Posted by Ayesha on October 28, 1998 at 17:26:03:
In Reply to: Re: TNT's Crazy Horse, Geromimo & Tecumseh ... especially, Geronimo posted by Rich on October 28, 1998 at 16:57:01:
: Apparently, while fiddling with the Board on Sunday, we messed something up. Seems if you post a response to any message prior to Sunday, it does not appear to show up, unless you look at the followups to the original message. So, I posted the following message three times way down below, before I figured out what was happening. Oh well, here it is again ...
: :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?
Hi Rich,
What did you mean about the "mysticism" in Geronimo. I wasn't sure if you finished your sentence.
Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to watch it yet. I love mysticism in whatever form it comes, but maybe not if it is toooo contrived. Native American people are naturally "mystically" oriented. The spiritual world is a big part of their life. On the reservation that I have been going to over the last 25 years, they water all of their crops on the power of prayer. They have no irrigation and for hundreds of years have used cerimonial dances, prayers, fasting and faith to water their crops. I have seen so many "miracles" while visiting there. These people are so connected to "spirit" and the elements. It is amazing!
Let me know what you think about the mysticism.
Ayesha