Re: Crazy Horse, Geronimo & Tecumseh ... especially, Geronimo!

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Posted by Rich on October 28, 1998 at 16:37:31:

In Reply to: Crazy Horse, Geronimo & Tecumseh posted by Rich on October 22, 1998 at 04:21:42:

:Rebecca said: Although the GERONIMO movie might not be the one with Wes, it is still worth
watching. I actually prefer it to the other version as it is more historically accurate. (Petra agreed)

:Then I said: Geronimo, was the worst of the three, I felt, too mystical for my tastes, and portrayed Geronimo in a very unlikeable, angry manner. It does cover his whole life, as opposed to the Wes Studi version which shows only the reservation years. For an excellent biography of this Apache man, read "Geronimo: The Man, His Time, His Place", by Angie Debo. Personally, I liked the Studi version better.

Now, I add: Well, I guess I'm amusing myself by conversing with my previous post. What I meant, kind of, about the mysticism in TNT's "Geronimo" ...

Anyone ever see "Shaka Zulu"? It runs 9 or 11 hours ... I forget, but it's LONG! It's the story of the great, but ruthless, leader of the Zulu tribe, in Africa, back in the early 1800's. He transformed the Zulus from a tiny, powerless tribe into THE power of the region. If you're interested in historic culture clash, this one's for you. Extremely well done production. Anyway, it is two stories running simultaneously. One is the story as told through the eyes of a British explorer/ambassador/envoy. The other, actually the same story with a radically different slant, is from the perspective of a woman "witch doctor". In this way, it reminds me a bit of "Son Of The Morning Star" (the movie, not the book) ... which tells the tale of The Battle of the Little Bighorn from the viewpoints of two women ... Libby Custer, the General's wife, & Kate Bighead, a Cheyenne who witnessed the battle, as well as other period history. Interesting stuff. By the way, I agree with whoever it was that said Rodney Grant's portrayal of Crazy Horse was better than TNT's interpretation. Reminded me of our own Uncas ... few lines, powerful characterization.

Am I off the track, or what?

Anyway, "Shaka Zulu" is a prime example of how the contrasting viewpoints - the written historical record as opposed to the oral tradition - can deeply enhance the story being told. On the other hand, I found the technique, as used in "Geronimo", to be contrived and cliched. I haven't seen it in quite a while so maybe it's the memory failing, but I remember feeling that way as I watched. Anybody home?

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: :Rebecca said: Although the GERONIMO movie might not be the one with Wes, it is still worth
: watching. I actually prefer it to the other version as it is more historically accurate. (Petra agreed)

: :Then I said: Geronimo, was the worst of the three, I felt, too mystical for my tastes, and portrayed Geronimo in a very unlikeable, angry manner. It does cover his whole life, as opposed to the Wes Studi version which shows only the reservation years. For an excellent biography of this Apache man, read "Geronimo: The Man, His Time, His Place", by Angie Debo. Personally, I liked the Studi version better.

: Now, I add: Well, I guess I'm amusing myself by conversing with my previous post. What I meant, kind of, about the mysticism in TNT's "Geronimo" ...

: Anyone ever see "Shaka Zulu"? It runs 9 or 11 hours ... I forget, but it's LONG! It's the story of the great, but ruthless, leader of the Zulu tribe, in Africa, back in the early 1800's. He transformed the Zulus from a tiny, powerless tribe into THE power of the region. If you're interested in historic culture clash, this one's for you. Extremely well done production. Anyway, it is two stories running simultaneously. One is the story as told through the eyes of a British explorer/ambassador/envoy. The other, actually the same story with a radically different slant, is from the perspective of a woman "witch doctor". In this way, it reminds me a bit of "Son Of The Morning Star" (the movie, not the book) ... which tells the tale of The Battle of the Little Bighorn from the viewpoints of two women ... Libby Custer, the General's wife, & Kate Bighead, a Cheyenne who witnessed the battle, as well as other period history. Interesting stuff. By the way, I agree with whoever it was that said Rodney Grant's portrayal of Crazy Horse was better than TNT's interpretation. Reminded me of our own Uncas ... few lines, powerful characterization.

: Am I off the track, or what?

: Anyway, "Shaka Zulu" is a prime example of how the contrasting viewpoints - the written historical record as opposed to the oral tradition - can deeply enhance the story being told. On the other hand, I found the technique, as used in "Geronimo", to be contrived and cliched. I haven't seen it in quite a while so maybe it's the memory failing, but I remember feeling that way as I watched. Anybody home?

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