Horizon an American Saga...

[Harry Faversham]

Just seen it, three hours gone in a blink!
I feel like I've just been back to the Old West in the TARDIS.
 

[CapnJim]

Good to hear.  It's on my list.  I've read that Part 2 is supposed to be out in August, and they are supposed to be in production on Part 3.

[FifteensAway]

While it is not an 'end all, be all' gauge, the movie's box office is way below par which not only puts in doubt seeing all four movies make it to the big screen, I suspect a lot of theaters that had plans for Part 2 will find a different movie to release in its place.  Hope otherwise for the movie.  I do hope to see it.  But 'dismal' isn't out of place to describe its earnings so far - and shaky 'legs' mean it isn't likely to recover in subsequent weeks.  Perhaps its ultimate fate will be the TV mini-series after all.

So, you liked it?  You're not being facetious?  <<<Serious questions.

[Harry Faversham]

So, you liked it?  You're not being facetious?  <<<Serious questions.

Loved it, ticked all my boxes for a Western, be nice to see Robert Duval in a cameo, in the next one
 

[CapnJim]

Saw it Thursday.  Interesting.  Enough to get me to see Part 2 when it comes out.  GREAT production values...

In particular, the cavalry unit is the 1st US Cavalry.  In Part 1, the ACW is just getting going, and the 1st Cavalry fought in the New Mexico campaign in 1862.  I'm building armies for Valverde, so I'm waiting to see if that plays out in the movies..

[Inkpaduta]

Heard from fellow gamers who have liked it. Rotten tomatoes gives it a roughly 50% critics approval.
I am put off by the 3 hours length and that people have said it is hard to follow. I will wait until
it streams. Part II is already done. My guess it will be released. Maybe on streaming. After that,
I doubt part III or IV will come about. But who knows.

[FifteensAway]

And now it is official, part two has been pulled from theatrical release.  It may get a later release date but who knows.  Hollywood is first a business and only second, at best, entertainment.  The poor showing of part one, around $25 million worldwide - which only leaves the studio with roughly $12.5 million against its $100 million budget (and not counting marketing costs likely), pretty much dooms the movies future.  Best bet might turn out to be either VOD (video on demand) or DVD release - but those won't come anywhere close to making the franchise profitable.  I expect very soon to hear theaters pull part one.  Hope Kevin Costner's investment doesn't sink him financially. 

I guess, if I want to see it in a theater, I need to do that soon.  But first, today, I am chasing seeing the largest steam locomotive, the Big Boy, 4-8-8-4, in operation today.  And I get to do it in heat heading for 110 F (43 C).  Call me crazy but I'll just take plenty of water and gatorade to stay hydrated and make sure my hybrid vehicle has plenty of gas since the air conditioning will get a serious workout.  No, I'm not a train nutter - but this is perhaps the one chance I get to see this monster pounding by.  I do like steam locomotives. 

Back on Horizon, sorry to be the bearer of bad news but, as I predicted, pretty much inevitable with such lousy box office numbers. 

[NickNascati]

Why are all of Costner’s films multi-hour epics?  I know I can’t sit in the theater for three hours.

[Inkpaduta]

Agree AND he had three more films to go for a total of 12 hours.

[FifteensAway]

Lots of 3 hour movies out there, not just Costner's.  Has to do with trying to give value for money - but if they're going to keep doing this they need to bring back intermission for bladder breaks, and edit the film to accommodate such breaks. 

[79thPA]

For a 3 hour movie, there was enough action to keep it moving at a pretty good pace, so it didn't feel quite like a 3 hour movie.

Very good production values and cinematography.

There are a lot of story arcs -- almost too many.  I would have liked to see more character development and a few less characters.

My primary pupose in going was to support a guy who is still willing to make westerns.  I took my 15 year old son with me and he enjoyed it. 

[greatescapegames]

The three hours fly by.

I wanted to see it again but the local theatre only had it on briefly.

[FifteensAway]

So, sounds like Horizon 2 will get a showing - at the Venice Film Festival.  Might be your best - only? - chance to see it on a big screen. 

DVD release date for Horizon 1 seems to be in September.  Horizon 2 may not make it to a theatrical release, maybe just VOD and then DVD/Blueray.  Episodes 3 and 4 are problematic, almost certainly need 2 to do a lot better than 1.

[FifteensAway]

Found Horizon for sale as a DVD and bought and watched it.  Can understand both why it bombed at the box office and why some people liked the movie.

From a gaming stand point, it provided a lot of threads to start a game.  Tried to find a release date for part two DVD but none yet. 

From a movie stand point, it was a failure - a move is a self-contained story, beginning, middle, end; all this had was a bunch of beginnings.  Should have been a TV mini-series - but that would have required a fraction of its budget.  My guess is part three and four will never happen.  And even part two is a big question mark, even for a DVD.