Wyatt Earp (1994)

This massive, in-depth study of the dark Western icon comes off with mixed results. Trying to capture the whole life, (warts and all) of the lawman-criminal-brother-fortune hunter, director Lawrence Kasdan gains points for sheer scale, giving us a rich epic painted in dark colors with gritty settings. But the visual poetry and extensive foreshadowing ruin the dramatic drive. Some scenes have as much impact as stalker movies; you're just waiting for someone to get knocked off. As Earp, Kevin Costner is not afraid to look rumpled and play colorlessly (as in The Bodyguard), but it saps the energy of this 3-hour-plus film. The only relief is Dennis Quaid as a droll Doc Holiday, a much more engaging character. New faces Linden Ashby and Joanna Going (as an Earp brother and a lover, respectively) are solid finds, though the remainder of the female cast is barely given anything to do. Best is the first half, with Costner, as hip as he was in his Silverado days, going through a series of ups and downs until he accidentally finds his profession. Great set design (Ida Random) utilizes dozens of similar settings that always look distinctive. Recommended to fans of the star and the genre, but the story never justifies its length. --Doug Thomas Amazon.com

Flawed ...but flawed

Among the unintentional laughs was the dramatic walk to the OK Corral by the Earps and Doc Holliday. This should have been released as a comedy.
Another flawed, but still excellent, version of the Earps was "Tombstone." September 28, 2008

EXCELLENT BLU RAY WESTERN

I purchased this blu ray DVD.......... After renting it from Netflix...
I could not believe the pristine picture quality........and surround sound this wonderful remastered movie has to offer......1080P really shines with this movie.......If you enjoy quality somewhat factual movies..........Kostner.........really shines in this one......make this part of your Bluray Collection.........you wont be sorry>>>>>>> August 29, 2008

Wyatt Earp DVD

This is an excellent movie that was somewhat overlooked on it's release. Fans of "Tombstone" should give it a chance. August 10, 2008

Excellent

I have Tombstone as well, and watch both movies at different times. The Dennis Quaid portrayal of Doc Holliday in this movie is so much better than the "comedy" of Val Kilmer in the other. August 3, 2008

When Are We Gonna See The Expanded "Wyatt Earp" on Blu-ray??

Without a doubt, one of the singular most underrated western epics ever made, if not one of the most underrated films period! WYATT EARP, with its epic scale, vast landscapes, gorgeous cinematography that captures a past era not with special effects, but natural period beauty, is truly an example of filmmaking at its finest, but at a scale no longer appreciated by today's ever-sinking standards.

And what a shame that is. Lawrence Kasdan and Kevin Costner are both obviously in love with the epic westerns of the 40's and 50's, the works of legends like John Ford and Anthony Mann, and it was that combined love they put together to create the life story of Wyatt Earp to the big screen in 1994.

It bombed theatrically, but garnered a devout cult following when it hit video and cable, and still remains one of today's most popular contemporary westerns.

Warner Brothers, if you're reading this, excellent work on the Blu-ray release and very much thankful that the featurette gem "Walk With A Legend" is included! BUT..........

When are we going to see the Expanded Edition you released on VHS years ago on Blu-ray??? I've held onto my VCR for the sole reason of having a source to watch the only version of WYATT EARP's Expanded Edition on the market - it's the only VHS tape set I still own!

For those of you not familiar with the Expanded Edition, it includes expanded scenes between Wyatt and Doc Holliday that strengthen the bond between the two legends, added footage of Wyatt's childhood, additional scenes better-explaining the reasons behind the fued between the Earp's and Clanton's, a crucial element unfortunately glossed over in the theatrical version, and several other key elements.

It's about 20 minutes longer than the theatrical version.

WARNER BROTHERS - please, please, please release the Expanded Edition on Blu-ray soon!! Maybe even include a new retrospective documentary or at least a commentary by Costner and Kasdan - I can't tell you how many times I've heard Costner asked about his love of westerns, and he always talks about this film.

WYATT EARP has fans, big time! This is what we're asking for! July 1, 2008

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