movement on Part 2’s release yet. Part 2 will be impossible to sell to audiences in theaters or streaming if the audience can’t be told that the story will have a conclusion.

I’m thinking right now of that adaptation of young adult novels, the Divergent series. The movies were reasonably successful so they went with the trend of splitting the last novel into two films. The first part flopped, so they never got to make the second part. And now, that whole series has very little value compared to Hunger Games and Twilight because it’s a lot harder to entice audiences to start something that will never be finished. Whatever Costner chooses, it’s my opinion that he needs to avoid that outcome at all costs, even if that means it’s now a Netflix limited series instead of a theatrical saga.

Which is why I'm not buying this disc yet.

 

[Wes Candela]

There are allegedly offers on the table for him if he moves it to streaming. I think at the end of the day, if he can’t find a suitor for theatrical and can’t self-finance in full, he’ll take one of the offers.

The alternative is having an unfinished asset that has no longterm value because it’s going to be very difficult to get an audience to continue to watch Part 1 or bother with Part 2 if its widely known that it’s a story that will never be finished.

I have to believe that’s a big part of why there’s no public movement on Part 2’s release yet. Part 2 will be impossible to sell to audiences in theaters or streaming if the audience can’t be told that the story will have a conclusion.

I’m thinking right now of that adaptation of young adult novels, the Divergent series. The movies were reasonably successful so they went with the trend of splitting the last novel into two films. The first part flopped, so they never got to make the second part. And now, that whole series has very little value compared to Hunger Games and Twilight because it’s a lot harder to entice audiences to start something that will never be finished. Whatever Costner chooses, it’s my opinion that he needs to avoid that outcome at all costs, even if that means it’s now a Netflix limited series instead of a theatrical saga.

It’s truly an ambitious endeavor
But that’s what I have come to expect from Costner.
Epic Greatness.

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

There are allegedly offers on the table for him if he moves it to streaming. I think at the end of the day, if he can’t find a suitor for theatrical and can’t self-finance in full, he’ll take one of the offers.

The alternative is having an unfinished asset that has no longterm value because it’s going to be very difficult to get an audience to continue to watch Part 1 or bother with Part 2 if its widely known that it’s a story that will never be finished.

I have to believe that’s a big part of why there’s no public movement on Part 2’s release yet. Part 2 will be impossible to sell to audiences in theaters or streaming if the audience can’t be told that the story will have a conclusion.

I’m thinking right now of that adaptation of young adult novels, the Divergent series. The movies were reasonably successful so they went with the trend of splitting the last novel into two films. The first part flopped, so they never got to make the second part. And now, that whole series has very little value compared to Hunger Games and Twilight because it’s a lot harder to entice audiences to start something that will never be finished. Whatever Costner chooses, it’s my opinion that he needs to avoid that outcome at all costs, even if that means it’s now a Netflix limited series instead of a theatrical saga.

Doesn't Netflix do limited theatrical? Sure, not the same as what he wants, but better nothing though.

Linklater's Hit Man even got more than just their usual extremely limited release... though I guess he wants/needs far more investment from whomever than Hit Man needed...

_Man_

 

[Malcolm R]

Doesn't Netflix do limited theatrical? Sure, not the same as what he wants, but better nothing though.

They do, but from what I've read they're not offering that to Costner.

 

[Michael Osadciw]

Thank you Robert for this review. I had heard bad press so I put it to the back of my mind. You've ignited my interest. Just ordered it on Kaleidescape and I'll watch it as soon as my Sony 77A95L QD-OLED comes in by the first week of November (an exceptional television that can be calibrated nearly on-par with the Sony BVM-HX310).

Mike