Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 (2024) (1 Viewer)

[Malcolm R]

And now he is very publicly leaving the show that reinvigorated his career.

That news broke before the release of Horizon, which likely annoyed much of the potential Yellowstone crossover audience.

 

[DaveF]

Does Horizon stand on its own? Or is it a half story cliffhanger that requires the next movie or three to be enjoyed?

I'm not into Westerns or Costner specifically. But I'm curious about his passion / vanity project. I will never get around to watching all four. But if just the first one is worth watching by itself, that's something I'd spend a Saturday movie night on.

 

[TravisR]

Does Horizon stand on its own? Or is it a half story cliffhanger that requires the next movie or three to be enjoyed?

I'm not into Westerns or Costner specifically. But I'm curious about his passion / vanity project. I will never get around to watching all four. But if just the first one is worth watching by itself, that's something I'd spend a Saturday movie night on.

It's the first of a four part story so if you can't be bothered to see them all, you probably shouldn't waste your time on watching a quarter of a story.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

Does Horizon stand on its own? Or is it a half story cliffhanger that requires the next movie or three to be enjoyed?

I'm not into Westerns or Costner specifically. But I'm curious about his passion / vanity project. I will never get around to watching all four. But if just the first one is worth watching by itself, that's something I'd spend a Saturday movie night on.

I would say no. The first film is the set-up for the rest of the story. It essentially sets up three strands and leaves them all hanging. The first film actually does not have an ending. It literally just stops. So, I don't know how far part two will go toward resolving what is in part one, but I think the thing that annoyed some people about part one is it is three hours of set-up. Good set-up, but set-up none the less.

I honestly just don't believe you would walk out of part one (which actually ends with a preview of part two) feeling satisfied. The film is made, very specifically to push you into part two. So, we don't know where part two ends yet, but I kind of am going to guess it will end with a preview of part three, pushing you into part three.

If I am guessing here, based on part one, I am not sure each film will be meant as a standalone. I think maybe after you have seen them all, you could revisit the films individually but the story, just based on how he laid out part one, seems to be meant to require the 4 parts.

Supposely part three is already well underway and I would suspect he would attempt to get part 4 going right after he is done with 3. So, I don't think, at this stage, he could change course and try to wrap the whole thing up with part 3. He's probably now committed to having to do the fourth chapter to finish the story.

 

[TravisR]

If I am guessing here, based on part one, I am not sure each film will be meant as a standalone. I think maybe after you have seen them all, you could revisit the films individually but the story, just based on how he laid out part one, seems to be meant to require the 4 parts.

Agreed but maybe the ending of Part 2 will bring the story and characters to something of a pause since they made the first two together?

 

[Keith Cobby]

Overall I think it's too ambitious, make it as a two parter with a larger gap but in the same year (the 2023 Three Musketeers released in two parts in April and December worked well) and cut the running time.

 

[DaveF]

It's the first of a four part story so if you can't be bothered to see them all, you probably shouldn't waste your time on watching a quarter of a story.

It's not "can't be bothered" specifically as there are this many movies to be watched
<=======================================================>

and I have time for this many
<=>

And a four-movie Western saga doesn't make the cut.

I was hoping to hear it is a standalone story that would be continued and expanded in subsequent films. So that casual viewers like me could enjoy it per se and big fans would get even more of what they love.

So if Costner had done a standalone epic 3 hr Western Saga vanity project, I'd find time to watch it. But a four movie saga in a genre that's not specifically my jam... <shrug>

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

It's not "can't be bothered" specifically as there are this many movies to be watched
<=======================================================>

and I have time for this many
<=>

And a four-movie Western saga doesn't make the cut.

I was hoping to hear it is a standalone story that would be continued and expanded in subsequent films. So that casual viewers like me could enjoy it per se and big fans would get even more of what they love.

So if Costner had done a standalone epic 3 hr Western Saga vanity project, I'd find time to watch it. But a four movie saga in a genre that's not specifically my jam... <shrug>

Basically, you kinda have to treat this like a TV/streaming miniseries, except it's getting theatrical release in 4x 3(?)-hour-long installments (kinda like getting 3-4-episode drops once or maybe twice each year or something like that).

I'm not exactly a big western fan either (and haven't really cared for any of his other western films outside of Dances with Wolves), but do generally like the best/better examples of the genre, and do at least like 1883, the Yellowstone spinoff prequel miniseries, a good deal (though I've never actually watched Yellowstone itself nor the other spinoff prequel 1923). I do think 1883 is better than what Horizon's P1 is so far though. IF you didn't like 1883 at all (not just one or two very specific aspect perhaps), then I don't really see Horizon being worthwhile (at least based just on what P1's shown us so far).

_Man_

 

[Robert Crawford]

Basically, you kinda have to treat this like a TV/streaming miniseries, except it's getting theatrical release in 4x 3(?)-hour-long installments (kinda like getting 3-4-episode drops once or maybe twice each year or something like that).

I'm not exactly a big western fan either (and haven't really cared for any of his other western films outside of Dances with Wolves), but do generally like the best/better examples of the genre, and do at least like 1883, the Yellowstone spinoff prequel miniseries, a good deal (though I've never actually watched Yellowstone itself nor the other spinoff prequel 1923). I do think 1883 is better than what Horizon's P1 is so far though. IF you didn't like 1883 at all (not just one or two very specific aspect perhaps), then I don't really see Horizon being worthwhile (at least based just on what P1's shown us so far).

_Man_

You didn’t like Open Range?

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

You didn’t like Open Range?

Didn't actually get a chance to see that one... probably partly because it wasn't released on BD here (so generally overlooked), but it does sound like I should find a way to watch it (from the bits mentioned earlier)...

I see there's a (currently inexpensive) UK BD (that I could possibly add to my anticipated Amazon UK import order) plus the Apple/iTunes HD digital (whenever that goes on sale again)...

Thanks for the reminder!

_Man_

 

[jayembee]

You didn’t like Open Range?

Or Silverado? (Which, admittedly, only has Costner playing a not-headlining role.)

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

Or Silverado? (Which, admittedly, only has Costner playing a not-headlining role.)

I was only thinking the ones that he directed (or had more than just a somewhat limited co-starring role). Silverado definitely doesn't play like something he would make himself methinks...

_Man_

 

[Jake Lipson]

I was at a Cinemark earlier today to see The Lion King and noticed a stack of Horizon posters sitting next to the guest services counter that they were giving away. Ostensibly these are for Horizon attendees, but I doubt that would be strictly enforced. It was a large pile, so it seemed like they didn't have very many takers. I didn't take one but thought I would mention it.

YMMV based on location of course. But if anyone here might be interested in a poster for Horizon, you might check to see if your local theater has them as well.

 

[Jeffrey D]

Didn't actually get a chance to see that one... probably partly because it wasn't released on BD here (so generally overlooked), but it does sound like I should find a way to watch it (from the bits mentioned earlier)...

I see there's a (currently inexpensive) UK BD (that I could possibly add to my anticipated Amazon UK import order) plus the Apple/iTunes HD digital (whenever that goes on sale again)...

Thanks for the reminder!

_Man_

I really like Open Range, and I’m not even a big Western genre guy. See it, if you get the chance.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

I really like Open Range, and I’m not even a big Western genre guy. See it, if you get the chance.

Agreed. In my top 5 westerns.

 

[Mark Booth]

Oh yeah, baby!

I skipped around a bit, the image looks terrific! And now that I'm watching on a TV set, I appreciate that Costner chose 1.85:1. The glorious cinematography fills our screen!

So far, there are only two very short extras. Watching them, it appears they are two small pieces of a much longer video to come.

Extra #1 - Kevin Costner's Journey West (1:20): A film 20 years in the making, discover the emotional journey that Kevin Costner went on to bring this epic saga to life.

Extra #2 - American Dream (1:10): Uncover the dream that was America, and the hardships that men and women faced as they risked everything to head west in hopes of a better tomorrow.

FWIW, the iTunes purchase DOES transfer through Movies Anywhere, Horizon is now also available in my Fandango At Home (Vudu) account.

We are going to watch the whole thing on Tuesday.

Mark

 

[Tino]

Just purchased my copy too. Used Fandango this time as I had gift cards which brought down the price to $19.99

Transferred seamlessly to iTunes.

 

[Robert Crawford]

My days of spending more than $9.99 on a movie digital are long gone. I want to support Costner, but not at $24.99 or $19.99. I can wait on my September 10th 4K/UHD preorder.

 

[Tino]

My days of spending more than $9.99 on a movie digital are long gone. I want to support Costner, but not at $24.99 or $19.99. I can wait on my September 10th 4K/UHD preorder.

I wish I had your patience.

 

[Robert Crawford]

I wish I had your patience.

I have plenty of other movies to occupy my time between now and September 10th. It just doesn't make any financial sense to me to spend $24.99 on a 4K digital when I already have the 4K/UHD on preorder that comes with a free 4K digital code.