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Product Description: Texas Rangers Woodrow Call and Augustus McCrae pursue three outlaws Comanche war chief Buffalo Hump Comanche horse thief Kicking Wolf and a Mexican bandit king. Now in their middle years they also struggle with their personal lives Gus with Clara Forsythe the love of his life and Call with Maggie Tilton the young prostitute who loves him. Meanwhile their partners-in-arms Deets Jake Spoon and Pea Eye Parker help the Rangers protect the advancing western frontier from the defiant Comanches who are determined to defend their land and way of life. Prequel to Lonsome Dove and based upon the novel by Larry McMurtySystem Requirements:Run Time: 284 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/MADE FOR TV MOVIES UPC: 043396226470 Manufacturer No: 22647Amazon.com: It's billed as "the second chapter in the Lonesome Dove saga," but Comanche Moon is actually a prequel to that much-loved 1989 miniseries. And while there's no doubt that it has some very big boots to fill, this three-part (on two DVDs, including bonus features) production is rarely less than eminently watchable and entertaining. Continuity is a positive factor: Larry McMurtry, who wrote the novel on which it's based, also co-wrote the screenplay, and Lonesome Dove director Simon Wincer returns as well. As for the cast, it's certainly not as star-studded as its predecessor, but Steve Zahn (as Gus McCrae), Karl Urban (Woodrow Call), Linda Cardellini (Clara Allen), and the others manage to suggest the characterizations brought to the screen by Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones, and Anjelica Huston, respectively, without mimicking them. Of course, there are new faces on hand as well, principally Val Kilmer (looking a mite chubby, perhaps due to all the scenery he chews in his portrayal of Texas Rangers Captain Inish Scull) and Rachel Griffiths (as Scull's horny wife). As the tale begins in 1858, Call and McCrae, some years away from becoming the cattlemen depicted in Lonesome Dove, are Rangers serving under the educated and eccentric Scull as they work to protect the territory against marauding Comanches, led by the stern, vengeful Buffalo Hump (Wes Studi) and his crazed son, Blue Duck (Adam Beach). When Scull's horse is stolen by one of the Indians, he sets out to retrieve the beast, promoting both Call and McRae to Captain, and the rest of the story revolves primarily around them; in fact, although there's a reasonable amount of action (including the Comanche raid on Austin that opens Part Two), Comanche Moon is much less plot-dependent than character-driven, and it is Call (tough, taciturn, and totally clueless when it comes to the fair sex) and best friend McRae (an open-hearted, self-described jester) who are the most engaging of the bunch as they navigate the deep waters of their work and love lives (McRae with Clara and Call with the prostitute Maggie Tilton, played by Elizabeth Banks). McMurtry and co-writer Diana Ossana's dialogue manages to be at once plain and poetic, colorful and poignant, and regardless of what's actually happening onscreen, the miniseries has a light, often whimsical charm that separates it from most Westerns made for big and small screen alike. Extras include a "making of" featurette and more. --Sam Graham Stills from Comanche Moon (click for larger image) Beyond Comanche Moon 
Broken Trail | 
3:10 to Yuma | 
Cat Ballou |
Customer Reviews:
- saga complete: Finally we have the last chapter in the lonesome dove saga
after years of supposed adaptations of Larry mcmurtry's final lonesome dove tale to close out and link up the middle years of McCrae,Call and cronies. Simon Wincer
the original miniseries director has returned to bookend
the series and does an estimable job, while not on the scale of the original , Wincer talkles amuch broader canvas especially in regard to the comanche who at the time were still quite able to vigourasously defend their culture and territory. Val Kilmer as Inish Skull has been critized as portraying the eccentric ranger leader as over the top when in fact scull is exactly that as created by McMurtry. Kilmer seems to enjoy the character as is a off the radar contrast to most of the main characters. In Dead Man's Walk Woodrow Call recieved a bit more story time at least in character building while in Comanche MOON Augustus McCrae is given substantive screen time via Steve Zahn to project the beloved ranger
we have come to know throughout the series. In Comanche
Moon zahn's gus is his ownand does succeed in bringing
a familiar character with his own nuances recognizable
but new. Karl Urban also succeed's but in a lesser degree
but he has less to work with as Call's make up has been
established in previous stories what Urban has left is aman who is in pain for being who heis and pain in being unable to truly embrace a future with a woman he clearly loves and who desperately loves him . His dedication to
keeping the Texas republic safe and his friendship with gus are his only respite. Ryan Merriman is miscast as
Jake Spoon and in fact is given even less to do than in the novel. Wes Studi is probably the most talented of native actors today and brings a dignity of character and
time to his portrayal of Buffalo Hump. Technically i do not think ,however he was the proper choice for Buffalo Hump. Though aging the comanche apearance should be closer though older to Eric Schweig's in Dead Man's Walk
an actor like Steve Reevis who actually has a the role of worm or Gil Birmingham from Into the West i would have prefered tom keep in line with previous versions though
if any of these actors could match studi's acting chops
is debatable. Jonathan Joss is wasted as he is hardly seen inthe miniseries as kicking wolf a major adversary of the rangers. Linda Cardenilli does afine job as Clara
andin fact brings in such more to the characterv that could be expected, the character of Maggie Tilton ,always
heard of and seen for a few scenes in Dead Man's Walk now comes to the fore and MS. Banks work is admirable and tragic to watch. The locations are used wonderfully filmed in New Mexico and used to the greatest effect.
My Rewiew is apostive review with resevations regarding some casting and the much of the story edited out from
novel ,some of which has been restored in the dvd .
Part 1 moves along slowly with thoughts of a dis appointing adaptation,however that changes soon and the next chapters depicted reaffirm this western as a fine
sweeping ,exciting, tale . while again not 1989's lonesome dove or even Dead Man's Walk it is finally
a welcome version of a saga long awaited for to close out
a hell of a tale
- Commanche Moon: A missing chapter in a great saga. It fills in the chapter between Dead Mans Walk and Lonesome Dove. Great Story, good acting. The actor playing Gus must have studied Lonesome Dove many times as he had Robert Duvall's portrayal of "Gus" down perfectly.
- Excellent - Excellent follow up of Lonesome Dove !: I must admit I was Leary of this movie. I didn't think anyone could pull off Robert Duvall's role as Gus McCrae in Lonesome Dove. However Steve Zahn did just that! I couldn't believe how well he mimicked Duvall's behaviors. My hat's off to him... Also Val Kilmer played a magnificent role as Inish Skull ( reminded me of his sleeper of a role as Doc Holliday in "Tombstone" ).
- Commache Moon-DVD: Excellent! Follows the story line of the book, with a few deviations. Good finish to the rest of the collection, which I have.
- really enjoyed!: I really enjoyed it a lot. The main characters did a great job, despite having to fill in the huge shoes of Robert Duvall & Tommy Lee Jones. It certainly answered all my questions that I had about the characters prior to the Lonesome Dove series. It was worth watching.... Its a miniseries along with Lonesome Dove that I will watch again & again.
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